They say you learn from your mistakes. So in the first of several blog entries looking back on 7 years in my current role (as Senior Minister of Poynton Baptist Church) I’m wondering, 'what have I learned?' 1. My biggest mistake is not to make enough mistakes. There are far more things I thought of... Continue Reading →
Some miscellaneous thoughts on leadership
Over the last month I’ve jotted down a few random thoughts about leadership as I've been musing on what God is calling me to do. 1. Listen and learn as well as lead. We’ve never arrived and never have a monopoly on truth and clear perspective, good leaders need others and pay attention to them.... Continue Reading →
Mission possibilities: leadership training
Over the last couple of years I’ve made a several visits to Iquitos and been involved in a number of training events. My input has usually aimed at giving an overview of the Bible and Christian Doctrine; helping people to read and interpret the Bible and use it in preaching and pastoral leadership. I don’t... Continue Reading →
Mission musings
The weeks before Easter saw me back in Iquitos, Peru. As usual the bulk of my time was spent teaching in Iquitos and at a training centre for church leaders in Nauta (100kms from Iquitos). Iquitos has an impact on me each time I go, not least because it poses all sorts of questions to... Continue Reading →
Quiet leaders influence
I read Susan Cain’s book Quiet a couple of months ago and have been pondering it since. The premise of the book is that about half the population are introverts and for too long those who are naturally quiet, serious or sensitive have been overlooked; whilst the loudest have taken over. Her aim is to... Continue Reading →
Summer musings – charismatic+
As I’ve looked back at the last term in church and started to plan for the autumn I’ve been pondering the question, “what makes a good charismatic church?” Accepting that some will think it an oxymoron let me suggest 5 characteristics. 1. Teaching and preaching that aims to communicate a vision for the kingdom of... Continue Reading →
Discipleship 4: Ministers help or hindrance?
If discipleship is so important how does this impact ministers and how might it affect how we exercise ministry? How can we ensure we develop disciple making communities?1. Live out your values. If whole life discipleship is important it should permeate your ministry. First, because all of us are disciples and ministers need to live... Continue Reading →
Associate Minister: aiming for success
Life as a minister is one long learning curve. These last few weeks have included adjusting to a new ministerial colleague. She is only the second person to join the staff since I came five years ago and is the first to arrive only having had the search process to get to know the church.... Continue Reading →
5 P’s of #leadership
A blog post caught my eye earlier this week where Rob Petrini suggested the two things a Christian leader needed to remember were process and perception. I’d not come across this before but it got me thinking; and so here are my 5 key elements of church leadership (leaving the question of the relation of ministry... Continue Reading →
BU Council meets again
As BUGB Council convenes again it strikes me that one question lurks behind many of the items on the agenda. Who leads the Union? Or more correctly where does leadership in the Union come from? Do we need to split the governance and management of the BUGB charity from the leadership of the wider Union?... Continue Reading →
Distinct Reflections 