Please read the following slides to prepare for your seminar. Start with slide 5 to begin your seminar. 1
This gives you an overview of what you need to lead your seminar. 2
Use this to schedule your time. 3
These are the instructions for leading the seminar. 4
Use this to welcome your group. 5
Use this has your opening devotion. Have people in two or threes answer the reflection questions. 6
Go around the group and have each person report how things went since the last time you met. Ask them if they want to repeat the same thing or doing something new before the next time you meet. (If you are not meeting again with the same group have them share what they did and what they want to do in the future). 7
Do the same thing as in the previous slide. 8
Use this to review the idea of call as shared in TeamWorks: Seminar 1: Spiritual Life of the Leader. 9
Talk about this image of conversion. When we respond to God s call we are asked to let go of the things that hold us back. Conversion happens as we put on the spirit of God. 10
Have the group respond to these questions. 11
Ask members of the group to get out their results from the Spiritual Gift Assessment Tool found on page 29. Then lead them through this slide and slide 13. In the guidebook these slides are found on page 14. 12
Have them use this chart to identify where their primary and supporting gifts are located. Give them a few minutes to go through the reflection questions on the previous slide. 13
Now you will do the same thing as a group. (it is suggested you prepare this graph before you start the seminar). 14
Lead the group in answering these questions. 15
This slide shows all the areas where people can serve in leadership positions in a congregation. Generational ministries refers to children s ministries, youth ministries, ministries for older adults, and so on. One element that should not be overlooked is how you use Safe Sanctuary practices with children and youth. Do you screen the teachers and other adults who are in leadership positions with children and youth? This is part of the responsibility for equipping and deploying leaders in the church. You can refer participants to www.umcdiscipleship.org where Safe Sanctuary materials are available. People involved in leading music in worship are also leaders. If you have a choir, then how do you equip them for the ministry of leading music at worship? Many people in your congregation may be leaders in their workplaces or in nonprofit, community, or school groups. How do you recognize their ministries and equip them for their work? Do you see what they do as an extension of your church s ministry? 16
Make a list of leadership positions in your church using the criteria of people who have responsibility for others. 17
This graph shows the flow of how people connect to the church and move towards leadership in the church. Key point: The leadership cohort is the 20% who do 80% percent of the work in your church. It s also true that about 20% of church members give 80% of the financing for ministry. Who is in the cohort? Anyone who has leadership of some type in your church, including those in formal leadership positions like the trustees, those who teach children, youth, or adults, those who lead small groups, and those who lead outreach ministries in the community or mission trips. You also can include those who actively participate in small groups where accountability for spiritual growth and development is practiced. The Leadership Team is a subset of the Leadership Cohort and is composed of those who make decisions that impact the whole church. In larger churches, this may be a staff team. Key point: Spiritual and numerical growth happens when you equip and support those who are in the Leadership Cohort because they are the key leaders for new projects and ministries. 18
This shows how people move into the leadership cohort. Key Point: Vital churches invest in their leaders. 19
Break the participants into groups of three or four as they discuss these questions related to the leadership flow. Give them 10 minutes to share. 20
This slide talks about teamwork and the characteristics of great teams. Conflict is seen as an opportunity to innovative. Rather than avoiding conflict, conflict brings real issues out into the open so solutions can be found to issues blocking progress. Strong teams prioritize what is best for the whole church, not what is best for just one or two people. If one person is blocking change, that person needs to be challenged so that the whole church is not stopped from moving forward. Members of strong teams are committed to their personal lives: If staff does all the work at the cost of their families or other close relationships, what is the true cost? And what are the results? If laity always work in committees but never experience spiritual growth through small groups or developing personal spiritual disciplines, where does hope and inspiration come from? Strong teams embrace a variety of viewpoints because doing so creates an environment where tension leads to innovation. Strong teams attract other strong people because strong people like to be part of something that is making a difference. 21
While much talk is given to the needs of leaders, equally important are the needs of those who follow. The words under each point highlight the characteristics that are important. Notice how these words echo Galatians 5:22-23: By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Trust: When people lose trust in the leadership of a church, leadership has to be changed or the church will die. Compassion: Are new people seen as the answer to your needs (we need someone to work in the nursery or to sing in the choir) or does your church intentionally offer opportunities for new people to discover their call and to form relationships that lead them to spiritual maturity? Stability: In times of need, are you there for the community? For each other? Hope: Are you proactive rather than waiting for something to happen? Do you offer the hope that is found in Jesus Christ? 22
Break the participants in groups of three or four and have them talk about these questions. Give them 10 minutes. Bring the group back together and talk about some of the issues or ideas that came out of the team discussions. 23
Read this passage about the fruit of the spirit. 24
Discuss these questions with the group. 25
Talk about how to follow-up this study. If you want to continue the series do TeamWorks: Connecting with Your Community for your next study. If the same people are participating, you can continue to use the Spiritual Life Template to start each seminar. 26
These are the other guidebooks in the series. They are available from Amazon. 27