Bill Easums Observations

I got one of those mailers the other day that’s meant for pastors to leaf through and buy all the latest and greatest bulletin blanks, choir robes, doctoral degrees, visitor packets, etc. I must have been very bored … or distracted … and I picked it up and leafed through it. I about fell out of my chair (laughing? crying? wailing?) when I saw the ad for a CD with a collection of policies and procedures for every church. The ad said, “It’s so great to say ‘It’s against Church policy’ instead of just plain ‘NO’. What a blessing to the pastor!”

Now, don’t get me wrong, I get what this is all about, but over 200 pages of ways to just say “No” is so typical of the crying and dying church. Last time I checked, the effective points of policies and procedures in the church is so we can just say “Yes!” to ministry and “Yes!” to Jesus. But alas, many, many, many (dare I expand that to most?) churches in North America are so concerned about protecting what few resources they have left that they’re almost paranoid that someone might possibly do something and use more than their fair share. Now, don’t get me wrong. The just say no policy and procedure manual is necessary for those churches who are clueless about their own mission, vision, and especially shared values. If you don’t know what you’re for, you’d better at least know what you’re against … that way you have an opportunity to feel like you’re in control. Sure, the church may be going down faster than the Edmund Fitzgerald, but we’re gripping the wheel all the way to the bottom.

Every church must have boundaries, but they have to be developed based on the church’s DNA and all toll they shouldn’t be longer than a half-sheet of paper. They could look something like this:

1. All church ministries must specifically further the mission of the church.
2. All church ministries must specifically further the vision of the church.
3. All church ministries must reflect the shared values of the church.
4. All church ministries must promote and be in the name of Jesus - no anonymous ministries.
5. All church ministries must be team-based - no Lone Rangers.
6. All church ministries must be led by a member in good standing. (Put this in words your congregation will understand - the ministry leader must be a practicing Christian who has made a commitment to the church’s DNA and supports the church with their treasure, time, talent, and testimony.)
7. All church ministry leaders must be in a ministry accountability partnership with another member in good standing who is not a participant or beneficiary of the ministry.
8. All church ministries must be self-sufficient or underwritten by the ministry’s team. (If your church will seed beginning ministries to XX dollars, then say so here.)
9. All church ministries using church property must coordinate their activities with the office. (Not a committee, but someone who can ensure there are no double-bookings of rooms, vans, sound equipment, etc.)

That’s it. Less than ten policies and procedures that pretty much covers everything that might come up in the church.

 Or you could buy the CD and wade through 200 pages of reasons to say no.

 Bill Tenny-Brittian
www.EasumBandy.com
www.NetResults.org

I’m sure, like me, you love the song Silent Night.  It’s a classic.  The problem is that is just what is happening - the church has become quiet and calm while the world continues to deteriorate. Most churches don’t realize the outreach importance of Christmas and Christmas Eve.

A quote was shared on our advance forum just yesterday -”“the church gives people just enough of Christianity  to immunize us against the real thing.” It was soon followed up by this quote from another member who quoted a Keith Green song- ” “The world is asleep in the dark that the church just can’t fight because it’s asleep in the light – how can we be so numb – not to care if they come –” All across the world people will gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s a glorious occasion. The problem is most of these celebrations in the West will be for the members only with little or no consideration that someone might show up who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

So this Christmas do everything with the stranger in mind. Prepare your people and be on the watch. Don’t let Christmas be a silent night- make it shout the Good News that Jesus Christ is born!

Have a noisy, glorious Christmas
Bill Easum
www.easumbandy.com

First, let us wish all of you a Blessed Christmas. I think “blessed” is so much better than “merry.”  Merry can mean so many things- happy, smashed, giddy, etc.  But “blessed” conveys a much more defined greeting. When you think about it, and Christians don’t have to think very hard, we are all so blessed. Christ, in our lives, is the best blessing one could ever imagine. So why not take a moment to consider all the Christ has blessed your life? And while you’re at it, how about the people who have blessed your life over the years? Make a list of them and give them a call. Now to Christmas Resources.

If you go to our website, and do a search you will come up with 117 different resources. So have fun.

But here’s the best tip anyone can give you - plan your Christmas Eve services with the unchurched in mind.  Give them a healthy dose of what they might experience  if they returned to your church. Have some way to respond to them with 48 hours.  And have your people ready to great them because Christmas Eve is still one of the most important days for evangelism.

Have a Blessed Christmas,
Tom, Bill E., Bill T., and Susan

Leadership Network is relaunching its books blog  . Tom Bandy and Bill  Easum are going to be regular contributors to the blog.  You should find it a helpful tool for discovering cutting edge books.  You can also find a long list of recommended books at our site in the Library.

“Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god.” So stated the charter for the British colony known as Berkeley Hundred.  On December 4, 1619 Captain John Woodleaf held the first service of thanksgiving.  Berkeley Plantation continues to be the site of the official annual U.S. Thanksgiving event to this day.

As congress recognized the importance of the Thanksgiving observance, President George Washington issued a national Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789. He wrote,“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country…for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed…and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually…To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.”

We know it’s trite to say it but we have to say it anyway - “Happy Thanksgiving from EBA.”

Two of the metaphores I use alot are National Park for the 20th century and Jungle for the 21st Century. You can let you imagination run wild or you can click on one of them to see the comparisons.

 The journey from the National Park into the jungle will change most things from now on. Having a firm grasp on the key leverage pieces to the future is incredibly important. So here goes.

Assuming you have your DNA and spiritual life underway in your church, there are three things that must occur in the 21st century jungle to cause a church to flourish. Here they are

First, We all know the first one is indigenous worship. But just what does that mean in the jungle. It sure doesn’t mean Praise music anymore. Indigenous worship must be in the language, technology, and culture of the people you are trying to reach. So, if we are truly in the jungle then the following applies.

1.If it isn’t hard rock it probably won’t feed people much past the next five years.
2.If it doesn’t wow people it probably won’t have much retention.
3.If it isn’t loud it probably won’t motivate and if the teaching isn’t basic and down to earth, it probably won’t grow people. (I know the emergent folks don’t always feel this way, but remember I don’t think they will be a major player in the new world, at least not for the next 30-50 years. For now they will be only one nitch among many.)

4.These services will not be as linear as in the past and they will be different from week to week which means the need for stage props and setup and tear down teams.
5.Teaching and music are no longer THE important elements; now you have to add ambiance, fun, and the unusual. The more kids play video games the harder it will be to provide them a worship setting where they can experience faith.

Second, a children’s ministry that is designed first: to provide atmosphere, second to provide fun, and third to help children grow in their relationship with Jesus rather than God or Christ. This means the classroom and printed curriculum are out and the large venue and video is in. It also means fewer teachers and a need for some degree of competent acting on the part of the leaders of the children’s ministry.  So instead of Sunday School it is children’s worship designed for children both to worship and to learn. You can see some of these examples on our website . The more kids play video games the harder it will be to disciple them at church without embracing their culture.

Third, intimate settings/groupings will be essential for the 21st century person to find their true destiny. This could mean small groups, ministry teams, coffee house environments, missionary journeys, market place ministries, you name it.  I think it will be far more eclectic in ten years than it is right now. It would be more eclectic today if small groups weren’t working so well that churches don’t feel like experimenting beyond what they know is working.

Next year, I’m planning on leading about 6 or 7 summits around the country. I’ve done my last two just outside of Palm Beach, Florida and really love the location. Bill Easum and Tom Bandy generally lead their summits in Port Aransas, Texas. I’ve decided, though, I want to start leading some seminars around the country. Since I live in Columbia, Missouri, which is equadistant between Kansas City and St. Louis, I was thinking one of those cities would be nice once in awhile for those who live in the Mid-West. I’d love to go back to Seattle (my home stomping ground). And I’ve never done much in the Northeast, so I’d love to get out there.

 Here are the considerations:

1. Needs to be within 30 minutes of a major airport.
2. Needs to be a “destination” site - somewhere church leaders would like to go.
3. Lodging has to be both comfortable and the cost has to be reasonable.
4. Lodging must be walking distance to restaurants. 
5. Must be able to cancel reservations within 2 weeks of event without having to pay anything (which rules out most retreat centers).

Would love to hear specific recommendations, but if you don’t have time to write a comment, here’s a survey that will help me out.

 Thanks! Bill T-B

Free Online Survey

Here we are again, trying our hand at blogging. This time, though, all
three of us (Bill, Tom, and Bill) will be sharing a single blog. Our
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Bill T-B