Learning Community Blog 1

Hi to all of you on the Learning Community,

I am sorry that it has taken a while to start doing these blogs - unfortunately a grant that we were hoping for to free up some time for me to do this kind of thing did not come through, so we have been desperately trying to juggle schedules to make it possible! I think we have got there now, so hopefully this will become more regular. The plan is for a blog a month from me, plus some comments on the posts that you write in response.

My articles are primarily to stimulate discussion, so I am not in the least offended if you disagree with me over something! Also, you might want to post a question or comment that is not directly connected with the article for that month. That is fine too.


Article 1: Task, Team, Time

Of course reflecting on the way that Jesus chose the twelve and also reading Jim Collins' Good to Great we have been talking a lot about making sure that we have the right team ('people on/off the bus') and also that we are very intentional about our use of time ('what do I start, what do I stop?'). However, we can sometimes make assumptions about the task in which we are engaged. Do you really have a clear vision of what you are trying to do long-term through your church? If you do not, it can be difficult to make shorter term decisions that work together to build your momentum.

For us at Philly KC, our vision is:

The re-evangelisation and re-christianisation of the UK (and beyond?)

In order to achieve this we feel that we need to first learn how to significantly affect one major city (Sheffield).

In order to do this we need to learn how to grow a network of missional communities that will reach into every neighbourhood and network of the city.

In order to do this we need to learn how to release low maintenance, low control missional communities that can continue to live, grow and multiply after we have planted them. We need to see them grow exponentially.

We will need a structure that can support them sufficiently without becoming intrusive.

As this is our goal, we have spent the last five years looking almost exclusively at getting these missional communities working and growing properly. Now that they seem to be multiplying without a lot of extra input from my team, we are beginning to look at how we can develop some more resourcing centres that will help to support them properly.

The task that the Lord has called you to as a church may be different from us. But clarity about what you are trying to see happen is really key to the way that you develop your team and the way that you as a leader use your time. In your church, does the task, the team and the use of time all work together, or are these things actually fairly disconnected? What needs to happen in your team in order to establish the correct priorities and to build momentum towards a clear goal?

Paul Maconochie

Welcome to the Learning Community blog

Hi friends,

I'm really looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks as we gather together in Sheffield.

The focus of our next Learning Community will be on moving out and getting God's people engaged in God's mission.

From now on I will be regularly posting blogs on this site for us to discuss as a learning community.

Why not start the ball rolling - do you have any testimonies to share of things that God has done since our last learning community?

Post them by clicking on the comments link below.

Blessings,


Paul