The Church Council is the visionary and leadership body of the church. This presentation was given during a Leadership Training event on January 18, 2014 for the Little Kanawha District of the West Virginia Annual Conference. You can contact me for more information or teaching opportunities at www.stevegedon.com

1. Leadership Development Training
Rev. Dr. Steve Gedon

2. (people, personalities, problems)
(actions, activities, agendas)
(practical, resources, timing)

3. The executive agency of the charge conference
(¶244). This means that between meetings of the
charge conference, the church council is the group of
leaders who guide and further the ministry of the
congregation.

4. (Organization)
(Decision)
(Strategy)
(support)
(implement)

5. The council exists to create and supervise the
strategic plan for an effective congregation. The CC
should reflect the character and population of the
congregation.

6. THE GOAL OF THIS CHURCH is not to
create a space for people to
conveniently look upon God, but
to enable willing disciples to
grow, thrive and be shaped into
the Image of Christ in thought,
actions, and experience.

7. THE CHURCH is not a finished
product comprised of perfect
people, rather people united,
shaped and guided by the Word
of God and energized by the
Spirit of God.

9. Church is about
Ministry
“Ministry is the ongoing attempt to put one's
own search for God, with all the moments of
pain and joy, despair and hope, at the
disposal of those who want to join this search
but do not know how.” Henri Nouwen

10. Church is a
Maturing Process.
It is not possible for a Christian to be
spiritually mature while remaining
emotionally immature.

11. Church is a
Maturing Process.
“The church will never mature
beyond the leadership.”
Peter Scazzero

12. Church is a
Maturing Process.
“Christians are made, not born.”
Tertullian

13. Church is a
Maturing Process.
“[Jesus] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and
teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may
present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I
strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so
powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29

14. Discover and Utilize their Gifts,
Talents, Personalities, Experiences
and Interests to become fully Mature.

17. Leader, decisive, authoritative, powerful, clear,
concise, timely, visionary, action
Vision-Oriented

18. Authoritarian, insensitive, demanding, ruthless,
destructive, feared, not a great team player,
terrible follower, not good listener

19. Organized, detail oriented, focused, secretary,
priorities, hard worker, busy, agenda, action
Task Oriented, good team player

20. Solitary, Process over people, achievements,
Task Oriented, driven

21. Funloving, cohesive, energized, excitable,
people over projects, friendly, engaging, life of
the party Fun-Oriented

22. Easy to distract, not focused, not dependable,
ADD kind of people, distracting, It’s not all about
you!

23. Loyal, sensing, people oriented, emotionally
intelligent, emotionally healthy, soothing,
comforting, integrity

24. Analysis paralysis, consensus or nothing, cannot
stand unhappy people, abhors change, takes
debate and discussion personally

25. Consumers
“weekend warriors”
Avoid Consultants
Embrace Contributors.

26. Materialist
“what’s the cost?”
Avoid the “Rainy-Day” mentality
Embrace Blessed to be a Blessing

27. Christian
Energized and excited by GOD.
Avoid ‘Woe-is-me’ Mentality
Embrace Risk taker.

28. Meaning: How do we see life and our place in it?
Message: What is our story and how do we tell it?
Mission: What are we here for and what do we do?

29. Members: How do we connect with people and
include them in our movement?
Mobility: How do we command attention in a fastmoving world?

30. Money: How do we support our cause?
Metrics: What do we measure and what do these
numbers mean?

31. •Elevate (Inspire) – What can we achieve together?
•Envision (Plan) – How are we going to do it?
•Engage (Do) – When & with whom will it happen?
•Evaluation (Learn) – Outcomes, Lessons, Improve

32. Elevate (inspire)
Resources, goals, talents, demographics, passions,
growth, dreams  Create Excitement

33. Envision
Champion, Plan, Resources, Stretch

34. Engage
Support, Encouragement, Resource, Motivate,
Educate, Employ

35. Evaluate
Learn, Document, Ask, Celebrate, Affirm

36. Implement
Support, encouragement, enthusiasm

38. 
(¶244) – Organization

(¶251.3) – Role of the Chair

(¶252) – Council Roles & Functions

39. 
Meet at least quarterly

Be attentive to Ministry before Administration

Use consensus and discernment for decision
making

40. 
Fill leadership vacancies

Review Membership of the congregation

Recommend salary package for pastor to
charge conference

41. What is the Church Council?

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Church Council is the administrative agency
of the charge conference.
Carries out the Mission and Vision of the
Charge Conference.
Chair of this group is elected annually by the
charge conference (¶251.3).

42. BUSINESS VS MINISTRY
BUSINESS FOCUS
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Running the church
Burnout/low interest
Like secular meetings
Short term focus
Avoid risks
Blame
Control, power and
decision making stays here
MINISTRY FOCUS

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Making disciples
Personal renewal
Experience God
Kingdom focus
Experiment
Try to do it better
Follow God’s lead,
empower others to make
decisions

43. Chairperson Responsibilities?


Lead the council in
fulfilling its responsibilities
as outlined in The Book of
Discipline of the United
Methodist Church, 2008,
¶252.
Work with the pastor(s)
and other Leaders to fulfill
the mission of “making
Disciples of Jesus Christ
for the transformation of
the world.”

Hold the BIG picture

Build an agenda in
consultation with Pastor

Coordinate ministries
among planning groups

Follow up decisions (no
micro-managing)

Build the group and
develop new leaders

44. Other Responsibilities

Review the membership of the local church;

Fill interim vacancies occurring among the lay
officers of the church between sessions of the annual
charge conference;

Establish the budget on recommendation of the
committee on finance and ensure adequate provision
for the financial needs of the church;

45. One of the core responsibilities of the
council is to “lead the visioning and
strategic planning process within the
church”

46. Vision is a capacity to see the
system differently.

47. One of the most important tasks in
formulating a meaningful vision is to
gather information

48. 


Discern what is special about your context
Why has God place your church where it is
located?
What are the unique features about your
community?

49. 


Who lives in your community?
Who goes to your church?
What is unique about your church?

50. 
What need can your church meet better
than any other organization in your
community?

What are the available resources?

51. The church council exists to create and
supervise the strategic plan for your
local congregation .

52. Twofold function includes both leadership
and management. Leadership is the
visionary, "big picture" work that
assesses critically where your
congregation is at the present moment,
where God is calling it to be in the future,
and what resources will be required to
move from your current reality into the
desired future.

53. Management is the essential "detail
work" that must be accomplished on
a daily basis to make the congregation
effective.

54. ef·fec·tive
producing a desired or intended result.
synonyms: successful, effectual, potent,
powerful; helpful, beneficial, advantageous,
valuable, useful; convincing, compelling,
strong, forceful, potent, weighty, impactful,
sound, valid

55. Our Mission
Make Disciples of Jesus Christ
Make a Difference in the World.
Our Goals  Strategy
Inspirational Worship Experiences
Intentional Christian Discipleship
Involved in Practical Christianity
Inviting Faith Conversations

56. 87% Protestant congregations in US are
stagnant or declining
77% of people on church boards said the
quality of their spiritual life “went
down” while serving
Every group of churches over 20 years
old are declining as a group

58. What kills passion?
1. Problem-solving syndrome (where there is no vision)
2. Busy-enough now
3. No vacancy (no more energy)
4. Nostalgia (comfortable in the present…)
5. Lazarus syndrome (recovering the dissatisfied)

60. Unhealthy core values that drive churches
(Rick Warren)
1. Tradition (what did we do before?)
2. Personality (what does the leader want?)
3. Finance (how much does it cost?)
4. Program (what are we already doing?)
5. Building (if you have a room the kids cannot
use …)
6. Needy (simply give people what they want?)

61. Three types of people attend church:
1. Casual (ready to visit)
Reached by outreach ministries
2. Curious (ready to grow)
Reached by spiritual growth ministries
3. Committed (ready to serve)
Reached by equipping ministries
8. Balanced Ministry Strategy
Thriving church systems minister to each stage!

62. Seasonal waves
1. Christmas
2. January 1
3. Easter
4. Mother’s Day & 5. Father’s Day
6. Start of school year

63. Front door waves
Marriage conferences, recovery
ministries, having a variety of
services (style, location)

64. Message waves
Preaching in series (start on key days)
Postmodern (conversational) style
Titled for take-home value

65. Staffing waves
Bringing on folk who attract new group
of people

66. 50% of world is now younger than
16 and 80% become Christian
before age 21

67. Future
Staff which Attracts
Growth
Present
Staff which Supports
Growth
5. Grow your Staff
Build a staff which builds ministries which build
people.

68. People grow and serve best when they know
what the steps are
What’s your game plan for discipleship?
Spiritual gift implementation
Being “high expectation”

69. Annual parenting and marriage sermons series
Those who are not parents or spouses are
educated for other roles in relation to our
family ministries

70. A church can get bigger as long is it keeps getting
smaller.
Different spiritual needs are met by different size
groups in the church.

71. The #1 job of the pastor is to guard
the “spirit” of the church

72. Model emotionally healthy family relationships
Public/personal encouragement
Creating atmospheres of grace while making
phonies and critics squirm

73. When churches deal with these factors, they
pollinate the church … and create the kind of
greenhouse in which seeds can grow and
flower.

75. The charge conference will determine the size
of the church council. Members of the
church council shall be involved in the
mission and ministry of the congregation
as defined in ¶ 252.2.

76. Council shall include persons who represent
the program ministries of the church as
outlined in ¶ 243.

77. The membership shall include but not be limited to:

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the chairperson of the church council;
the chairperson and/or a representative of :
the pastor-parish relations committee;
the committee on finance;
the board of trustees;
the church treasurer;
the lay leader;
a lay member to annual conference;
the United Methodist Men;
the United Methodist Women;
the United Methodist Youth;
the pastor(s).
others
Children’s Advocate, Program Ministries,

78. 

The pastor is the administrative officer of the
local church and therefore is an ex officio
member of most committees (¶ 244.3, 2008 BOD).
Ex officio members have both voice and
vote.

79. 
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Preparation: agenda and reports
A time of learning
Thoughtful devotional
A time of discernment
Celebration of Ministry
Decision made
Actionable Plans
Communication planned

80. Can anyone attend a committee meeting?
Who is allowed to vote at committee meetings?

81. Can paid staff persons vote on the church
council or other committees?

82. 
Genuine Christian character who love the
Christ and His church

83. Person who are morally disciplined, are
committed to the mandate of inclusiveness in
the life of the church

84. Loyal to the ethical standards of The United
Methodist Church set forth in the Social
Principles, and are competent to administer its
affairs.

85. 
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Disciples (growing & doing)
Clear about our mission (thinking)
Visionaries (prayerful & discerning)
Spiritual Leaders (mentors & guides)

86. Task of Leaders
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Lead meeting
Listening
Delegation
Organize
Vision-transfer the vision
Communicate
Motivate
Patience
Spiritual Maturity

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Prioritize
Flexible
Money Management
Risk Taker
Researcher
Learner
Strategize
Humility & Accountability

87. “Once the soul awakens, the
search begins and you can never
go back.”