Organic leadership in churches will be the focus of a series of workshops sponsored by the Southwest Virginia Christian Leadership Network.
Bob Dale, most recently assistant executive director of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and founding director of the Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership (RASNet), will lead an upcoming series of workshops based on his book, Seeds For The Future: Growing Organic Leaders for Living Churches.
In his book, Dale proposes an organic leadership style based on a conviction that “the church of Jesus Christ is alive.” As he explains it, “The ‘Seeds' workshop is only for folks who are ready to grow. The theological difference in ‘organic' leadership is that it believes down deep that the church of Jesus Christ is really alive and practices an approach to leadership that honors that dynamic life. We've been taught that the church is a machine … so we lead mechanically and too often end up breaking churches.
“The big, practical differences in the way a pastor will lead in an organic style have to do with:
“• Respecting living faith communities as the bodies of Christ.
“• Believing that God will germinate and grow the changes he wants in our lives.
“• Admitting that his timetable isn't necessarily ours.
“Organic leadership isn't a quick fix, but it's the future for our congregations.”
The schedule for the workshops:
• March 26, Green Valley Baptist Church, Lebanon.
• March 27, Mount Hermon Baptist Church, Danville.
• March 29, Bonsack Baptist Church, Roanoke.
Workshops are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each location. Cost to attend is $5 and lunch is provided. Copies of the book will be available at each site and Dale will be glad to autograph.
Please pre-register for any of the workshops by phone at (540) 777-3014 (Roanoke) or (866) 223-9344 (toll-free) or by email at gary.chapman@vbmb.org.
Special to the Herald