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Advancing the knowledge and practice of church leadership
The Lewis Center is building a new vision for church leadership grounded in faith, informed by knowledge, and exercised in effective practice. |
News
Leadership Group for New District Superintendents BeginsTwelve United Methodist District Superintendents in the first year of their service are participating in a pilot leadership development program sponsored by the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. The group gathers for the first time this week in Washington, DC, to focus on the unique challenges new superintendents face. To prepare for this work, the Lewis Center conducted research over the past year with superintendents appointed for the first time in 2004. This research is summarized in a report entitled A District Superintendent’s First Year. A downloadable version is available at www.churchleadership.com. The District Superintendent program is part of the Lewis Center’s Sustaining Pastoral Excellence initiative. It is one of several peer groups created for clergy at critical junctures in their ministries. These groups meet periodically over a two-year period for leadership training that includes self-assessment, theological reflection, peer interaction, and targeted skill development. The Sustaining Pastoral Excellence initiative is supported by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Materials Available for Pastoral Feedback and EvaluationMost denominations provide for a committee that is responsible for “clergy evaluation.” Both pastors and these committees often have misgivings about such review processes. Clergy want good feedback to improve their ministries, but many have not experienced evaluation as a positive growth experience. Laity as well come to the review process with hesitancy since they themselves have not functioned as pastors. The Lewis Center for Church Leadership is making available four handouts to help inform the review process. One of the handouts reviews the theological foundations of evaluation. Another looks at the purposes and steps of evaluation, stressing the difference between “formative” evaluation that helps a person improve, and “summative” evaluation that draws conclusions about a person’s effectiveness. A third piece provides tips for giving and receiving feedback. And there is also a document that considers effective and ineffective practices for committees that review pastors. Go to www.churchleadership.com to download these handouts. Adam Hamilton Inspires Lewis Center AudienceRev. Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of the 14,000-member Church of the Resurrection near Kansas City, led a Lewis Center gathering in Washington, DC on October 25. Speaking to a group of pastors and laity, Hamilton shared innovative approaches for reaching out to non-churched and nominally churched individuals. Attendees found Hamilton’s stories, examples, and practical ideas particularly valuable. Go to www.cor.org to learn more about the Church of the Resurrection and its resources for ministry. Lewis Center Guides Work on Transition into MinistryLovett H. Weems, Jr., Director of the Lewis Center, will spearhead the work of the Transition into Ministry Task Force of the “Making Connections Initiative,” a cooperative venture of Wesley Theological Seminary and nearby United Methodist Conferences. “Making Connections” is a five-year strategy to define and implement effective pastoral leadership for the emerging generation of Christ’s church. It focuses on urban ministry, small church ministry, emerging generation worship, and transition into ministry. An October 6 Convocation held on the Wesley campus brought together bishops, conference leaders, and seminary representatives to launch this vital initiative. The Transition into Ministry Task Force will build on the Lewis Center’s past work on the early years of ministry, and provide new resources to support probationary processes, mentoring programs, and effectiveness in ministry efforts throughout the church. “Making Connections” is supported by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Adam Hamilton to Lead Event in Washington on October 25One of the outstanding mainline church leaders in America is coming to Washington, DC, for an event sponsored by the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary. On Tuesday, October 25, "A Day with Adam Hamilton" will be held for congregational leaders from 11:00 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Avenue, N.W., across from American University. The Rev. Adam Hamilton is founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (COR) in Leawood, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. Starting the church in 1990 at age 26, Hamilton has led COR in becoming one of the most dynamic and fastest growing mainline churches in the nation. Under his visionary leadership, COR has grown to have over 14,000 members. "Adam Hamilton is one of the leading voices in efforts to renew mainline churches," said Lovett H. Weems, Jr., director of the Lewis Center. In 2000, Hamilton was named by PBS's Religion and Ethics Newsweekly as one of the ten religious leaders to watch in the new century. He is the author of several popular books, including Leading Beyond the Walls, Confronting Controversies, and Unleashing the Word The theme for the October 25 event is "Leading Beyond the Walls: Developing Churches with a Heart for the Unchurched." To register for this event, go to www.churchleadership.com for registration information, or call 202-885-8757 . There is a registration fee of $100 that covers lunch and .5 CEU credit. The Lewis Center for Church Leadership seeks to advance the understanding of Christian leadership and promote the effective and faithful practice of Christian leadership in the church and in society. Supporting Wesley Seminary's mission as a church-based seminary, the Lewis Center serves as a resource for clergy and lay leaders, congregations, and denominational leaders. Churches Encouraged to Focus on Strengths Lovett H. Weems, Jr., Director of the Lewis Center, was the keynote speaker. He shared information from the U.S. Congregational Life Survey (www.uscongregations.org) identifying ten areas of congregational strength. Creating a sense of belonging, focusing on the community, offering meaningful worship, and empowering leaders are just some of the things congregations do well. At the conclusion of the day, one participant said, “The discussions allowed me to look at the strengths of our congregation and to think of how we can build on them.” Hope for the Small Church
Those attending from smaller churches were particularly encouraged by data showing that small congregations excel in six of the ten areas of strength. Dr. Lew Parks, Associate Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Congregational Development at Wesley led a popular workshop on “Hope for the Small Church.” Lifting up Biblical models of church, Dr. Parks equipped those ministering in small church settings. Strengths Associated with Growth New Ideas for Developing Strength 50 Ways to Build Strength Caring for Children
Study of New District Superintendents ReleasedDr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., distinguished professor of church leadership and director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary, announced the release of A District Superintendent's First Year: A Report on Research with New United Methodist District Superintendents. The report is based on a four-part survey of District Superintendents in their first year of service. The work was done with the support of a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. "The goal of the project," said Weems, "was to identify key leadership development issues for new superintendents – to learn how well prepared they are and where additional skills are needed to fulfill their new role." A series of four surveys was administered to District Superintendents appointed for the first time in 2004. Fifty-nine percent of first-time superintendents participated in the research. Each survey focused on a different season of a superintendent's first year, from the time he or she is named to the post, through the summer months, the charge conference season, and the appointment-making season. Many new superintendents found entry into their new role stressful, with the need to juggle preparing for their new responsibilities, caring for the congregation they were leaving, and family transition. Most said they could have been better prepared for the demands of charge conferences and making appointments. But overall, they emerged from their first year encouraged by what they learned about churches in their district. Virtually all said they would say yes again if they could go back to the time they were asked to be a superintendent. Some of the findings are the survey are:
The report recommends:
A District Superintendent's First Year , is available online at www.churchleadership.com. Printed copies of the report can be requested by contacting Joe Arnold at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu or 202-885-8757. Fall Conference to Help Congregations Build on Strengths"Congregational Vitality: Building on Your Strengths" is a day-long conference designed to equip local church leaders with up-to-date research on congregational effectiveness. It will focus on developing strength in ministries essential to church vitality and growth. Sponsored by the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, the event will be held on Saturday, September 24 from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. on the Wesley Seminary Campus in Washington , DC . Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr. will be the keynote speaker. Weems is executive director of the Lewis Center and distinguished professor of church leadership at Wesley Seminary. Previously, he served eighteen years as President of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City , Missouri . Several workshops will focus on key areas of congregational strength. Topics include:
The cost is $55 per person, $45 per person if four or more from the same church register together. This includes registration, lunch, and materials. Participants may earn .5 CEU. For schedule, directions, and registration, go to the Lewis Center web site at www.churchleadership.com or contact Joe Arnold at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu or 202-885-8757 .
Research Reveals Dramatic Changes in News Coverage of Mainline ChurchesThe references to mainline denominations in the New York Times, considered by many the "newspaper of record" in the United States, have changed considerably in the past eighty years. This is the conclusion of All the Mainline News That's Fit to Print, an article by David Schoeni and Lovett H. Weems, Jr., published in the current issue of Leading Ideas, the electronic newsletter of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary. Schoeni and Weems tracked the use of identifying words for four mainline Protestant denominations (Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian) during the three-month period from September through November 2002, and then compared the results with the same September – November periods in 1962 and 1922. The research was aimed at determining if the cultural influence of mainline denominations has eroded as their membership has declined. While the frequency of references was almost the same in 2002 as in 1922, the type of references has changed significantly. The percentage of references to institutional news about mainline denominations decreased drastically from 85% in 1922, to 55% in 1962, to only 4% in 2002. Apparently, public interest in the inner workings of these churches, at least as reflected by coverage in the New York Times, has waned considerably. In 2002, most references are in connection with hospitals or colleges that contain denominational identifiers in their name (46%) or are "heritage references" relating to past church actions or historical connections between churches, building, communities and institutions (31%.) The authors conclude, "Whereas mainline Protestantism once enjoyed its status as an almost unofficial established national church, today the picture is much different. Mainline denominations are no longer at the center of the national "public square" but seem to have moved to the margins of public discourse. While these churches continue to raise their collective voices in an effort to exert influence on the body politic, this informal study seems to indicate that today's mainline denominations are best known for their influential role in the past – as landmarks in communities and neighborhoods and as founders of institutions such as hospitals and colleges." The article can be found at www.churchleadership.com. Subscription to Leading Ideas is free. David Schoeni is a graduate of Candler School of Theology and a writer and editor in Kansas City. Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr. is Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary and Director of the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Study of United Methodist Probationary Survey Process Released "The purpose of the project," said Weems, "is to learn from the experience of those who have gone through the probationary process to assist conferences in developing probationary programs more likely to assure that candidates for ordination move from readiness for ministry to effectiveness in ministry during the three-year probationary period." The report is based on surveys administered to persons ordained in 2002 and 2003. This second edition of the report follows similar research published in 2003 that reported on those ordained in 1999-2001. "The findings indicate that the probationary process can be improved by building trust among all participants, by giving probationers input throughout the process, and by involving district superintendents more consistently through the whole process," says Weems. Five years of survey results have identified four critical elements for success in the probationary process:
The research evaluates four dimensions of probationary programs recommended by the General Board of Higher Education's Division of Ordained Ministry: 1) supervision by district superintendents and boards of ordained ministry; 2) continuing theological education; 3) mentoring; and 4) covenant groups. Supervision by district superintendents and boards of ordained ministry is the most consistently present component of the probationary process across conferences. The other components were each experienced by about 70 to 75% of probationers. The report evaluated each of the four recommended components of probationary programs:
This research was conducted in cooperation with the Division of Ordained Ministry, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, and Annual Conference Boards of Ordained Ministry. The Journey from Readiness to Effectiveness, Second Edition , is available online at www.churchleadership.com. The first edition of The Journey from Readiness to Effectiveness published in 2003 can also be found on the site. Printed copies of the report can be requested by contacting Joe Arnold at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu or 202-885-8757. Lewis Fellows Program BeginsTwenty-four leading young clergy persons gathered in Washington in early February for the inaugural meeting of "Lewis Fellows," an initiative of Wesley's Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Over three days, the Fellows reflected on their personal leadership styles and challenges. The group included outstanding young pastors from around the nation representing several denominations – Baptist, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Episcopalian, Lutheran, and United Methodist. While in Washington, the Fellows studied the theory of leadership development, heard presentations from leading Washington-area ministry practitioners, and worked with an organizational psychologist to analyze their individual leadership profiles. Most of all, they enjoyed the collegiality and support of a rich and diverse peer group. "It was refreshing to wrestle with issues of leadership among Christian colleagues, while developing vocational friendships," says Natalya Sharp Cherry, a 2001 graduate of Wesley Seminary now pastoring two congregations in Pennsylvania. Natalya is one of ten Wesley graduates in this first Lewis Fellows group. These twenty-four Lewis Fellows will meet together six times over a two-year period. The program's purpose is to achieve and sustain excellence in pastoral leadership. It is based on an integrated model of leadership development that emphasizes group study, spiritual formation, and engagement with exemplary leaders. Through intensive and ongoing peer interaction, the program hopes to sharpen leadership skills and generate new vision for ministry in ways that will not only benefit the participants, but their congregations, communities, and denominations. "Leading a rapidly growing church presents its own struggles and challenges," says Todd Adams, Senior Pastor of Memorial Drive Christian Church in Houston , Texas . "Being a Lewis Fellow gives me an opportunity to build relationships, share common struggles, and discover new resources within myself and through others that will guide the church and me, as we seek to be faithful to God." "We hope the program will be an incubator of innovation," says Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., Director of Wesley's Lewis Center for Church Leadership, which brought the Lewis Fellows together. During the next two years, each participant will design and implement a new ministry project, with input and guidance from the peer group. "This ‘action learning' paradigm is a cutting edge approach to leadership development," says Weems. The young clergy group is the first of several Lewis Fellows groups planned by the Lewis Center to address leadership development for clergy who are at different stages in their ministries. A grant from the Lilly Endowment's "Sustaining Pastoral Excellence" initiative supports these programs. The Lewis Fellows take their name from Dr. G. Douglass Lewis, as does their sponsoring organization, the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. The Center was established in 2003 to commemorate Lewis's retirement after twenty years of service as President of Wesley Theological Seminary. Since its founding, the Lewis Center has worked to build a new vision for church leadership grounded in faith, informed by knowledge, and exercised in effective practice. The Center brings together theology and management, scholars and practitioners, research and application. The Lewis Center is developing innovative programs that advance the understanding and practice of Christian leadership. Scott Cormode To Be Lewis Center Affiliate ScholarThe G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary announces that Dr. Scott Cormode will be an Affiliate Scholar with the Center for the 2004-05 academic year. Dr. Cormode is an Associate Professor of Church Leadership, Administration, and Finance at Claremont School of Theology and Assistant Dean for Institutional Research. He is currently spending a sabbatical year at Princeton as a visiting scholar. In his tenure as an affiliate scholar, Cormode will be on campus in both the Fall and Spring semesters to lead class sessions on church leadership for Wesley students, meet with faculty, consult with the Lewis Center staff, and meet with other groups of seminary and church leaders. In announcing this relationship, Lewis Center director Lovett H. Weems, Jr., said, "Scott Cormode is one of the key leaders in theological education in the field of church leadership. We are fortunate to have his expertise available as a resource to Wesley Seminary and the Lewis Center for this school year." Cormode received a B.S. from the University of California, San Diego, a M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D from Yale University. He currently coordinates a four-year, Lilly Endowment-funded project to reconfigure the education of religious leaders. Working in fields such as organization theory, religious history, and instructional technology, Dr. Cormode has written on topics ranging from congregational finances to urban religion. He leads the Academy of Religious Leadership, a scholarly association of faculty who teach leadership in theological schools. He is also editor of the Journal of Religious Leadership. For more information about Leading Ideas or the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership, contact the center at 202-885-8757 or by email at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu. Lewis Center Launches Leading Ideas, Free Online NewsletterThe Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary announces the launch on October 20 of a free online newsletter providing resources and information for church leaders. "Leading Ideas will provide thoughtful, relevant, and succinct information for church leaders," according to Lovett H. Weems, Jr., director of the Lewis Center and editor of the newsletter. Delivered by e-mail every two weeks, the e-newsletter will feature book reviews, articles, and leadership vignettes that bring the best leadership resources to the task of revitalization of churches. Persons may subscribe now at www.churchleadership.com. For more information about Leading Ideas or the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership, contact the center at 202-885-8757 or by email at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu. Fall Conference Offers Practical Roadmap for Congregational PlanningMapping a Better Future for Your Congregation offers a practical roadmap for congregational planning. Through plenaries, workshops, and notebook resources, the conference will present a comprehensive model for reviewing and redefining the church's vision, mission, and ministry. The one-day session will be held Saturday, September 25, 2004, at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, beginning at 9 am. It is sponsored by the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley. Participants will learn essential strategies for bringing about growth that is faithful to the congregation's heritage, identity, and cultural context. An in-depth planning process will be presented which can be applied to congregations of every size and demographic makeup. Congregational planning committees are encouraged to attend as teams to take advantage of all the strategies presented in workshops. Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., distinguished professor of church leadership at Wesley and director of the Lewis Center, will present insights from his study of strategy planning and his experience in church and denominational planning. In discussing the purpose of this conference, Dr. Weems refers to a comment made by church consultant Lyle Schaller after decades spent working with thousands of churches. Schaller says that the number-one issue for most congregations is "the need to initiate and implement planned change from within." Conference cost is $50 for materials, lunch, and breaks. Participants may earn .5 CEU. For schedule, directions, and registration, go to the Lewis Center web site at www.churchleadership.com or contact Joe Arnold at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu or 202-885-8757. Contact: Joe Arnold New Book Presents a Biblical Model of Church LeadershipMay 3, 2004
The authors address church leaders who are seeking to understand what it means to be a successful leader in the church in ways consistent with careful biblical and theological reflection. "The contemporary church has grown comfortable with Church Leadership Lite," writes Parks, "with the plethora of approaches to church leadership short on biblical and theological integrity and oblivious to serious leadership study." The Discoveries series is a publishing partnership between the Abingdon Press and the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. The series seeks to combine the best in theological reflection on leadership in the church with the best insights on leadership from business, public, nonprofit, and scholarly arenas. For more information about the Discoveries series or the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership, contact the center at 202-885-8757 or by email at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu. For more information or to register, go to the Lewis Center web site at www.churchleadership.com or contact Joe Arnold at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu or 202-885-8757. Wesley President Contributes Chapter to Leadership BookApril 19, 2004 Washington, DC—David McAllister-Wilson, president of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, is author of a chapter in a major new book on Christian leadership. Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge is edited by noted leadership authors James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner. Other contributors to the volume are John C. Maxwell, Ken Blanchard, Patrick Lencioni, and Nancy Ortberg. The book is described by the publisher, Jossey-Bass, as "a faith-based companion to the best-selling leadership book of all time, The Leadership Challenge," by Kouzes and Posner. This book describes their five practices of exemplary leadership – Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart – and offers practical guidance and inspiring examples about how Christian leaders can have a powerful impact in their workplaces, communicates, and congregations by bring their faith in to their leadership. President McAllister-Wilson's chapter is "Reflections on Inspire a Shared Vision." He traces the biblical nature of visioning and illustrates how Christian leaders today inspire shared visions. "Vision isn't everything," he contends, "but it's the beginning of everything." Visioning for Christians not only asks "What would success look like?" but "What would success look like to God?" according to McAllister-Wilson. President McAllister-Wilson has been instrumental in identifying the key role of leadership in church revitalization. His efforts to establish the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Seminary are one example. This new book is an example of one of the goals of the Lewis Center to bring together the best of secular leadership studies with theological reflection and church practice. For more information or to register, go to the Lewis Center web site at www.churchleadership.com or contact Joe Arnold at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu or 202-885-8757. "The Right Start: Beginning Ministry in a New Setting" Conference AnnouncedFebruary 29, 2004 Washington, DC—A two-day conference for clergy anticipating a move to a different congregation this summer will be held May 11-12 at the historic and recently renovated Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland,. It is sponsored by the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Through plenaries, discussion groups, and a conference packet of resources, The Right Start: Beginning Ministry in a New Setting conference will focus on the theological, professional, and personal issues at stake during the transition of pastors and congregations. Participants will learn positive closure strategies for their current ministry settings, ideas to help successors, family and self-care practices, and insights into the emotional challenges of transitions. There will be a focus on the critical first 6 to 18 months of ministry in a new setting. Participants will gain tools for understanding a new setting, discover how to avoid the most common early blunders in a new church, and learn how to set priorities in the midst of the multiple needs encountered. Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., distinguished professor of church leadership at Wesley and director of the Lewis Center, will lead the conference and speak several times throughout the conference. Also providing leadership will be Dr. Youtha Hardman-Cromwell, associate professor of practice in ministry and mission at Wesley. In discussing the reason for such a conference, Dr. Weems said, "Making transitions is one of the key challenges for all leaders, including church leaders. An inability to make transitions well is a common difficulty. Much of the effectiveness of a pastor's work in a particular church assignment is shaped in the early days and months of ministry in the new setting." Conference cost is $175 with materials and two lunches included. Participants may earn 1.5 CEUs. For more information or to register, go to the Lewis Center web site at www.churchleadership.com or contact Joe Arnold at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu or 202-885-8757. Lilly Endowment Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Grant ReceivedJanuary 2004 Wesley Theological Seminary has been selected to receive a grant of $1.7 million from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. to participate in a national program called "Sustaining Pastoral Excellence." The program is an effort of the Endowment to focus attention and energy on maintaining the high caliber of many of the country's pastoral leaders. Begun last year, the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program has established projects to enable ministers of many Christian traditions to create environm Commenting on this grant, Wesley president David McAllister-Wilson said, "This grant is an early and significant achievement for the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership, which will administer the program. Building on Wesley's strong network of congregations, the grant will enable Wesley to strengthen partnerships that provide helpful resources and support for clergy. This effort in sustaining pastoral excellence will create cohorts of pastors to practice and hone pastoral skills, engage in theological reflection, and foster spiritual growth." "Looking to the future," said Lovett H. Weems, Jr., director of the Lewis Center, "this grant will lay the foundation for Church Executive Leadership Program at Wesley, which will combine the best of theological reflection, management expertise, and research as an ongoing resource for enhancing pastoral, congregational, and denominational vitality." "This grant from the Lilly Endowment confirms the work that Wesley Theological Seminary has accomplished in improving the quality of ministry and the vitality of congregations over the last decade," continued President McAllister-Wilson, "and it places Wesley in a group of institutions poised to lead the church in this new century. Our participation in the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program begins a new and exciting chapter in how the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership and Wesley Theological Seminary can make a difference in the church today." Lewis Center for Church Leadership and Abingdon Press Announce a New Publishing Partnership – October 2003 Take the Next: Step Leading Lasting Change in the Church, by Lovett H. Weems, Jr. has been released as the first book in this new series. Dr. Weems is the Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary, and is the director of the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership. The second book in the series, tentatively titled Ducking Spears, Dancing Madly: An Alternative Biblical Vision of Church Leadership, by Bruce C.Birch and Lew Parks will be published next spring. Birch is Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary and the Woodrow W. and Mildred B. Miller Professor of Biblical Theology, and Parks is Associate Dean for Church Leadership Develospment at Wesley. "We are honored to be associated with Abingdon Press in this new venture," said Dr. Weems. "We share the goal of making available to church leaders books that combine the best in theological reflection on leadership in the church with the best insights on leadership from business, public, nonprofit, and academic arenas." Take the Next Step is addressed to church leaders who often hear advocates of change speak in revolutionary terms. The problem with such calls for radical change, says Lovett Weems, is that they are not true to the way that genuine and lasting change takes place. Transformational leaders know how to build on the congregation's identity, discovering a bridge from their history to new ministries. They know how to make the story of change the next chapter in the book of the congregation's life. An astute student of management and leadership theory, Weems offers congregational leaders essential ideas about how they can work with and through their churches' ministries to bring about faithful growth toward the Reign of God. For more information about the Discoveries series or the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership, contact the center at 202-885-8757 or by email at jearnold@wesleyseminary.edu. Study of New Probationary Process Released – September 2003In 1996, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church approved a new probationary process of at least three years for candidates seeking ordination in the denomination. Following the completion of educational requirements, future clergy spend at least three years, and up to six years, under the supervision and guidance of an annual conference board of ordained ministry. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry through its Division of Ordained Ministry establishes the recommended guidelines for annual conference boards to use in developing their respective probationary programs. Principles and Guides for Annual Conferences recommends four dimensions – supervision, continuing theological education, mentoring, and covenant groups. In 2002, a survey research project was conducted by Saint Paul School of Theology for the Division of Ordained Ministry to assess the probationary process. Surveys were sent to 800 clergy ordained in 1999, 2000 and 2001, with a return of 250 returned completed surveys. "The purpose of this research project," according to project director Lovett H. Weems, Jr., was to learn from the experience of those who have gone through the new probationary process in order to assist conferences in developing probationary programs more likely to assure that probationers move from readiness for ministry at the beginning of the probationary period to effectiveness in ministry by the end of the period." Weems, at the time of the project, was president and professor of church leadership at Saint Paul School of Theology. He is now distinguished professor of church leadership and director of the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Summary of the Findings:
The Journey from Readiness to Effectiveness: A Survey of the Probationary Process in the United Methodist Church  Download Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0
Lovett Weems to Lead New Leadership Center at Wesley Seminary – July 2003Lovett H. Weems, Jr., past president of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, came to Wesley as Lewis Center Director and Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership in July 2003. A successful pastor, seminary leader, teacher, and writer, Dr. Weems has been at the forefront of making church leadership a higher priority for theological studies. His books are textbooks in many seminaries. As president of Saint Paul, Dr. Weems focused on improving the quality of congregational leadership. "Lovett's decision to join us at Wesley means that we now have a faculty prepared in all respects to integrate faith and practice," said David McAllister-Wilson, president of Wesley Theological Seminary. "Lovett is a gifted preacher and experienced pastor, as well as being a successful institutional leader. He is a man of deep faith who has spent his life and research on what it takes for the church to be effective in its mission." The Lewis Center for Church Leadership, named for retired Wesley Seminary President G. Douglass Lewis, is designed as a forum for leadership training for clergy and laity. Approved by the Board of Governors in 2002, the center will create new resources, integrating scholarship in the field of leadership with the theological and biblical vision of the church. The Lewis Center will be a meeting place for scholars and practitioners, fostering the creation of new literature on church leadership. The seeds for the center were planted over twenty years ago in Dr. Lewis's inaugural speech and nurtured in conversations between seminary and church leaders over the past two decades. "The concept comes to fruition at a time of great challenge, opportunity, and transition for church leaders," Dr. McAllister-Wilson said. In anticipating this new undertaking, Dr. Weems said, "Wesley Seminary has a vision for the Lewis Center that is bold. I am honored to be a part of this effort to develop visionary spiritual leaders among clergy and laity. The time is right, and the need is great for just such a center committed to a future for the church rooted in its theological heritage." A native of Mississippi, Dr. Weems is a graduate of Millsaps College, Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology, and Wesley Theological Seminary. In 1998, he was inducted into the John Wesley Society, which honors the outstanding graduates of Wesley Theological Seminary. In 1997, Baker University awarded him the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, as did Central Methodist College in 2003. Dr. Weems was a local church pastor in Mississippi for many years before moving into seminary administration. As a pastor, he emphasized evangelism, mission, church school, and social concerns. Distinguished Mississippi writer Willie Morris described Dr. Weems as "one of the persons who added much to the growing civility of Mississippi." Dr. Weems was elected a clergy delegate from the Mississippi Conference to the 1980 General Conference and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. He was a delegate from the Missouri West Conference to the 1996 General Conference, as well as to the 1992, 1996, and 2000 South Central Jurisdictional Conferences. A member of the Missouri Annual Conference, Dr. Weems has served on the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. He is a past president of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools in the United States. Dr. Weems was elected president of Saint Paul in 1985 after serving three years as vice president of Wesley Seminary. At the time of his election, he was the youngest seminary president in the United States. When he left in June 2003, he was the longest serving president in the seminary's history, and the longest serving active United Methodist seminary president. Among the accomplishments of his tenure at Saint Paul: student enrollment grew from 11th of the country's 13 United Methodist seminaries to 7th; its endowment grew from $2 million to $30 million; faculty positions were added in congregational leadership, evangelism, town and country ministries, and Wesleyan studies; and the campus was expanded, redesigned, and renovated. To mark his eighteen years as president of the seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, he was honored by donors of Saint Paul School of Theology with the establishment of a $1.2 million endowed faculty chair, the Lovett H. Weems, Jr., Chair in Congregational Leadership. Dr. Weems is the author of more than 250 articles and reviews in national publications, as well as several books, including Take the Next Step: Leading Lasting Change in the Church, Leadership in the Wesleyan Spirit, Church Leadership, and John Wesley's Message Today. (All published by Abingdon Press). As Dr. Weems takes the helm of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, he brings his decades of leadership experience to helping fulfill the vision of Wesley as a church-centered seminary. He and the center staff will offer courses in leadership and management, teach in the Masters' and Doctor of Ministry programs, and create an academic arena for integrating theological principles and practical management and leadership skills. Wesley Seminary Announces New Resource for the Church Centered in the Seminary – May 2002Wesley Theological Seminary's new Center for Church Leadership will be named for retiring President G. Douglass Lewis, in honor of his 20 years of outstanding leadership of the seminary. Chair of the Board of Governors, Edward W. Kelley, Jr., made the announcement at a banquet honoring Lewis on May 11, 2002. The center, approved by the Board in February 2002, will be a resource for leadership training in the core curriculum, in continuing education, and in training for lay leaders. The seeds for the center were planted 20 years ago, in President Lewis' inaugural speech. "This is the culmination of 20 years of conversations," Executive Vice President David McAllister-Wilson said. The time is right, now, because the seminary has made a strong commitment to be church-based and has a "top-flight faculty with a common vision." A decade from now, McAllister-Wilson expects the center will give students a clear understanding of their role as spiritual leaders, will support clergy and lay leaders with short-term educational experiences to improve their leadership skills, and will be a resource center for current thinking in church and spiritual leadership. He expects the center's influence will extend beyond the classroom experience to a broader orientation toward and understanding of leadership. Based in the seminary and for the church, the center will offer courses and special training events; be a meeting ground for scholars and practitioners to debate and learn from each other; and foster creation of new literature on church leadership. Many friends and graduates of Wesley contributed to the center in honor of President Lewis and provided funding for the first three years. Future financing will come from funds designated for or generated by the center, and ultimately, an endowment supplemented by a portion of tuition and fees. The center will be a wholly owned and operated subsidiary of the seminary. The center's staff will offer courses in leadership and management in the master's and doctorate programs, and, where appropriate, in the practice of ministry and mission and urban ministry programs. The center will be a lab for scholars and practitioners to integrate theological education with the practice of ministry, and a platform for educators and students to debate and learn from each other.
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Washington, D.C.—Ducking Spears, Dancing Madly: A Biblical Model of Church Leadership by Lewis A. Parks and Bruce C. Birch has just been released by Abingdon Press. This is the second book in the new Discoveries: Insights for Church Leadership series. Parks is Associate Dean for Church Leadership Development at Wesley Theological Seminary and Director of the D.Min. Program at Wesley and Birch is Academic Dean and the Woodrow W. and Mildred B. Miller Professor of Biblical Theology at Wesley.
ents for ongoing biblical study, theological reflection and spiritual renewal, as well as for developing sustained friendships and mutual support opportunities. Wesley is one of only 16 "Sustaining Pastoral Excellence" grants made this year by the Endowment.
The G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership and Abingdon Press are pleased to announce a new publishing partnership, the Discoveries: Insights for Church Leadership, series.