So Russell posted on a book/seminar about metrics of evaluation – “12 characteristics for evaluation of ministry in the postmodern context” from Jill Hudson’s book “When Better Isn’t Enough”. Here’s his post: The Eagle and Child: More info on transformation.
So I wanted to comment, but figured I’d ramble on and on, so I’ll just make this post and leave the link or something. Here are the 12 characteristics and my comments about them:
The 12 characteristics for evaluation of ministry
1) the ability to maintain personal, professional and spiritual balance
* I am increasingly becoming something of a mystic regarding “balance”. Meaning I believe it is a mystical state that only attained in the metaphysical… not the practical. By which I mean that i don’t think you ever really “balance” life… just enough family-time, just enough ministry-time, just enough alone-time, just enough ______-time. What I do think is mostly possible is keeping a consistent focus on a direction (think Kingdom). This orients life. Sometimes I over compensate in one area and then more in another… its not balance on a daily rhythm… rather over the long-haul in the same direction I keep moving, staying limber, keeping focused.
2) the ability to guide a transformational faith experience
* I’m not sure I can really “guide a transformational faith experience”. I think I can be attentive…. present with… persons (and myself) in a season/process of transformation. If I “guide” at all it is by wondering (and wandering) aloud (hopefully) in tune with the Spirit. I look ahead with expectation.
3) the ability to motivate and develop a congregation to be a ‘mission outpost’ (help churches reclaim their role in reaching new believers)
* agree. next.
4) the ability to develop and communicate a vision
* How about the ability to discern vision corporately with the community. The ability to listen well, synthesize, and articulate for and on the behalf of the Faith Community.
5) the ability to interpret and lead change
* Ok, sure.
6) the ability to promote and lead spiritual formation for church members
* hum…. I don’t like the word “promote”… not just the “marketing” overtones of it, but rather the outside-in-ness of the word. Spiritual formation is not something that should be conceived as an activity that is extracurricular to the Body. Rather it should be part-and-parcel for the life of the community. So I don’t promote it as much as “enter-into-with” the Body.
7) the ability to provide leadership for high-quality relevant worship experiences
* “high-quailty”… ummm…. let’s go with “No”. I need to think about this more… I’ll post this for now and add to it later.
the ability to identify, develop, and support lay leaders
9) the ability to build, inspire, and lead a ‘team’ of both staff and volunteers
10) the ability to manage conflict
11) the ability to navigate successfully the world of technology
12) the ability to be a lifelong leanrer.
