Divine Renovation Part 3: Forming a Leadership Team

Summary

Father Malin discusses the critical shift from church maintenance to mission, emphasizing the necessity of leadership in driving transformation. He addresses the lack of leadership training for priests and the importance of forming a well-rounded leadership team to navigate the changing cultural landscape. The conversation highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in transformation, the integration of business and social science insights into church leadership, and the challenges of changing church culture. Father Malin also shares his experience with implementing the Alpha program as a tool for evangelization, discipleship, and leadership development within his parish.

Takeaways

• 😇 The Church is hierarchical and leadership is essential to its nature, with priests having three main tasks: preaching the word of God, celebrating sacraments, and leading God's people.
• 📚 Priests often receive little training in leadership, focusing more on theology, which can be a challenge when moving from maintenance to mission mode in the Church.
• 🌐 The cultural context has changed, necessitating a shift from a passive Christian culture to a more active, missionary approach, which requires strong leadership.
• 🔄 Leadership is crucial for transformation, not just within the Church but also in the way leadership is exercised, reflecting the prophetic, priestly, and kingly ministries.
• 🙏 Transformation through leadership is dependent on the Holy Spirit and a proper understanding of human nature, integrating prayer with action.
• 🛠️ The integration of business and social science insights into Church leadership is encouraged, as grace builds on nature, not replaces it.
• 🔄 Leading change in the Church today involves changing the culture, which is a challenging task that requires time and persistence.
• 👥 The importance of a stable leadership team is emphasized, as frequent changes in pastors can hinder progress and reset the Church's direction.
• 🏰 The concept of 'culture' in the Church refers to the collective beliefs, norms, and practices that are often unconsciously accepted as the standard.
• 📊 To truly understand a Church's values, one must look beyond stated mission statements and examine budget allocations, time management, and events.
• 🔑 Developing a culture of leadership within a parish involves identifying and empowering individuals with gifts for leadership and creating a pipeline for leadership development.

Q & A

What is the essential part of priesthood according to Vatican II?

According to Vatican II, the essential part of priesthood includes three tasks: preaching the word of God, celebrating the sacraments, and leading God's people, which encompass the prophetic, priestly, and kingly ministries.

Why did the church in the past not require strong leadership?

In the past, the church did not require strong leadership because it was in a maintenance mode within a pseudo-Christian culture where people would come to the church without it needing to actively reach out.

What is the current necessity for the church according to Father Malin?

The current necessity for the church is to have strong leadership to move from maintenance to mission, as the culture has changed and the church needs to grow and adapt rather than just manage decline.

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in transformation according to the script?

The Holy Spirit is the source of all transformation. It is essential to recognize that transformation comes from the Holy Spirit, aligning with the belief that grace builds on nature, not replacing it.

Why is it a false dichotomy to separate prayer and work in the context of church leadership?

It is a false dichotomy because prayer and work are not mutually exclusive. Grace builds on nature, implying that prayer (a spiritual act) should be complemented by work (practical action) in both personal and church leadership.

What is the significance of having a leadership team in a parish?

A leadership team is significant because it provides a well-rounded approach to decision-making, covering various strengths and weaknesses. It allows for healthy conflict and diverse perspectives, which is crucial for effective leadership and transformation.

What is the role of a senior leadership team in a parish as described by Father Malin?

The senior leadership team plays a critical role in providing strategic direction, fostering unity and vision, and ensuring that the parish moves towards its mission. It is composed of a small group of individuals with complementary gifts and a shared commitment to the vision.

How does Father Malin describe the process of change within the church?

Father Malin describes the process of change as leading towards a transformation of culture, which involves changing people's perceptions of what is normal. This is a challenging task that requires time and the ability to manage pushback and resistance.

What is the importance of stability in pastoral leadership as per Father Malin's experience?

Stability in pastoral leadership is important because frequent changes in pastors can reset the progress made towards transformation. It allows for the development of a long-term vision and the implementation of changes without the constant need to start over.

How does Father Malin utilize the Alpha program in his parish?

Father Malin uses the Alpha program as a tool for evangelization, discipleship, and leadership development. It serves as a pipeline for identifying and training potential leaders, helping to raise up a new generation of leaders within the parish.

What is the philosophy behind the leadership team structure recommended by Patrick Lencioni?

Patrick Lencioni's philosophy emphasizes the importance of a small, diverse team with complementary gifts. The team should be committed to a shared vision and have the freedom to engage in healthy conflict, which is essential for effective decision-making and growth.