Pastor Unique

Preface

It is unlikely in the highest degree that this book should have been written and almost miraculous that it was. Credit the Internet. Or blame it, depending upon how you evaluate this volume's merits and faults.

The three of us met on a social media website frequented by those who practice the esoteric arts of pastoral ministry, clergy coaching, and church renewal. We discovered in one another kindred spirits who shared passion for the renewal of deteriorating churches, deep concern for the pastors who lead them, and a desire for greater understanding of why some pastors are adept at leading turnaround churches while most are not. We wondered if it was possible to discern an explanation that might lead to meaningful help for churches and pastors. Over the course of several months, our discussions led to the idea for this book.

The concept developed somewhat like an avalanche. It started slowly and progressed imperceptibly. Then it happened all at once and we were swept away by the power of the idea and a clear sense that we had been called to write. It began when Bud posted a question to Gary about the difference between the MBTI and The Birkman Method®. In time Gordon was brought into the discussion. We began to wonder what we might discover, and what we could contribute to church renewal literature, if we applied the Birkman to Gordon’s earlier research.

Suddenly, we found ourselves standing on fresh ground.

After the data had been gathered, evaluated and subjected to careful statistical analysis, we realized that the Lord had entrusted us with remarkable and occasionally surprising insights into the nature of effective turnaround leadership in the Church.

In our minds, the case was nailed shut when we went back to evaluate several successful turnaround pastors who had puzzled us. One, for example, was an adept turnaround leader even though the more familiar typing tools indicate that he is wholly unsuited for turnaround ministry. In contrast, his Birkman profile closely matches the turnaround pastor profile in six of seven distinctive components.

The research also revealed best practices that correlate to effective turnaround leadership. We settled on three purposes in writing this book. Our first purpose is to bring our research to the Church in the hope that pastors, church leaders, and denominational executives will understand which leadership behaviors promote church renewal and which behaviors hinder it. Our second purpose is to show how these findings can be applied profitably to several of the most vexing problems that confront declining congregations. Our third purpose is to suggest one way forward for those who want to bring renewal to moribund churches.

We are painfully aware of the limitations of our research and this book. We are hopeful that others will replicate, correct and extend this work to include a greater variety of ethnic churches, inner-city congregations, and more churches within the mainline denominations. We also hope that as our dataset grows, our research will be further refined relative to church size and context.

As it stands, the scope of this book is limited to a snapshot of what distinguishes those who have been successful turnaround leaders in the past. It begs for a longitudinal follow-up study that shows whether the best practices and the training process we advocate help pastors become effective renewal leaders. The anecdotal evidence available to us indicates that roughly one-half of those who embark on the journey will become effective turnaround leaders.

But that's the subject of another research project.

And another book.