prague 24. august 2007 baptist union of denmark reflections on the challenges of congregational...
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Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Reflections on the Challenges of Congregational Leadership in Danish and Scandinavian Context
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
What am I doing?
Am I really a leader? Or …
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
An Emerging church needs a new kind of leadership
Innovation? Health? Growth? -- Leadership is the key!
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Dying Church – Lack of leadership!?
good
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Churches and members
1920 30 churches 5500 members1940 36 churches 6500 members1960 40 churches 75007500
members1980 42 churches 6000 members2002 48 churches 5000 members2007 - I’ll show you later
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Before (1930-1965):
Leadership as a rewardThe pastor is ‘the king’Authoritarian leadershipMoralismDiscipleship = respectable
And… the church was growing
The reaction (1965-2000):
- Everyone’s a leader - The pastor is ‘nothing’- democratic leadership- Everything’s allowed- Discipleship = Sunday hobby
And… the church was declining
Who we where
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
From a mission movement a mission movement to a’Lutheran state church ’Lutheran state church Wannabee…!’Wannabee…!’
And so we got it: - State recognition- State recognition- civil registration- civil registration- ’real’ pastors- ’real’ pastors- big organization- big organization- big church buildings- big church buildings
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Baptist identity in Scandinavia / Denmark: Believers baptism and democracy (only!)
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Baptist identity i Scandinavia:
Believers baptism democracy
Focus on:Membership –not discipleshipOrdination – not servingLiturgy – not freedom
Focus on:Structure – not fellowship
Demo-crazy: - Everyone can saywhat he wantseverywhereabout all issue in the way he wants!- Decision-making = voting!
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Risk of split 1990-2000• Summer camp (charismatic) in competition
with our annual meetings. • No one attended our seminary.• Membership - rapidly declining.• Many churches started their our projects. • Less (financial) support to the Union. • In fact: It was a necessary crisesIt was a necessary crises –
a wake up call from God: ‘Do you really want to be a church, or…?’
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
The decade 1990-2000 was a time of reflection and decisions
Conclusions:- New inspiration - We become more mission oriented- young leaders- decisions about big changes: - Structure - Education - Mission consultants - Annual meeting
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
StructureBefore: 15 hours business meeting at ourannual meeting elected a committee with15 persons. Now: 5 hours business meeting at ourMission conference elects a committee with 5 persons. And twice a year one delegate from each church is invited to a talk-and-decide
meeting
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Scandinavian Academy of Leadership and Theology
From a Baptist seminary with one student to a inter denominational Scandinavian education of mission workers and leaders.30 students in Denmark, 150 in Scandinavia
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Mission Consultants 1998 -
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Mission conference
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Mission conferenceFrom a 3 days annual meetings (business meeting) with 400 attendances to a 6 days festival with more than 1200 attendances (500 under the ages of 25)
2000: 1400 attendances2001: 1100 -2002: 1200 -2003: 1300 -2004: 1200 -2005: 1300 -2006: 1500 -2007: 1300 -
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
New Changes after 2000• New International Mission: From
150.000 Euros in 2002 to 1.000.000 Euros in 2007.
• New magazine 2005: From internal information's with debate to an external witness about faith and church life.
• Care for pastors: Since 2003 a team and a part time counselor.
• Integration: Since 2004 a ‘Church Integration Service’
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Churches and members
1920 30 churches 5500 members1940 36 churches 6500 members1960 40 churches 75007500
members1980 42 churches 6000 members2002 48 churches 5000 members2007 50 50 churches 5260 members
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
What have we learned about leadership?• Good Leadership IS the key to changes
in the church (both local and national)• Good leadership needs: Education,
training, wisdom and courage!• Don’t be afraid of new management ideas
and organizations theories – Everything they know they learned in the church!
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
New leadership – new principle we use:• Value based leadership
• Visionary leadership
• Transformational leadership
• Enabling leadership
• Delegating leadership
• Communicative leadership
• Team leadership
• Servant leadership
• Brave leadership
• Praying leadership
• Inspiring leadership
• Democratic leadership
• Visible leadership
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
We need We need leaders leaders who can tell who can tell the truth the truth and not only and not only the thingsthe thingswe want we want to hear!to hear!
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Agent Johnny English:
’He knows no fearHe knows no dangerHe Knows Nothing!’
We need We need wise and brave wise and brave leaders!leaders!
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
’I'm their leader, I have to follow them!’
We need leaders who dare to lead!We need leaders who dare to lead!
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
’We are all leaders!’
We need leaders who gets We need leaders who gets the permission to leadthe permission to lead
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
The new kind of leadership is to
The new kind of leadership is to often about so called strong leaders!
often about so called strong leaders!
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
We want leaders We want leaders who looks like our selveswho looks like our selves
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
We only wants to We only wants to be leaders be leaders together with together with people who are people who are just like just like ourselvesourselves
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Challenge:Challenge: The treat from Mordor”You will unite or you will fall”
Vision:Vision: The Ring has to be destroyed, thrown in the flames from where is came
The Mission:The Mission: One shall do it! But he can’t do it without the others – Fellowship Of The Ring
Team based leadershipTeam based leadership
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Another famous team
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
A team with many skills and gifts
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Jesus gathered a team of 12 disciples
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
US President: Arnold Schwarzenegger
’’I was elected to lead,I was elected to lead, not to read!’not to read!’
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
So what have we learned?
We know more about the Bible and the Anabaptists - and we want to learn more.
We know more about the culture in which we live, and the people whom we serve – and we want to learn more.
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Forwards to The Roots
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
Christ centeredReligious freedomMissionFellowship of believersBelievers Baptism
Baptist Union of Denmark Prague 24. August 2007
The challenge and trends now• More flexible and relevant structures• Encourages young people…• Help churches to be healthy • Be aware of interdependency• New mission projects – together• New ecumenical experiences (unite churches)
• Future leadership is coaching and mentoring
• More… … …