Leadership & Administration
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I am firm believer in the shared ministry of the church. While it is important to have strong leadership from those in positions of leadership, one person, one board, or one committee does not a strong and healthy congregation make. From a strictly practical standpoint, when it’s all getting done by one person or one group of people, you have created something that is unsustainable, because your success will disappear once that person or those people step out of leadership. That is not the kind of success I want to help create. I want to help build an institution that will still be thriving ten, fifty, even a hundred years from now. More important than practicalities though, is that I believe effective ministry is done in relationship, and it is done together.
Administration is a key part of leadership. A rabbi friend of mine once said to me, “the Jewish mystics believed that there are sparks of the divine scattered all across the world, and it is our job to find ways to uncover them. Sometimes we just happen across them. More often though, we have to shape the space that allows them to be accessed.” This sharing rang true to me, and put words to my understanding of the work of ministry. I enjoy the work of shaping of the space, and I am good at it. When I worked in business, I was good at shaping the space to make our business practices more efficient and our employees more productive. In ministry, I am good not only at initiating the creation of Sunday morning welcome team for visitors – I also have the skills, insight and leadership ability to train that team and help make it effective. Administration is one of my gifts, and while I wouldn’t be excited if it were to comprise 90% of each working day, I understand its importance, and find great satisfaction in seeing it done well, in such a way that helps us accomplish our broader goals.
Administration is a key part of leadership. A rabbi friend of mine once said to me, “the Jewish mystics believed that there are sparks of the divine scattered all across the world, and it is our job to find ways to uncover them. Sometimes we just happen across them. More often though, we have to shape the space that allows them to be accessed.” This sharing rang true to me, and put words to my understanding of the work of ministry. I enjoy the work of shaping of the space, and I am good at it. When I worked in business, I was good at shaping the space to make our business practices more efficient and our employees more productive. In ministry, I am good not only at initiating the creation of Sunday morning welcome team for visitors – I also have the skills, insight and leadership ability to train that team and help make it effective. Administration is one of my gifts, and while I wouldn’t be excited if it were to comprise 90% of each working day, I understand its importance, and find great satisfaction in seeing it done well, in such a way that helps us accomplish our broader goals.
Website Design
Check out my web design work on the "rebuilt from scratch" church website: www.uuchurchmuncie.org. Ideas and input were of course sought along the way from the board, staff, and others.
Check out my web design work on the "rebuilt from scratch" church website: www.uuchurchmuncie.org. Ideas and input were of course sought along the way from the board, staff, and others.
Newsletter Articles
"Who Am I?" - April 2017, published in the Church of the Larger Fellowship's Quest magazine
"The Stories We Tell Ourselves" - October 2017
"Mystery: Embracing the Unknown" - December 2018
"Finding Belonging Amidst Diversity" - October 2019
"Who Am I?" - April 2017, published in the Church of the Larger Fellowship's Quest magazine
"The Stories We Tell Ourselves" - October 2017
"Mystery: Embracing the Unknown" - December 2018
"Finding Belonging Amidst Diversity" - October 2019
“Seth brings an important perspective to leadership. He's able to step back and look at things systemically. Instead of simply jumping in the river to scoop up all the dead fish, Seth marches up the riverbank to figure out who's poisoning them. He's willing to ask the hard questions.” |
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