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Church Transformation, Purpose / Mission Driven Church

Strangelove said:
If you're pastors have authority over you then they are going directly against Christs own teachings in Matt 20:25-28.

It's as simple as that. He didnt want leaders to have authority over anyone only to minister them. To be servants. And thats the truth. Can you even acknowledge these verses? Can you explain what they mean to you?

I'm not rejecting the assembly, I'm right here.
Click to expand...

I also am not furthering this discussion with you. You have been given much truth of the word and a great deal of godly insight about the local church and how a good one functions. You have erroneous views and not a good attitude to boot, which makes it not conducive to righteous communication.

I am pleased with my contributions to this discussion, but will not continue with you in it.
 
Organization development (OD) is a planned, organization-wide effort to increase an organization's effectiveness and viability. Warren Bennis has referred to OD as a response to change, a complex educational strategy intended to change the beliefs, attitudes, values, and structure of organization so that they can better adapt to new technologies, marketing and challenges, and the dizzying rate of change itself. OD is neither "anything done to better an organization" nor is it "the training function of the organization"; it is a particular kind of change process designed to bring about a particular kind of end result. OD can involve interventions in the organization's "processes," using behavioural science knowledge[1] as well as organizational reflection, system improvement, planning, and self-analysis.

Organization development - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Church Leader Institute’s
“Church Leader Success Systemâ€​

"To develop a successful church and continue to feel passion, energy, and spirit in your role, you also need to put in place the right strategies, tactics, and behaviors to get results. It is also essential to have someone to lean on, someone with the knowledge and experience to help you anticipate and resolve challenges."

"Again: The above results don’t happen with faith and prayer alone. It is a combination of faith and prayer plus training and education….and a tool kit that shows you a proven system for successful church leadership."

The Church Leader Success System is a step-by-step system and toolkit for you to make an immediate difference in your church. It is not a book that you read but rather a set of tools that you can put to use immediately.

The Church Leader Institute - Training for Christian Leadership and Church Management




 
Vision Casting​

Church change agents work to create dissatisfaction with the old traditional ways. When people become dissatisfied with the present situation, will they be open to change.

One method used by church change agents to sow seeds of dissatisfaction is to “cast a vision†for the membership of a better future. By casting their visions of “what can be†(which is a fantasy or an illusion), the change agent is able to “unfreeze†the group from the old way and move them toward a new way as they all now focus on this new vision. Vision statements are an important part of the church transformation process. As the congregation focuses on a man-made vision or purpose, an organizational collective “group mind†is created.

To “catch the vision†or “vision casting†are New Age terms. According to the TQM model, successful leadership begins with a vision which reflects the shared purpose. This is also called a transformational vision. “Vision†or “what can be†results from a dissatisfaction with God and His Word, and is antithetical to biblical Christianity. “What can be’ or ‘vision’ is the end result of the Hegelian dialectic process or transformational thinking. It is the direct opposite of moral absolutism-‘what is’ [God’s Word]. In order to move a person into this transformational mode of thinking, ‘what is’ must be questioned and challenged. The dialectic process-‘constant change’- requires one to let go of ‘what is’, in order to strive toward potential-‘what can be’ [vision]. You have to leave your moral absolutes behind [God’s Word], or else you will remain resistant to change…†60.

In the Church Growth Movement, many pastors “cast a vision.†Church growth leader, Rick Warren, sees himself as a “vision casting leader.†On an internet website Rick Warren is quoted: “I know my leadership style. I am a big-picture, vision casting leader… there is nothing inherently right or wrong about being a vision casting leader. It is simply the way God wired me.†61. Another church growth leader, Bill Hybels, advertises a CD of a summit meeting at his church. It is titled “Vision Casting: The Road of Leadership, the Summit at Willow Creek (Audio CD).†62. According to Warren Smith, Robert Schuller’s leadership methods also involve vision casting as he encouraged the use of guided visualization (vision casting) so that people could gain whatever they want.

Those in the CGM who advocate casting and catching visions are tapping into the occult world. One website defines sorcery as the “Manipulation of energy or forces to bring about a desired end through visualization; invocation or summoning of powers/spirits…†63. This tells us that sorcery can involve visualization. An occult website defines guided visualization as “Ancient shamanism; induced trance like states, or altered states of consciousness, where one is led to visualize the desired goal; making contact with ‘spirit guide’ or ‘demonic being’...†64. This definition says that guided visualization can involve contact with demonic beings. Another website states that “creative visualization can easily introduce the practitioner to spirit guides.†65. An article about basic shamanism states, “The journey into non-ordinary reality is most frequently accomplished by what many would term visualization.†66.

Does God want Christians taking a journey into non-ordinary reality? An article titled “How to Start a Coven†refers to guided visualization as a “magickal skill.†67. “Through the act of visualization you will get the cooperation of the higher powers of the universe who will work to bring this vision into manifestation.†What kind of “higher powers†cooperate with church growth vision casters?

What does the Word of God say about contact with “higher powers?†“There shall not be found among you…a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD...†Deut. 18:10-12

The Word of God calls vision-casting “divination†and “false visionsâ€: “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.†Jer. 14:14

Jeremiah 23:28 states, “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? Saih the Lord.†When a Christian has God’s Word which is truth, why would he want to catch a deceitful man-made vision?

Communitarianism
 
This is from the about us section of 'Ministers Fellowship International' who 'oversee' the cell church that I was quoting from earlier. Look at the language especially involving 'visions':

OUR PURPOSE

Ministers Fellowship International exists to facilitate and nurture meaningful relationships among member ministers equipping & enabling them to be more effective in their callings, for the purpose of building and multiplying strong local churches around the world.

MFI benefits the minister and it also benefits the congregation that member ministers serve. It benefits the minister by:

Helping them to establish meaningful covenant relationships with like minded leaders [!?? Covenant relationships???!]

Providing resources to the ministers to enhance their personal life and ministry

Providing a sense of covering and accountability

Providing for the rejuvenation and refreshing of battle weary leaders

Giving each member minister a sense of connection to a larger family network and a worldwide vision

MFI benefits the congregations by assisting their pastors and leaders, by giving congregations a sense of national and international identity, by providing a sense of security and a place to turn in times of difficulty, and by exposing local congregations to ministries that will build what they are building. [i.e...the 'vision']

Other assorted Quotes on their website:

"MFI is not a fellowship of churches, it is a fellowship of ministers. This means that ministers of like vision and doctrine voluntarily associate themselves with other ministries for the purpose of fellowship, encouragement, vision expansion, equipping and strength."

"Pastor Dick Iverson, who at the time was the pastor of Bible Temple (now City Bible Church), was meeting many pastors and church leaders who felt like they were alone. They had a distinct vision, a common value system and doctrinal distinctives that were compatible, but, apart from joining a traditional denomination, there was no vehicle through which they could associate themselves with other like minded leaders."

The Apostolic Leadership Team (ALT) serves the Fellowship by:
  • Establishing the vision for and giving direction to the Fellowship with the input and counsel of all MFI members.
  • Ensuring that the Fellowship functions in such a way that the purposes become a reality.
  • Maintaining doctrinal purity in the Fellowship through the formulation and distribution of position statements.
  • Feeding Fellowship members through the "Seed Bag" or any other avenue that may seem appropriate.
  • Raising up and releasing other like minded leaders to assist in reaching the Fellowship goals.
  • Setting the direction and themes for the annual and regional conferences.
  • Overseeing all areas of financial concern including collection, budgeting, accounting, and distribution. They provide an annual report to the Fellowship to keep the members informed.
  • Selecting and appointing regional directors, both on a national and an international level.

 
Any feedback from your leadership training Nick?

Is it what you expected?
 
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