Customer Reviews

Leading on Purpose: Intentionality and Teaming in Congregational Life (Lutheran Voices)

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When I led a series of discipleship classes in my congregation I gave each participant a gift book as the 12 sessions drew to a close. This book from Eric Burtness was one of those books.

Inspirationally, Burtness captured my own imagination when he explained that the church's purpose was defined by Christ in his final instructions to the first 12 disciples. Jesus identified the greatest commandments for them (Matt 22:37-39) and gave them the great commission (Matt 28:19-20). Burtness connects Christ's instructions to the 5 purposes of the church: worship (love the Lord your God), ministry (love your neighbor as yourself), witness (go and make disciples), fellowship (baptising them), and discipleship (and teaching them all that I have commanded you).

(My brain lit up: stewardship is NOT a purpose of the church; it's a faith practice, like prayer, that helps us to draw closer to God.)

Practially, Eric Burtness is one of one of the few who gets congregational "team ministry" right-side-up. Congregational ministry is organic; it will grow and change, so let it. Most importantly, it percolates up from those in the pew (how very Lutheran!). At the risk of oversimplifying: if 2 or 3 feel called to a new ministry - let them team up to lead it! One, or all, might be called to a different ministry later on, but don't try to fill their places with warm bodies just to perpetuate a ministry that no longer has any (passionate) proponents.

Burtness's web site provides free downloads of the worksheet he gives to those who want to lead a new ministry in his congregation. Completing it helps them think through who will lead, how much office support, budget, and other resources will be required, and in what way the new ministry furthers the mission (mission statement) of the congregation.

It's a small book, but it contains big ideas, useful tools, and moving examples: an easy and enjoyable read.