Culture Power Leadership

Culture Theory : 

Culture Theory What is culture??? Culture is complex Culture is what we are as we exist together Every community creates, nurtures and transmits culture, and culture links every congregation to its community Culture is essential to the exercise of power

What is Power ? : 

What is Power ? Power is the ability to accomplish something Power exists Power is inherently neutral Power is easier to recognize than it is to define Power needs to be understood in terms of both individual and authority **most church people ~lay and clergy alike~ confuse power with authority

What About Leadership? : 

What About Leadership? Leadership is about leading Leadership requires learning Leadership shares power Leadership always centers around vision The potential for leadership is strengthened by experience with marginality Leadership must be earned over and over again. Leadership is the development and articulation of a shared vision…it is not management!

The Swamp ModelLooking at Culture Levels : 

The Swamp ModelLooking at Culture Levels Take a minute and draw something like a swamp

The Swamp ModelLooking at Culture Levels : 

The Swamp ModelLooking at Culture Levels

Your Church’s Swamp : 

Your Church’s Swamp Artifacts: These are the things you can see on the shore of your church or ministry’s swamp As you name what you see, write these artifacts on the shore of your swamp. Examples: parking lot, steeple, cars, people—ages, dress, etc, condition of the grounds, building, signs or no signs, sanctuary, choir, pictures, pulpit…

Looking into the Swamp : 

Looking into the Swamp Espoused Values: What people say out loud about what they value at your church or ministry… Write these sayings as if they are floating in the water Examples: We are a warm and friendly church, We welcome all people, We take care of our pastor, Everybody is somebody here Remember, these are the things the members say out loud about who they are and what they believe

Getting Into the Mud : 

Getting Into the Mud Shared/submerged Beliefs Here comes the hard part--- this level is the most difficult to discover These are deeply shared beliefs (not theological) that nobody speaks out loud, and most people are not aware of these at all…until something, like a new artifact, bumps into one! In the mud of your swamp note beliefs that are deeply held by the congregation—these have been around for a long time and for some time they were helpful and necessary They are neither good or bad—they just are Examples: Those who have been here the longest have the power We want new members as long as they do what we want done We want youth as long as they behave and act like they should

Living In the Swamp : 

Living In the Swamp As you already see, things get messy in the swamp when something in the mud gets stirred. MUD is necessary for the swamp, as are the shared assumptions in that mud. But, one day those assumptions need to be discovered and brought into the light. Then they can be reframed or claimed in order to help the community live into God’s vision. When newcomers become part of a church often they are the ones who bump into the mud of the swamp, only to run away and never return. Think of Suzie…a CPA who joins your church because everybody is friendly and “everybody has a place here.” Suzie comes to a finance meeting and hears the struggle. She offers to work with the treasurer and booom! She has hit something she could not see in the mud. Share your Swamp stories with your classmates as you learn how to discover deeply held shared assumptions before they destroy your congregation.

The Confluence Modellooking at the Streams of Culture : 

The Confluence Modellooking at the Streams of Culture Your church/ministry’s Swamp does not exist as an island…there are always streams of culture flowing in and around your particular church or ministry. These streams flow in three layers: Macroculture: the largest, widest--- USA, Me and Mine, Apple Pie, American Flag,English…etc. Mesoculture: the middle layer which consists of regional, ethnic, generational, gender, educational, etc. Microculture: inside your church/ministry Streams are always flowing, and if they are log-jammed, your church’s swamp could become stale and stinking water in which nothing can live

Looking at your church/ministry over timeLifeCycle ModelImagine your church/ministry as on something like a bell curve(see pg 26 in How to Get Along With Your Pastor)Is your church up and coming, dynamic, established orweakening and in decline? : 

Looking at your church/ministry over timeLifeCycle ModelImagine your church/ministry as on something like a bell curve(see pg 26 in How to Get Along With Your Pastor)Is your church up and coming, dynamic, established orweakening and in decline?