What is a Leadership Community?
Leadership Communities are small groups of innovators and thought
leaders pursuing a common ministry outcome, sharing ideas, developing
strategy and benchmarking measurements in the context of authentic
relationships. Leadership Network discovers emerging ministry
initiatives and carefully invites strategic leaders into these
communities of peers who are seeking to improve their personal
and organizational performance in the focused outcome areas.
The Leadership Community employs a process where peers work
interactively through a series of gatherings, conference calls,
web dialogues and planning tools to accomplish a significant
leap in their personal and organizational performance. To these
communities, Leadership Network brings a variety of resources
and tools that address both the unique challenges of individual
organizations as well as the common "mega challenges"
of the community as a whole. The communities will also provide
a framework for peer and coach accountability to assist participants
in reaching their accelerated target outcomes.
Watch a short (2 minute) video that explains the Leadership Community process. Or, click a link below to find out more.
How does my church qualify for a Leadership
Community?
Churches will be invited to apply for entrance into the Leadership
Communities and will be approved for participation based on
the following selection criteria:
- Churches must either be currently engaged in the targeted
ministry initiative or planning to launch that type of ministry
within one year of entering the program.
- Churches must anticipate and be committed to significant
advancement, not incremental improvement, of their approach
during the designated timetable for the action learning
program.
- Churches must sign an agreement with Leadership Network
to fully participate in the Leadership Community. Full participation
includes attendance at all gatherings within the learning
program.
- Churches must agree to bring a team of at least three
on-going team members and may bring other additional team
members (number varies from LC to LC) to participate. The
participation of these additional team members may rotate
depending on the challenges and issues scheduled for specific
gatherings during the learning cycle.
- Each LC will be limited to 15 churches. Careful attention
will be given to achieving the "right mix" that
will maximize participant benefits.
Application Process:
Churches must submit a completed application form to Leadership
Network for consideration. Churches planning to launch a targeted
ministry must also provide a written summary plan and budget
signed by the current senior leader of the church as assurance
of their intent to enter into that ministry in the next 12
months.
The Leadership Network LC Director will notify churches of
their acceptance or rejection into the program by a determined
date. Qualified churches not selected for the first LC will
be invited to participate in future leadership communities.
What areas of ministry currently
have Leadership Communities?
Leadership Network currently has ten Leadership Communities underway or in development:
- The Asian American Churches Leadership Community.
Leadership Network and L2 Foundation have formed a strategic partnership to explore and develop a peer learning program for innovative churches effectively reaching next-generation Asian Americans.
- The Church Planting Leadership Community directed by Linda Stanley focuses on God’s call for churches to radically rethink their passion and strategies for harvesting the unchurched. Thanks to improved multiple methods, better tools and an increased number of laborers, a growing number of churches are seeing high-yield church planting results. The ultimate goal and outcome of this Leadership Community is to accelerate the learning, knowledge and application of innovative approaches to church planting. There is one group currently meeting, and two more groups are scheduled to meet later this year for the first time.
- The Encore Generation is a research project led by Cindi Haworth. Churches that understand the untapped potential of this huge demographic are discovering new and creative ways to engage older Americans in productive ministry and kingdom expansion. The focus of our research is on leading churches’ innovative ministries through and to older adults in their communities. If you are aware of churches that are creatively engaging older adults in outreach, service and/or care giving please contact Cindi at cindi.haworth@leadnet.org.
- The Externally Focused Churches Leadership Community identifies those churches that are incredible agents of transformation in their communities. Leadership Network has found that many churches are discovering a new vitality and level of effectiveness as their congregations make the shift from "serve us" to "service". Two Leadership Communities have finished their two year community and three other groups are in process. This Leadership Community series is now closed to new applicants.” All sessions are directed by Eric Swanson.
- The Generous Churches Leadership Community is a group of leadership teams from innovative local churches intent on creating cultures of generosity and stewardship. These churches share similar bold goals for growing their ministries over a two year time period. Contact Christopher Willard for more information.
- The Marketplace Success/Kingdom Significance Leadership Community's purpose is to identify, connect and resource church leaders involved in a Halftime ministry. The group addresses the many issues and great opportunities associated with serving the Halftime demographic and will accelerate the diffusion of learnings in this area. One group is currently meeting and a second is under construction. Wayne Smith is director of this Learning Community.
- The Missional Renaissance Leadership Community combines church leaders with key influencers from the private, public and social sectors of their cities—such as business executives, school superintendents and nonprofit leaders—to tackle huge societal issues like poverty, hunger, disease and mal-education. These cross-sector teams come together as a strong force and create a unity across interests and occupations for a greater collective impact. The churches involved are creating a new scorecard for the missional church. Contact Julia Burk (program coordinator) for more information.
- The Multi-Site Churches Leadership Community was created to serve a new model of ministry—one church that meets at multiple locations. These multi-site, multi-venue, multi-campus churches have many of the attributes of th large church along with some distinctive benefits and challenges. Two Multi-Site Leadership Communities have completed their 2 year commitments and three more are currently active under the direction of Greg Ligon and Geoff Surratt.
- The Life Stages Leadership Community creates relational peer networks of senior pastors who share similar ministry challenges and desire connections to other leaders serving in similar ministry situations. Beyond relational connections, senior pastors have opportunities to exchange ideas and ministry methodologies, deepen personal leadership qualities, and encourage and pray for one another. For additional information, please contact Linda Stanley, Life Stages Leadership Community Director.
- The Rapid Growth Leadership Community serves the increasing number of churches that are growing at an escalating pace, and encompassing a cross-denominational and cross-stylistic congregational demographic. Christopher Willard directs this leadership community as it identifies churches that fit this description, and assists them in predicting and managing the problems and opportunities they are likely to encounter.
- The Recovery Ministries Leadership Community is under the direction of Liz Swanson. Churches and church leaders are recognizing both the great need and the great mission opportunity in helping individuals who are struggling with addictions gain freedom and release from this slavery. New materials and partnerships are also helping to position the local church as the front line provider of recovery ministry. Our Leadership Community will serve the churches that are redefining recovery ministry in the 21st century by accelerating both results and transferable learning. One group is currently meeting and another is under construction.
