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View from the 20th Floor
My wife and I moved to a condominium this past fall. We're in a 20th floor end unit that overlooks the federal city. We have an amazing view that encompasses a swath from Washington Cathedral to the left, the Washington Monument and Capitol Building in the center, and Alexandria and across the Potomac River on the right. On a game night, we can see the lights of Fed Ex Field where the Washington Redskins pretend to play football.
We can easily see steeples of 20 or so churches, restaurants, schools, office buildings, and homes and apartments that house hundreds of thousands.
As I move around in our building, I see people in our hallway, on our elevators, in the lobby and fitness rooms. We find the variety of residents stimulating and interesting. I see women in full conservative Muslim garb, shepherding children to the school bus. I know exiles from Egypt and Sudan. I've met some folks who go to church regularly. There are elderly folks with walkers and young professionals. At the gym I see amazingly fit members of our armed forces - and geezers like me.
The key question is: what and who do you see? And from what perspective?
Harvard professors Ronald Heifetz and Martin Linsky encourage leaders to get off the dance floor and up on the balcony in order to see the system better. (see review below) The idea is that we need to both be up close and personal - listening intently to both words and feelings of those with whom we serve and we need to see the big picture.
From our perch on the 20th floor I can see traffic congestion, road work, a new high school building under construction, lots of new apartments and condos, and small (and rather old) houses that are amazingly expensive. I see athletes of all ages playing soccer or football on the nearby high school's field (seemingly at all times of the day and evening). What does this mean to folks who live here in Northern Virginia? What impact does it have on churches.
Some questions I ask clients are:
- What ages of people do you see?
- What is the economic climate?
- What seems to be their ethnic background?
- What are their fears or hopes?
- What pressures are they under?
- What are their driving passions?
- How do they spend their free time? (and how much do they have?)
- To what extent are they persons of faith?
- How might the gospel of Jesus Christ be really good news to them?
- What might attract some of these persons to your church?
What do you see in your close encounters with people in your church? Your neighborhood? The supermarket or school or playground? What do you hear in conversations?
What do you see in your broader community? What are economic, cultural, religious, and ethnic trends? What little gods are vying for allegiance of the masses? For example, I see youth sports demanding a great deal more of young people than we do as church leaders. Those activities reward participants, especially those who excel, with trophies and adulation. How do we help young people (and adults too) learn that the reward of a deep and joyful faith outstrips the transient rewards gained in playing on a team?
Heifetz and Linsky distinguish between technical problems and adaptive problems. A technical problem is one that can be easily addressed - e.g. with a software upgrade or a new computer. An adaptive problem is a bigger cultural issue - e.g. kids being encouraged to play ball on a Sunday morning or religion being just one of many options of how to spend spare time.
The Presbyterian ordination vows include a question: "Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, enthusiasm, and love?"
I add another requirement: curiosity. Will you be curious as you serve the Lord and his people? Will you ask lots of questions, trying to have an ever deeper understanding of both individuals and their world?
Getting on the balcony - or the 20th floor - helps you identify the adaptive issues and deal with them.
Be curious. Look around. As Yogi Berra noted "You can observe a lot by watching!"
I'd love to help you look around and explore your situation.
Email or call me and we can set up a demonstration coaching session by telephone (or in person if possible).
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Here's to healthy churches - with healthy leaders! | 
