Power and Leadership

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• Power and Leadership
• Source Bob Perry, Pass the Power, Please

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Power Exercised and Unmasked

• Most often exercised in unseen and informal
  channels
• The wise leader unmasks pockets of power and
  discerns hidden patterns.

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Assumptions about Power

• Power can be used for (un)righteous ends.
• Power can be used in Godly or ungodly ways.
• Power can be used by saints and sinners.
• There is never a power vacuum.
• Knowing where power resides is itself power.
• Position does not guarantee power.
• Power often comes from informal,
  non-institutionalized sources.

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Sources of Power

• Individual
• Group

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3 Types of Power

• Informational
• Relational
• Coalitional

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Informational

• Understanding the history of what has and hasnt
  worked in the church.
• Expertise of pertinent subject matter.
• (i.e. theological, sociological)
• Mastery of data and trend interpretation.

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Relational

• Being married to a power person
• Kinship with power sources
• Having the right last name

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Coalitional

• Friendship with a power person
• Being part of key discussion arenas
• Reputation as sounding board
• Can include ones perceived relationship with God

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Congregational Power Analysis Survey

• 15 questions toward discerning and unmasking
  power pockets in your congregation.

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Mr./Ms. My Church

• Who embodies what this church is all about?
• Who is the quintessential member?

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Lets vote!

• Ability to summarize essence
• Consensus namer
• Ive heard enough

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End-around

• Who do I go to if I want to get a hearing?
• Who makes sure you get the message?
• Unofficial gathering places and discussion forums

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S/heroes in Tough Times

• Who has a medal for bravery beyond duty in combat
  or crisis times?
• Who was here (didnt leave) when the church
  weathered the storm?

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5 Giver

• Perception of their wealth and/or giving to the
  church matters more than the reality of what they
  actually give

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Intimidator

• Position or reputation in community
• Perceived wealth
• Occupation (i.e. business)
• Personality
• Known history in church life/issues

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Celebrity

• Media presence
• Frequent speaker in large group gatherings of the
  church
• Visible in community life
• golf pro, commerce, government, management

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Smarter than the Pastor

• Again perception gt reality!
• Business acumen (real world)
• More experience with church life
• Stronger biblically or theologically
• More formal education
• Better people skills
• Better handle on nature/goals of organization

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More Spiritual than the Pastor

• Perceived to pray more
• Knows more of the Bible
• Interprets life theologically without being seen
  as falsely pious
• Longer tenure in faith
• Viewed as more dedicated giver
• /time

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Wise, Articulate, Persuasive

• Gift of discernment
• On earth as it is in heaven
• Few words, well-chosen
• People want to know how this one feels before
  they decide how theyll vote
• Public behind-the-scenes persuasion

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Bloodline and Blessing

• Who has the right last name?
• Who has parents or family members who played
  decisive roles in church life?
• Actual regular physical presence at the church
  not required.

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Trust me

• Different than persuasive category.
• Seen as having the best interests of the church
  at heart.
• Cant be bought out of convictions.

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15 WWJD?

• This person does not have to be seen as
  exercising formal power, but is viewed as one of
  the saints of the church.

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Analyzing Your Power Data

• 8 steps

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1. Gather Accurate Perceptions

• Get sample of 5-20 church leaders
• Include
• your spouse
• other staff
• your best friend in the church
• people loyal to your leadership
• choose some of the probably powerful
• people who know people that you dont know

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2. Enlist by Explaining Purpose

• Enable more Godly and helpful leadership in the
  church by providing an accurate picture.
• More beyond the formal to the informal getting
  things done.

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3. Tally and Rank

• List every name mentioned in surveys
• Tally number of votes for each person listed
• Rank by of votes received

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4. Interpret Emerging Patterns

• Are the most powerful people those who have
  information, relationships, or coalitions?
• Among the most powerful, are there any
  significant coalitions?
• Dont forget spouses of the powerful!

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5. Assess What About Me??

• If no one is smarter or more spiritual than
  the pastor, then thats one vote for you!
• What is your power rank in relation to others?
• How much is in your leadership bank account?

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6. Determine Future Coalitions You Need to Form

• Individuals or groups?
• Do I need to be at certain gatherings?
• Accumulate enough power go-ahead before
  proceeding with a change
• Who are the permission-givers/takers?

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7. Power through Morale Building

• Cultivating relationships as a task-oriented
  event
• Mission-morale balance
• Change-agent through friendship

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8. Steward of this Knowledge

• Undertaking this process itself grants you new
  power.
• Pray for wise and discerning use of power for
  Kingdom ends!

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• Power and Leadership
• Dr. John P. Chandler
• The Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational
  Leadership
• www.rasnet.org
• john.chandler_at_vbmb.org
• Copy right John Chandler, 2000