John Bennett/ July 9, 2021/ Resources

Who is it for?

The guide is designed for congregational leaders (pastors), district superintendents, coaches, and consultants working in the context of the United Methodist Church. In particular, it is intended for people who are seeking to develop leadership behaviors and practices, as well as those who are supporting them in their development. We know that for development to occur, and for the impacts to make a lasting difference, leaders at all levels must be clear on what skill or behavior they need to improve, be motivated to make the change, and know what steps to take. It provides you with ideas and strategies on how to improve where you need to be stronger or work around a need, so that you can be as effective as possible.

The guide is intended for individual leaders who believe that they have a need, and want to do something about it, as well as supervisors, coaches, and consultants who are supporting leaders in their developmental journeys. The tips in this guide provide practical guidance to help you develop the key competencies of congregational leadership. If you recognize your needs, and are motivated to do something about them, then this guide is for you.

What is in it? Where did it come from?

The guide focuses on the Congregational Leader Behavior Inventory (CLBI), a multi-rater feedback instrument developed by John Bennett for use with the leadership competencies developed by the United Methodist Church (UMC) for use with their congregational leaders. The content of this guide was developed by a team of experienced clergy and lay coaches who have worked with hundreds of pastors using the CLBI to help them identify areas for development, and to support them in their developmental efforts. The competency model was originally developed by the consulting firm, TowersWatson, for the UMC, and has been widely used.

How is it structured?

The competency model and CLBI are presented, including a sample report with instructions on how to read it.

We begin with an overview of the leadership competency model and Congregational Leader Behavior Inventory (CLBI), then describe how to use the CLBI, followed by how to interpret the CLBI 360 results. A chapter about how to use the guide and where to find various resources and a framework for creating developmental action plans concludes the initial sections.

Next, each of the 15 competencies is presented along with related scripture, working definitions of key terms and concepts in the competency, and competency behaviors in the forms of neglectful competence, unconscious incompetence, and conscious competence. Next, example scenarios describe pastors who are beginning to exhibit the competency behaviors, growing in their competence, and who integrated the competency behaviors in their routine. Then, a guide is provided for action planning related to the competency followed by sample questions that coaches, supervisors or professional development teams might use to support the pastor in their development. And, for each competency, additional resources are included, along with additional scripture references for each competency.

How can I get a copy?

To get your free copy, download in eBook format here.

___________

© 2021, John L. Bennett. All Rights Reserved.

Share this Post