Post date: Jun 12, 2014 10:44:37 PM
TIM'S NOTES
How is your ministry experience at LU meeting your personal goals?
mentoring women
reading/continuing education (categories like discipleship, gospels, prayer, CSLewis, apologetics)
relationship building
communication
decision-making
time
balancing org responsibilities
Areas that didn't completely work out:
prayer -- goal of establishing teaching context for prayer
building relationships with local pastors [volunteers -- we also need to think through how to use them]
Value of "incarnational" or "hang-out looking for opportunities to influence" kind of ministry. This is very important, and we need to value and protect that time. However, there may be times when God is leading to limit or re-prioritize that time.
Talked about perceived ministry modes of operation. IV m.o. in "investing" in influencers can be very strategic but sometimes narrowly so, sometimes shows favoritism, heeds the Spirit working through strategies but not always in a given situation. "Incarnational" can also have a downside in not being wise in how we spend our energies (either for our own benefit or that of others).
Important to pray through:
finding peace in the seeming "low result" of incarnational ministry, relying on the Spirit to build things we don't see
value being "available" to students, and foster ways that they feel taking care of through availability (even when some don't always "use" Lyndsey that way very often)
receiving the Spirit's guidance about when it is time to
move to a different activity (perhaps structured)
protect boundaries with other areas of needs and life
let go of the burden of "could-bes"
"define the relationship" with students -- when it is the right time in the relationship to tell students more about how Lyndsey wants to relate and the boundaries she has
receiving the Spirit's guidance about balances
easy/fun people vs. people who need me
easy access people vs. people who need seeking out
hang-out influence vs. explicit teaching "preacher Lyndsey" mode
peer relationship vs. mentor relationship
ministry I like doing vs. ministry God is sometimes calling me to that I don't like
Some Take Home thoughts
Tim & Lyndsey need to communicate more often about what is going on in this aspect of ministry.
It helps Tim to have updates on situations (just like Kevin forgets names, Tim forgets what is up). Tim likes an overview: he wants to know the sheep are safe and accounted for, but if they are being fed he doesn't need details on what they are eating.
Lyndsey needs Tim to ask for specifics so the burden is not completely on her to anticipate what Tim would like to hear about people. She is OK with Tim asking for particulars.
We discussed planning incarnational ministry time as if it were an appointment (the duration of which can be adjusted), as well as the idea that it might be helpful to associate place with kind of meeting (i.e. if Lyndsey is in the cafe, that means she is hanging out, but other places are for personal time or perhaps 1-on-1 time)
Strategic Leadership (as contrasted to incarnational leadership)
We discussed out styles. Spinning plates metaphor -- Tim has usually thought about it or is even currently thinking about it, but it may have moved out of his focus point and needs to come back. It takes Tim time to shift gears or call up previously thought-out stuff, so some lead-in time helps Tim to keep on top of things. Strategy is a strength area for both Lyndsey and Tim, so having a "unified presentation" to students may be esp. important.
Some take homes on strategic leadership
some more explicit advance planning
more weekly meeting time
catch up
talking about students
strategy time
agenda planning meetings with Kate in chapter pres. role
Things to discuss further:
conference strategy (lots of opportunities or focus on a few)
long-term funding funding concerns Tim has for Lyndsey if she stays at LU (discuss different IV accounts)
balancing organizational responsibilities
local team? Dominic
particulars on next year, boot camp content, retreats, etc.
a communication tool/doc/site?