Christian Management Report
August 2004 Issue (Vol. 28, No. 4)
Focus: Financial Management
Title: Making Decisions in a Bubble
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." --Timothy 4:7 NKJV
In this issue...consider decision making in a limited resource environment. Often priorities are chosen without the needed assessment to obtain the greatest return on investment. Curt Swindoll gives us a unique management tool to help us make the right priority decisions. ► Larry Chamberlain has culled out three important leadership lessons from the remarkable life of President Reagan. The foundational distinctive was his strong character, upon which everything else was built and strengthened. ► Ruth Haley Barton presents her second article on The Transforming Leader. “The only way for any ministry to become a community of transformation," he says, "is to begin at the center, with the hearts and souls of its leaders who are willing to live and lead together as a spiritual community." ► Devlin Donaldson and Julie Divine look at what it takes to secure a foundation grant and how to prepare the grant request itself. ► Ronald Smedley gives us a quick overview of the new federal rules governing overtime pay, creating new limitations on designating employees as exempt. ► John Pearson, president/CEO of CMA, encourages us to create intentional community with other leaders and managers. ► Happy and fruitful reading. --DeWayne Herbrandson, Executive Editor
Note: Unless stated otherwise, the Bible translation used throughout is the New International Version (NIV).
CONTENTS ∙ Christian Management Report (Vol. 28, No. 4, August, 2004)
Management Focus
Making Decision in a Bubble
A Management Tool for Setting Priorities When Finances Are Limited
By Curt Swindoll, CEO, Cool Strategies
Every ministry must manage limited resources. It’s a fact of life. Limited resources requires priorities to be established, and great priorities are those which were set based on clear criteria, consistently applied to all available options. If ministries can come to some agreement concerning how to evaluate project impact, and then will plot that information in graphic form, they may be surprised at how easy decisions become.
Leadership Development
President Reagan’s Great Legacy
Making Character the Foundation for Effective Leadership
By Larry N. Chamberlain, President/Executive Director,
Grace Brethren North American Missions and Investment Foundation
Whether the context is political, corporate or ministry, followers have great expectations of their leadership. They expect better than mediocrity. What do followers demand and deserve of their leaders in the 21st century? Three expectations, exemplified by President Reagan, come to mind: competence, courage and character. The foundational distinctive was his strong character, upon which everything else was built and strengthened.
The Transforming Leader—Part two
Are You Feeling Isolated?
Cultivating Spiritual Community at the Leadership Level
By Ruth Haley Barton, Co-Founder/President, The Transforming Center
“The only way for any ministry to become a community of transformation,” says the author, “is to begin at the center: with the hearts and souls of its leaders who are willing to live and lead together as a spiritual community. There’s no shortcut.” The key elements are: being open to the presence of Christ; attending to our relationships; resting and retreating; living within our limits; and moving forward based on discernment before strategic planning.
Fund Development
The Art & Science of Grant Writing
Key Steps Your Organization Must Take to Secure Foundation Funding
By Devlin Donaldson, Partner, The Elevation Group, and Julie Divine,
Grants Administrator/Foundations Researcher, The Elevation Group
Foundation funding may not be for everyone but, according to the authors, it’s quite possible that at least one of the thousands of foundations in America may be interested in supporting part of nearly every ministry’s work. This article includes a step-by-step guide to preparing grant proposals and identifying and contacting appropriate foundations.
Human Resource Management
The Fair Pay Initiative
New Federal Rules for Determining Exempt Status
By Ronald F. Smedley, President, Synergistic Resource Associates
The U.S. Department of Labor recently published its final changes to the white-collar overtime exemption rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Entitled the “Fair Pay Initiative,” it’s scheduled to take effect for all employers on August 23, 2004. In this article, the author provides a detailed summary of these changes, which were designed to end the confusion that has led to an explosion of class action lawsuits over the failure to protect workers’ rights.
Board Governance
No More Simplistic Formulas!
A Guide for Selecting Qualified Board Members
By Olan Hendrix, CEO, Leadership Resource Group
In this article, the author, a pioneer in the application of management skills to Christian ministry, debunks the formulas long used in selecting board candidates. What’s needed, he claims, is a clear definition of governance, followed by an agreed upon group discipline to govern and govern only. He suggests three basic qualifications: an understanding of and passion for the organization’s mission and goals; the ability to think clearly and conceptually; and the emotional ability to debate issues without always winning the debate.
Living With Integrity
How Jesus Challenges Us to Think and Exercise Reason
By Rod Handley, Founder/President, Character That Counts
The best model for developing a sound mind and exercising common sense is Jesus himself, says the author, citing several examples from Scripture. He writes: “Jesus urges people to be sensible at every turn, using the mind God has given us.”
Management Rules of Thumb
Smart Managers Take Steps to Create Intentional Community
By John Pearson, President/CEO, Christian Management Association
Smart managers don’t operate in a vacuum, choosing instead to experience community by seeking the help, support, safety, prayers and encouragement of like-minded colleagues, adding dimension and depth to their management competencies and to their Christian experience.
