Leader's Roundtable
Leaders must all be continual learners. Our churches deserve leaders that continue to improve. Spiritually, our Lord has called us to a life of growth and discipleship.
Beginning on Tuesday, October 27, DBA will offer a monthly Leader's Roundtable. The group is limited to the first 8 pastors and/or staff members. To reserve a spot email me at gary@dentonbaptist.org. The first workshop will focus on hiring and firing. Other monthly topics will be determined in connection with the group. I hope to hear from you soon.
Time and Location
Denton Baptist Association
1406 N. Corinth St. Ste. 408
Corinth, TX 76208
940-498-5200
10:00 AM - NOON
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Leadership Summit Aftermath
The Leadership Summit co-hosted by First Baptist Church, Lewisville, and Denton Baptist Association and presented by the Willow Creek Association is now history. But the information shared and ideas presented reside more in the future than in the past.
One of those ideas came from David Gergen who is a Political Analyst for CNN and a former adviser to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. He made the statement - "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."
That one statement has a great deal of implication for the church and for ministers. Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting everything to change or to be done right now, that we ignore and bypass the thoughts and input of others and instead fly solo. Our actions are fast. And the results come quickly - not always the results we expected.
But teams and congregations that work together tend to stay together and make progress over an extended period of time. The old analogy surfaces once more - are we in a 100-meter dash or a marathon of over 26 miles?
Watch for other postings to stiumulate thinking that came from the Leadership Summit.
One of those ideas came from David Gergen who is a Political Analyst for CNN and a former adviser to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. He made the statement - "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."
That one statement has a great deal of implication for the church and for ministers. Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting everything to change or to be done right now, that we ignore and bypass the thoughts and input of others and instead fly solo. Our actions are fast. And the results come quickly - not always the results we expected.
But teams and congregations that work together tend to stay together and make progress over an extended period of time. The old analogy surfaces once more - are we in a 100-meter dash or a marathon of over 26 miles?
Watch for other postings to stiumulate thinking that came from the Leadership Summit.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Leadership Summit Cometh!
We look for those times to recharge our batteries and cause the adrenalin to flow. However, if we are not careful, we let some great opportunities slip by simply by missing a registration deadline. The Leadership Summit that originates at Willow Creek Community Church and is fed by a live satellite feed to multiple locations like First Baptist Church, Lewisville, Texas, is schedule for Thursday and Friday, August 6 &7th. There is a cost and there is a registration required. Time is going by quickly. Two early bird price breaks have already come and gone. I encourage all church leaders to not let the time get away.
You may find all the details on the Summit at http://www.dentonbaptist.org/index-7b.html. I hope you will take the time right now to go to that link and then register.
You may find all the details on the Summit at http://www.dentonbaptist.org/index-7b.html. I hope you will take the time right now to go to that link and then register.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
DBA Leadership Series Take Aways Pt. 2
Someone may have been stuck on what are some major one degree differences in the church based on my last post. Certainly these would vary from church to church based on that church's current need and situation. A couple that would always be basic would include hiring and budgeting.
A second take away from the Blake Leath Seminar on Leading and Collaborating for me was the reminder about what we can control and what we can influence. Basically, the only thing I can truly control is "me," and to tell the truth, I have plenty of trouble with that one person. Too often we try to control others. We can only influence others, not control them, unless you want to change our entire culture and society and return to slavery - even then control was limited. We can also influence decisions that are made, the mood of a meeting or of others in the room, and the effectiveness of a process or of a team.
One of the struggles we must all learn to deal with is this struggle between control and influence.
A second take away from the Blake Leath Seminar on Leading and Collaborating for me was the reminder about what we can control and what we can influence. Basically, the only thing I can truly control is "me," and to tell the truth, I have plenty of trouble with that one person. Too often we try to control others. We can only influence others, not control them, unless you want to change our entire culture and society and return to slavery - even then control was limited. We can also influence decisions that are made, the mood of a meeting or of others in the room, and the effectiveness of a process or of a team.
One of the struggles we must all learn to deal with is this struggle between control and influence.
Friday, June 5, 2009
DBA Leadership Series Take Aways
Blake Leath facilitated our first DBA Leadership Series on Leading and Collaborating. Blake is a national and international corporate strategist and consultant. He is also a believer and a member of RockPointe Church in Flower Mound. Today I will share the first of some of the take aways I received during the seminar.
Blake shared an illustration regarding water or H2O and the 1 degree difference. At 33 degrees, water is in its liquid state. Lower the temperature by just one degree and in Texas we call off school because the water has turned to a solid or ice. Water at 211 degrees is also a liquid, although it is a little hot. Raise the temperature by 1 degree and the water changes from liquid to steam. One degree makes a huge difference IF YOU ARE CHANGING THE CORRECT ONE DEGREE! Water at 64 degrees may be lowered one degree or raised by one degree and walla - you have water at 63 or 65 degrees. The result is really no result at all. The key for a church, a business, or even a person is to know which 1 degree needs to be improved or altered to result in a significant change.
So what one degree of change would have the greatest positive impact at your church?
Blake shared an illustration regarding water or H2O and the 1 degree difference. At 33 degrees, water is in its liquid state. Lower the temperature by just one degree and in Texas we call off school because the water has turned to a solid or ice. Water at 211 degrees is also a liquid, although it is a little hot. Raise the temperature by 1 degree and the water changes from liquid to steam. One degree makes a huge difference IF YOU ARE CHANGING THE CORRECT ONE DEGREE! Water at 64 degrees may be lowered one degree or raised by one degree and walla - you have water at 63 or 65 degrees. The result is really no result at all. The key for a church, a business, or even a person is to know which 1 degree needs to be improved or altered to result in a significant change.
So what one degree of change would have the greatest positive impact at your church?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Leadership Opportunities
The word leadership catches our attention. Actually, the act of leadership or the lack thereof catches our attention even quicker. There are two great opportunities for leadership development through Denton Baptist Association over the next three months.
May 28th - Leading and Collaborating - facilitated by Blake Leath, international corporate consultant and trainer. Blake is a member of RockPointe Church in our association. The focus of this event is the church staff. Teambuilding, supervising and influencing are the three key components of the day. The session is from 9:00 - 2:00 with lunch included. Come early to be ready to begin at 9:00. The cost is $50 per person with a maximum of $200 for Denton Association churches. Check this link for additional information about the conference and for registration: http://www.dentonbaptist.org/documents/Brochure.pdf
August 6-7th - The Leadership Summit - satellite host - FBC, Lewsiville. This annual summit is motivational in nature. It is designed for all church leaders - vocational and volunteer. Check this link for the latest information on registration and speakers: http://www.dentonbaptist.org/index-7b.html
If we are to continue developing and improving as leaders, we must continually expose ourselves to training opportunities. Don't skip these!
May 28th - Leading and Collaborating - facilitated by Blake Leath, international corporate consultant and trainer. Blake is a member of RockPointe Church in our association. The focus of this event is the church staff. Teambuilding, supervising and influencing are the three key components of the day. The session is from 9:00 - 2:00 with lunch included. Come early to be ready to begin at 9:00. The cost is $50 per person with a maximum of $200 for Denton Association churches. Check this link for additional information about the conference and for registration: http://www.dentonbaptist.org/documents/Brochure.pdf
August 6-7th - The Leadership Summit - satellite host - FBC, Lewsiville. This annual summit is motivational in nature. It is designed for all church leaders - vocational and volunteer. Check this link for the latest information on registration and speakers: http://www.dentonbaptist.org/index-7b.html
If we are to continue developing and improving as leaders, we must continually expose ourselves to training opportunities. Don't skip these!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tax Seminar Highlights
On February 5, 2009 Denton Baptist Association hosted a Tax Seminar with Gene Hill as the presenter. The following were some of the items gleaned from the presentation.
A church can lose their tax exempt status with the IRS for a variety of reasons. To help protect your church from this misfortunate action read Publication 1828 which is a Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations. Publication 1828 may be downloaded from the IRS website. http://www.irs.gov/
A church with a pastor and no other employees does not need to file a 941 form.
A church with 20 or less employees may file their W-2’s on-line at no cost.
Go to www.ssa.gov/bso and register to obtain user ID and Password
The process is very simple and you may print copies of the W2’s for your employees and for your records. W3’s may also be processed and printed.
A good reminder: personal gifts are not deductible charitable contributions even if they are given through the church. For more information on the guidelines for charitable giving go to http://www.irs.gov/ and download publication 426.
There is an excellent (free) tax guide at http://www.bgct.org/. It is now available in Spanish.
All of the following are church employees if they are paid for their services and must receive a W2:
Nursery workers
Musicians
Secretaries
A “love” offering for a church minister or employee is always taxable income and must appear on the W2.
The new form needed to correct a 941 is the 941X.
Royalty that a church receives from an oil or gas lease is exempt Unrelated Business Income, meaning that a church does not have to pay taxes on it.
The rate for accountable reimbursement for mileage in 2009 is 55 cents.
LT
A church can lose their tax exempt status with the IRS for a variety of reasons. To help protect your church from this misfortunate action read Publication 1828 which is a Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations. Publication 1828 may be downloaded from the IRS website. http://www.irs.gov/
A church with a pastor and no other employees does not need to file a 941 form.
A church with 20 or less employees may file their W-2’s on-line at no cost.
Go to www.ssa.gov/bso and register to obtain user ID and Password
The process is very simple and you may print copies of the W2’s for your employees and for your records. W3’s may also be processed and printed.
A good reminder: personal gifts are not deductible charitable contributions even if they are given through the church. For more information on the guidelines for charitable giving go to http://www.irs.gov/ and download publication 426.
There is an excellent (free) tax guide at http://www.bgct.org/. It is now available in Spanish.
All of the following are church employees if they are paid for their services and must receive a W2:
Nursery workers
Musicians
Secretaries
A “love” offering for a church minister or employee is always taxable income and must appear on the W2.
The new form needed to correct a 941 is the 941X.
Royalty that a church receives from an oil or gas lease is exempt Unrelated Business Income, meaning that a church does not have to pay taxes on it.
The rate for accountable reimbursement for mileage in 2009 is 55 cents.
LT
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