“NT” Pastors and Congregation Re-development
by Stewart Lanier at 09:54AM (EDT) on July 30, 2005 | Permanent Link | Cosmos
In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) the iNtuiting- Thinking (NT) type is often associated with organization design and leadership. NT’s are big-picture, principled-centered, strategy-focused leaders with vision. They tend to be less detail oriented and may overlook the impact of their designs and decisions on individual persons.
[Sensing-Feeling leaders (the typological opposite of an NT) prefer to work on a more detailed level, in a hands-on manner. They pay more attention to the impact of decisions on individual people.]
Congregations that have declined over an extended time period require transformational, non-incremental change, i.e., redevelopment, if they are to be renewed. One factor that may have contributed to decline in these congregation is "feeling" centered planning. That is, the congregation has made decisions based on how those decisions will impact people--specifically its current members. They may also suffer from a lack of ability to do long-term planning, stemming from a leadership focus on the details of maintaining routine, repetitive activities and rituals.
At a certain point on the downward slope of decline, a group of leaders (including, perhaps a district or area executive such as a District Superintendent, Bishop’s Assistant or Area Minister) may determine that the church needs dramatic intervention. The ebbing tide must be reversed - the church needs new vision and direction. Often that means calling or appointing a pastor who has strengths in strategy and planning.
A change like this brings the possibility ofchange and also the liklihodd of misunderstanding and even conflict: On the one hand there is a need for dramatic change based on new directions and strategies; on the other hand most of the current active members are those whose interests have been met thus far. What is an “NT” pastor to do?!
There is no easy or “one-size” answer. But here is a starting point: the NT pastor develops partners in leadership who have complementary preferences/orientations (such as SF persons). A team of persons that incorporates diverse styles and preferences has greater ability to create and implement a change plan. This plan will be grounded in the congregation’s current reality while maintaining a vision and commitment to moving in new directions.
Certainly tough spots and resistance will arise. But with a core group serving as a catalyst, resistance need not focus on the pastor or lead to counter-productive polarization. Whether it is the pastor or a planning team, someone needs to “climb to the top of the tree to see the long view.” Hopefully those folks will not get the tree cut out from under them! Churches undertaking redevelopment need NT gifts!
In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) the iNtuiting- Thinking (NT) type is often associated with organization design and leadership. NT’s are big-picture, principled-centered, strategy-focused leaders with vision. They tend to be less detail oriented and may overlook the impact of their designs and decisions on individual persons.
[Sensing-Feeling leaders (the typological opposite of an NT) prefer to work on a more detailed level, in a hands-on manner. They pay more attention to the impact of decisions on individual people.]
Congregations that have declined over an extended time period require transformational, non-incremental change, i.e., redevelopment, if they are to be renewed. One factor that may have contributed to decline in these congregation is "feeling" centered planning. That is, the congregation has made decisions based on how those decisions will impact people--specifically its current members. They may also suffer from a lack of ability to do long-term planning, stemming from a leadership focus on the details of maintaining routine, repetitive activities and rituals.
At a certain point on the downward slope of decline, a group of leaders (including, perhaps a district or area executive such as a District Superintendent, Bishop’s Assistant or Area Minister) may determine that the church needs dramatic intervention. The ebbing tide must be reversed - the church needs new vision and direction. Often that means calling or appointing a pastor who has strengths in strategy and planning.
A change like this brings the possibility ofchange and also the liklihodd of misunderstanding and even conflict: On the one hand there is a need for dramatic change based on new directions and strategies; on the other hand most of the current active members are those whose interests have been met thus far. What is an “NT” pastor to do?!
There is no easy or “one-size” answer. But here is a starting point: the NT pastor develops partners in leadership who have complementary preferences/orientations (such as SF persons). A team of persons that incorporates diverse styles and preferences has greater ability to create and implement a change plan. This plan will be grounded in the congregation’s current reality while maintaining a vision and commitment to moving in new directions.
Certainly tough spots and resistance will arise. But with a core group serving as a catalyst, resistance need not focus on the pastor or lead to counter-productive polarization. Whether it is the pastor or a planning team, someone needs to “climb to the top of the tree to see the long view.” Hopefully those folks will not get the tree cut out from under them! Churches undertaking redevelopment need NT gifts!
posted by Congregation Renewal Associates at
8:45 PM
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