This is a workshop I lead on the concept of "Institutional Fluidity" and how we plan for creating stability I the church in the midst of a chaotic world. Sponsored by the Presbyterian of Chicago and McCormick Seminary.

1. LEAD 2011
Institutional
Fluidity
and the nature of church
leadership in the future
twitter: @breyeschow
#lead2011

2. Best of Shift Happens

3. Institutional Fluidity
#lead2011

4. Institutional Fluidity
✤ DEFINED . . . a structure that provides, bounds, meaning and support
for its life, but one not so rigid that it stifles the body’s spirit of
creativity and adaptability.
#lead2011

5. Institutional Fluidity
✤ DEFINED . . . a structure that provides, bounds, meaning and support
for its life, but one not so rigid that it stifles the body’s spirit of
creativity and adaptability.
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures are not built for adaptability;
#lead2011

6. Institutional Fluidity
✤ DEFINED . . . a structure that provides, bounds, meaning and support
for its life, but one not so rigid that it stifles the body’s spirit of
creativity and adaptability.
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures are not built for adaptability;
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures do not inspire creativity;
#lead2011

7. Institutional Fluidity
✤ DEFINED . . . a structure that provides, bounds, meaning and support
for its life, but one not so rigid that it stifles the body’s spirit of
creativity and adaptability.
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures are not built for adaptability;
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures do not inspire creativity;
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures are tired and burdensome;
#lead2011

8. Institutional Fluidity
✤ DEFINED . . . a structure that provides, bounds, meaning and support
for its life, but one not so rigid that it stifles the body’s spirit of
creativity and adaptability.
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures are not built for adaptability;
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures do not inspire creativity;
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures are tired and burdensome;
✤ WHY . . . because every gathering of people will result in some kind
of structure/organization, so we must be wise about how we gather.
#lead2011

9. Institutional Fluidity
✤ DEFINED . . . a structure that provides, bounds, meaning and support
for its life, but one not so rigid that it stifles the body’s spirit of
creativity and adaptability.
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures are not built for adaptability;
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures do not inspire creativity;
✤ WHY . . . because most of our structures are tired and burdensome;
✤ WHY . . . because every gathering of people will result in some kind
of structure/organization, so we must be wise about how we gather.
✤ WHY . . . because God is not done with us. Genesis 18
#lead2011

10. Road Map for Today
#lead2011

11. Road Map for Today
✤ Rules and disclaimers
#lead2011

12. Road Map for Today
✤ Rules and disclaimers
✤ Who’s here today?
#lead2011

13. Road Map for Today
✤ Rules and disclaimers
✤ Who’s here today?
✤ Why INSTITUTIONAL . . . the purpose of structure?
#lead2011

14. Road Map for Today
✤ Rules and disclaimers
✤ Who’s here today?
✤ Why INSTITUTIONAL . . . the purpose of structure?
✤ Why FLUIDITY . . . the world we are becoming?
#lead2011

15. Road Map for Today
✤ Rules and disclaimers
✤ Who’s here today?
✤ Why INSTITUTIONAL . . . the purpose of structure?
✤ Why FLUIDITY . . . the world we are becoming?
✤ What holds us back from seeing what the world is becoming?
#lead2011

16. Road Map for Today
✤ Rules and disclaimers
✤ Who’s here today?
✤ Why INSTITUTIONAL . . . the purpose of structure?
✤ Why FLUIDITY . . . the world we are becoming?
✤ What holds us back from seeing what the world is becoming?
✤ What could INSTITUTIONAL FLUIDITY look like?
#lead2011

17. Road Map for Today
✤ Rules and disclaimers
✤ Who’s here today?
✤ Why INSTITUTIONAL . . . the purpose of structure?
✤ Why FLUIDITY . . . the world we are becoming?
✤ What holds us back from seeing what the world is becoming?
✤ What could INSTITUTIONAL FLUIDITY look like?
✤ Questions, Comments and Contact information #lead2011

18. Rules and Disclaimers
#lead2011

19. Rules and Disclaimers
✤ NOTES: All slides posted on Slideshare;
#lead2011

20. Rules and Disclaimers
✤ NOTES: All slides posted on Slideshare;
✤ BUTT IN: Lots of stuff and I go fast . . . so jump in;
#lead2011

21. Rules and Disclaimers
✤ NOTES: All slides posted on Slideshare;
✤ BUTT IN: Lots of stuff and I go fast . . . so jump in;
✤ EXPERT: I am not saying much new, but speak from the place where
praxis and theory converge . . . my lens is as congregational pastor.
#lead2011

22. Rules and Disclaimers
✤ NOTES: All slides posted on Slideshare;
✤ BUTT IN: Lots of stuff and I go fast . . . so jump in;
✤ EXPERT: I am not saying much new, but speak from the place where
praxis and theory converge . . . my lens is as congregational pastor.
✤ STIPULATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS: I use generalities to save time;
#lead2011

23. Rules and Disclaimers
✤ NOTES: All slides posted on Slideshare;
✤ BUTT IN: Lots of stuff and I go fast . . . so jump in;
✤ EXPERT: I am not saying much new, but speak from the place where
praxis and theory converge . . . my lens is as congregational pastor.
✤ STIPULATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS: I use generalities to save time;
✤ FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/brcpage
#lead2011

24. Rules and Disclaimers
✤ NOTES: All slides posted on Slideshare;
✤ BUTT IN: Lots of stuff and I go fast . . . so jump in;
✤ EXPERT: I am not saying much new, but speak from the place where
praxis and theory converge . . . my lens is as congregational pastor.
✤ STIPULATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS: I use generalities to save time;
✤ FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/brcpage
✤ TWITTER: @breyeschow
#lead2011

25. Rules and Disclaimers
✤ NOTES: All slides posted on Slideshare;
✤ BUTT IN: Lots of stuff and I go fast . . . so jump in;
✤ EXPERT: I am not saying much new, but speak from the place where
praxis and theory converge . . . my lens is as congregational pastor.
✤ STIPULATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS: I use generalities to save time;
✤ FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/brcpage
✤ TWITTER: @breyeschow
✤ #whatthehelldoesheknow, #whatever #yadayadayada
#lead2011

26. Who are you?
#lead2011

27. Who are you?
✤ morning people or night owls
#lead2011

28. Who are you?
✤ morning people or night owls
✤ favorite decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s
#lead2011

29. Who are you?
✤ morning people or night owls
✤ favorite decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s
✤ ages: under 90, 70, 50, 40, 30, 20
#lead2011

30. Who are you?
✤ morning people or night owls
✤ favorite decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s
✤ ages: under 90, 70, 50, 40, 30, 20
✤ role: educators, pastors, elders, students, deacons, members, other . . .
#lead2011

31. Who are you?
✤ morning people or night owls
✤ favorite decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s
✤ ages: under 90, 70, 50, 40, 30, 20
✤ role: educators, pastors, elders, students, deacons, members, other . . .
✤ childhood traditions: none, catholic, protestant, other
#lead2011

32. Who are you?
✤ morning people or night owls
✤ favorite decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s
✤ ages: under 90, 70, 50, 40, 30, 20
✤ role: educators, pastors, elders, students, deacons, members, other . . .
✤ childhood traditions: none, catholic, protestant, other
✤ geography to ministry: 10 min, 30 min, hour
#lead2011

33. Who are you?
✤ morning people or night owls
✤ favorite decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s
✤ ages: under 90, 70, 50, 40, 30, 20
✤ role: educators, pastors, elders, students, deacons, members, other . . .
✤ childhood traditions: none, catholic, protestant, other
✤ geography to ministry: 10 min, 30 min, hour
✤ church longevity guess: till the end, >10, >5
#lead2011

34. Who are you?
✤ morning people or night owls
✤ favorite decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s
✤ ages: under 90, 70, 50, 40, 30, 20
✤ role: educators, pastors, elders, students, deacons, members, other . . .
✤ childhood traditions: none, catholic, protestant, other
✤ geography to ministry: 10 min, 30 min, hour
✤ church longevity guess: till the end, >10, >5
✤ technology: email, facebook, texter, twitter, foursquare, dropbox
#lead2011

35. Who is this guy?
#lead2011

36. Who is this guy?
#lead2011

37. Who is this guy?
#lead2011

38. Who is this guy?
#lead2011

39. Who is this guy?
#lead2011

40. Who is this guy?
#lead2011

41. Who is this guy?
all gen x / 85 y
#lead2011

42. Who is this guy?
urban:sf
all gen x / 85 y
#lead2011

43. Who is this guy?
urban:sf
all gen x / 85 y
techie:sm
#lead2011

44. Who is this guy?
urban:sf
all gen x / 85 y
techie:sm
cultural creative:bobo #lead2011

45. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
#lead2011

46. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
#lead2011

47. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
#lead2011

48. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
✤ traditioned gen y’s (22-35)
#lead2011

49. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
✤ traditioned gen y’s (22-35)
✤ reconstructed religiosity
#lead2011

50. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
✤ traditioned gen y’s (22-35)
✤ reconstructed religiosity
✤ transient city lovers
#lead2011

51. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
✤ traditioned gen y’s (22-35)
✤ reconstructed religiosity
✤ transient city lovers
✤ “progressive” AND “modern”
#lead2011

52. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
✤ traditioned gen y’s (22-35)
✤ reconstructed religiosity
✤ transient city lovers
✤ “progressive” AND “modern”
✤ open source culture
#lead2011

53. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
✤ traditioned gen y’s (22-35)
✤ reconstructed religiosity
✤ transient city lovers
✤ “progressive” AND “modern”
✤ open source culture
✤ embraced ambiguity
#lead2011

54. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
✤ traditioned gen y’s (22-35)
✤ reconstructed religiosity
✤ transient city lovers
✤ “progressive” AND “modern”
✤ open source culture
✤ embraced ambiguity
✤ intuitive diversity
#lead2011

55. Mission Bay Community Church
www.missionbaycc.org
✤ just a reformed pc(usa) church
✤ traditioned gen y’s (22-35)
✤ reconstructed religiosity
✤ transient city lovers
✤ “progressive” AND “modern”
✤ open source culture
✤ embraced ambiguity
✤ intuitive diversity
✤ institutional fluidity #lead2011

56. Why INSTITUTIONAL?
#lead2011

57. Why INSTITUTIONAL?
✤ What is the purpose, result and meaning of Spiritual Leadership . . .
sessions, governing bodies, boards, institutions, etc?
#lead2011

58. Why INSTITUTIONAL?
✤ What is the purpose, result and meaning of Spiritual Leadership . . .
sessions, governing bodies, boards, institutions, etc?
✤ Presbyland, G-10.0102: The session is responsible for the mission
and government of the particular church. It therefore . . .
#lead2011

59. Why INSTITUTIONAL?
✤ What is the purpose, result and meaning of Spiritual Leadership . . .
sessions, governing bodies, boards, institutions, etc?
✤ Presbyland, G-10.0102: The session is responsible for the mission
and government of the particular church. It therefore . . .
✤ to administer, operate and support meaningful expressions of
church life;
#lead2011

60. Why INSTITUTIONAL?
✤ What is the purpose, result and meaning of Spiritual Leadership . . .
sessions, governing bodies, boards, institutions, etc?
✤ Presbyland, G-10.0102: The session is responsible for the mission
and government of the particular church. It therefore . . .
✤ to administer, operate and support meaningful expressions of
church life;
✤ to nurture and nudge the pastoral, prophetic, priestly and poetic
expressions of the church;
#lead2011

61. Why INSTITUTIONAL?
✤ What is the purpose, result and meaning of Spiritual Leadership . . .
sessions, governing bodies, boards, institutions, etc?
✤ Presbyland, G-10.0102: The session is responsible for the mission
and government of the particular church. It therefore . . .
✤ to administer, operate and support meaningful expressions of
church life;
✤ to nurture and nudge the pastoral, prophetic, priestly and poetic
expressions of the church;
✤ to be an individuals meaningful and particular expression of
commitment to a local context;
#lead2011

62. Why INSTITUTIONAL?
✤ What is the purpose, result and meaning of Spiritual Leadership . . .
sessions, governing bodies, boards, institutions, etc?
✤ Presbyland, G-10.0102: The session is responsible for the mission
and government of the particular church. It therefore . . .
✤ to administer, operate and support meaningful expressions of
church life;
✤ to nurture and nudge the pastoral, prophetic, priestly and poetic
expressions of the church;
✤ to be an individuals meaningful and particular expression of
commitment to a local context;
✤ Others . . . #lead2011

63. Why FLUIDITY?
#lead2011

64. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
#lead2011

65. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
#lead2011

66. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
✤ Transient and Committed
#lead2011

67. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
✤ Transient and Committed
✤ Traditioned and Creative
#lead2011

68. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
✤ Transient and Committed
✤ Traditioned and Creative
✤ Technical and Experiential
#lead2011

69. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
✤ Transient and Committed
✤ Traditioned and Creative
✤ Technical and Experiential
✤ Focused and Distractible
#lead2011

70. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
✤ Transient and Committed
✤ Traditioned and Creative
✤ Technical and Experiential
✤ Focused and Distractible
✤ Maturing and Unsure
#lead2011

71. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
✤ Transient and Committed
✤ Traditioned and Creative
✤ Technical and Experiential
✤ Focused and Distractible
✤ Maturing and Unsure
✤ Overextended and Willing
#lead2011

72. Why FLUIDITY?
✤ What is the world we are growing into?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
✤ Transient and Committed
✤ Traditioned and Creative
✤ Technical and Experiential
✤ Focused and Distractible
✤ Maturing and Unsure
✤ Overextended and Willing
✤ Other . . . #lead2011

73. What holds us back?
#lead2011

74. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable
✤ Transient and Committed
✤ Traditioned and Creative
✤ Technical and Experiential
✤ Focused and Distractible
✤ Maturing and Unsure
✤ Overextended and Willing
✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

75. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable ✤ Monolithic culture
✤ Transient and Committed
✤ Traditioned and Creative
✤ Technical and Experiential
✤ Focused and Distractible
✤ Maturing and Unsure
✤ Overextended and Willing
✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

76. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable ✤ Monolithic culture
✤ Transient and Committed ✤ Lifetime and longevity values
✤ Traditioned and Creative
✤ Technical and Experiential
✤ Focused and Distractible
✤ Maturing and Unsure
✤ Overextended and Willing
✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

77. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable ✤ Monolithic culture
✤ Transient and Committed ✤ Lifetime and longevity values
✤ Traditioned and Creative ✤ Tradition without meaning
✤ Technical and Experiential
✤ Focused and Distractible
✤ Maturing and Unsure
✤ Overextended and Willing
✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

78. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable ✤ Monolithic culture
✤ Transient and Committed ✤ Lifetime and longevity values
✤ Traditioned and Creative ✤ Tradition without meaning
✤ Technical and Experiential ✤ Technology as a tool
✤ Focused and Distractible
✤ Maturing and Unsure
✤ Overextended and Willing
✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

79. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable ✤ Monolithic culture
✤ Transient and Committed ✤ Lifetime and longevity values
✤ Traditioned and Creative ✤ Tradition without meaning
✤ Technical and Experiential ✤ Technology as a tool
✤ Focused and Distractible ✤ Understandings of process
✤ Maturing and Unsure
✤ Overextended and Willing
✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

80. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable ✤ Monolithic culture
✤ Transient and Committed ✤ Lifetime and longevity values
✤ Traditioned and Creative ✤ Tradition without meaning
✤ Technical and Experiential ✤ Technology as a tool
✤ Focused and Distractible ✤ Understandings of process
✤ Maturing and Unsure ✤ High or low expectations
✤ Overextended and Willing
✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

81. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable ✤ Monolithic culture
✤ Transient and Committed ✤ Lifetime and longevity values
✤ Traditioned and Creative ✤ Tradition without meaning
✤ Technical and Experiential ✤ Technology as a tool
✤ Focused and Distractible ✤ Understandings of process
✤ Maturing and Unsure ✤ High or low expectations
✤ Overextended and Willing ✤ Understanding of use of time
✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

82. What holds us back?
✤ Undefinable and Describable ✤ Monolithic culture
✤ Transient and Committed ✤ Lifetime and longevity values
✤ Traditioned and Creative ✤ Tradition without meaning
✤ Technical and Experiential ✤ Technology as a tool
✤ Focused and Distractible ✤ Understandings of process
✤ Maturing and Unsure ✤ High or low expectations
✤ Overextended and Willing ✤ Understanding of use of time
✤ Other . . . ✤ Other . . .
#lead2011

83. I.F. could look like?
#lead2011

84. I.F. could look like?
✤ Terms of service: three years, but with permission to leave;
#lead2011

85. I.F. could look like?
✤ Terms of service: three years, but with permission to leave;
✤ How “business” is done: online and other time-saving technologies;
#lead2011

86. I.F. could look like?
✤ Terms of service: three years, but with permission to leave;
✤ How “business” is done: online and other time-saving technologies;
✤ How F2F time is used: life-giving work, study and thinking;
#lead2011

87. I.F. could look like?
✤ Terms of service: three years, but with permission to leave;
✤ How “business” is done: online and other time-saving technologies;
✤ How F2F time is used: life-giving work, study and thinking;
✤ How responsibilities are given: projects, areas, and latitude to shift foci;
#lead2011

88. I.F. could look like?
✤ Terms of service: three years, but with permission to leave;
✤ How “business” is done: online and other time-saving technologies;
✤ How F2F time is used: life-giving work, study and thinking;
✤ How responsibilities are given: projects, areas, and latitude to shift foci;
✤ How meetings are held: purposeful and creative setting;
#lead2011

89. I.F. could look like?
✤ Terms of service: three years, but with permission to leave;
✤ How “business” is done: online and other time-saving technologies;
✤ How F2F time is used: life-giving work, study and thinking;
✤ How responsibilities are given: projects, areas, and latitude to shift foci;
✤ How meetings are held: purposeful and creative setting;
✤ Assumptions of the group: trusting, honest and permission giving;
#lead2011

90. I.F. could look like?
✤ Terms of service: three years, but with permission to leave;
✤ How “business” is done: online and other time-saving technologies;
✤ How F2F time is used: life-giving work, study and thinking;
✤ How responsibilities are given: projects, areas, and latitude to shift foci;
✤ How meetings are held: purposeful and creative setting;
✤ Assumptions of the group: trusting, honest and permission giving;
✤ eg. Mission Bay Community Church 2010 Session Structure #lead2011

91. Questions and Contact 411
#lead2011

92. Questions and Contact 411
✤ Questions, thoughts, comments . . .
#lead2011

93. Questions and Contact 411
✤ Questions, thoughts, comments . . .
✤ email: breyeschow@gmail.com
#lead2011

94. Questions and Contact 411
✤ Questions, thoughts, comments . . .
✤ email: breyeschow@gmail.com
✤ twitter: @breyeschow
#lead2011

95. Questions and Contact 411
✤ Questions, thoughts, comments . . .
✤ email: breyeschow@gmail.com
✤ twitter: @breyeschow
✤ blog: www.reyes-chow.com, huffpo, sfgate
#lead2011

96. Questions and Contact 411
✤ Questions, thoughts, comments . . .
✤ email: breyeschow@gmail.com
✤ twitter: @breyeschow
✤ blog: www.reyes-chow.com, huffpo, sfgate
✤ facebook: http://on.fb.me/brcpage
#lead2011

97. Questions and Contact 411
✤ Questions, thoughts, comments . . .
✤ email: breyeschow@gmail.com
✤ twitter: @breyeschow
✤ blog: www.reyes-chow.com, huffpo, sfgate
✤ facebook: http://on.fb.me/brcpage
✤ slides: www.slideshare.net/breyeschow
#lead2011

98. LEAD 2011
Institutional
Fluidity
and the nature of church
leadership in the future
twitter: @breyeschow
#lead2011