Book Suggestions

If you're looking for not only a couple of great books on creativity and innovation, but a backstage pass into the business workings of Disney, then these two books are it. The Disney Way, by Bill Capadagli and Lynn Jackson, sometimes reads a bit like a fanboys description of Disney, but there's enough disparaging thoughts on the Eisner Era to lend it some objectivity.

However, it is excellent in its description of how Disney is able to create and maintain an atmosphere of innovation throughout its entire organization. By looking at Disney's " Dream ... Believe ... Dare ... Do" model for creativity, you'll be able to pick apart ideas that can be applied to your church or ministry team.

And if you need more specific tools to apply this model, take a look at The Disney Way Fieldbook. It is chock-full of team-building games and exercises that will help people begin thinking outside of their normal confines, to creating a vision statement, to taking risks, etc. Some ideas are excellent, some are fairly trite and lame, but it is still an excellent resource to have on your shelf for that retreat or off-site planning day.

Another excellent book to explore is StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath, and works off the premise that if you are able to identify your God-given strengths and base what you do predominately on them, then your performance and enjoyment will increase.

The book includes an updated StrengthsFinder assessment as administered by Gallup that was first widely seen in Marcus Buckingham's Now, Discover Your Strengths. When you purchase the book, you are also purchasing the assessment, which will tell you what your top five strengths are, as well as begin helping your learn how to best live out of these strengths. I have used this tool with many of my staff and not only found it extremely accurate--uncannily so!--but a great help in making sure people are lined up as well as possible with tasks given to them.

Know that this is not a personality assessment, but an assessment of one's natural abilities only. Both are good books (Now probably has a bit more background info on the premise of the assessment) but I would go with StrengthsFinder 2.0 because it's updated. You can also check out www.strengthsfinder.com for more information.

Defining the Catalyst

The Catalyst helps envision, start and empower new ministries. The Catalyst challenges people to volunteer for and to improve ministry and lights fires to get people involved in ministry.

The Catalyst networks ministries together to enhance effectiveness, seeks out opportunities for members to share the gospel and creates strategic plans for the church. Most Senior Pastors want their XPs to be a strong catalyst. This is because most Senior Pastors desire to cast vision and have the XP implement the vision, which includes challenging and reinvigorating ministries.

Articles on the Catalyst

• Drew Gentile on:
  • Developmental Paradigms for Leaders: Assess, Challenge & Support
  • Paradigms for Urban Ministry
• Stacey Campbell on Throw Me a Lifeline Conflict can happen between an XP and Senior Pastor.
• David Troublefield on Running Through the Sprinklers
• Phil Taylor on Climbing Down the Ladder. This is a story of a Lead Pastor turned Executive Pastor in the Missional Church Movement.
• Stacey Campbell on When a Catalyst is not a Catalyst
• XPs and Catalytic Converters: More than just cars by Stacey Campbell
• Crash Dummies: An anonymous article on being fired
• ... from Vision to Execution by Bob Feitl
• Jeff Jones, Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church North, of Plano Texas on Succession Thoughts
• David McLendon on Making the Decision to Leave: Led, Lost or Looney?
• Dr. Jerry Wofford's book Transforming Christian Leadership. Read Jerry's bio
• When Is It Time to Make a Change? by Don Bubna
• Case-Studies of Policy and Vision Implementation by the Executive Pastors 355 pages. David Fletcher's well-read Dissertation on the XP

Post a question about the Catalyst Function in The XP-Forum

Take the Indicator

5 Key Themes

• Empower members & encourage volunteers!
• Envision & improve ministry
• Light fires & motivate people
• Network ministries
• Strategic plans

5 Attitudes & Abilities

• Challenging & exciting
• Daring to change
• “I can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs”
• Liberal to radical
• “Rules? What are they?”