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Learning from Leaders
HELM brings undergraduates and church leaders together
to see "behind the scenes"

December 6, 2005

Leaders often learn best from other leaders. That's especially true in the church, and a group of undergraduate students got a chance to learn how the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) works from people who know the lay of the land.

The Higher Education and Leadership Ministries Leadership Fellows Program recognizes undergraduates who demonstrate the ability and willingness to lead in the church. Each year, the fellows gather to examine a particular aspect of leadership; this year's conference, held in Nashville, Tenn., was a behind-the-scenes look at how the church works.

"To learn how to lead an organization like a congregation - whether as a layperson or as a minister - you have to understand how the organization works," said HELM President Dennis Landon, "whether it's the nuts-and-bolts of the legal structure or the interpersonal dynamics that shape actions and reactions. We chose our four guests not just because of their titles or resumes but because of their leadership experiences in the church and the way the roles they play are changing the church."

Spending the weekend with the HELM Leadership Fellows were:

Leadership Fellows Conference resource people

Ben Bohren, Northern California-Nevada transitional regional minister;
Charisse Gillett, immediate past moderator;
Verity Jones, editor and publisher of DisciplesWorld magazine; and
Rick Morse, lead minister, New Church Ministries

HARVICK

Examining how the church works inevitably turns up examples of how the church doesn't work. Speakers took on those hard topics.

"I really appreciated their openess and honesty of our speakers about the challenges that they have faced and how they met them," said Michelle Harvick, a senior at Texas Christian University. "It was especially great to hear about everyone's hopes and dreams for the future of the church."

Despite the troubles the church faces, a message of hope - that better times are here already - permeated the conversations.

CURTIS

"It was encouraging to hear the message not to abandon ship on the church," said Chapman University sophomore Tiffany Curtis, "because I often play with the idea of whether I can be more effective in the world within or outside of the framework of the Church. It is easy to see the denomination as 'not really my church' unless you are around people who are passionate about the church and about your leadership in it, and who believe that you can shape the future of the church."

Each of the speakers gave students insights into the challenges that came with their positions - be it administrative, theological, ethical, or personal. The conversation that followed was often painfully honest and revealing, but also the most valuable part of the conference."I really enjoyed the honest discussion of the "state of the church" that went on with leaders within our denomination," Curtis said, "the time spent in fellowship with our resource staff, and the ideas that were tossed around about the future of our church."

Fellows05.jpg 288x285 One recurring theme was that too often, congregations - like the denomination itself - focus too much on survival. The church will flourish if Disciples reflect the belief that God is a God of mission, transformation, and abundance.

"I believe that is what God is calling us to as Disciples of Christ," Harvick said. "I took home with me a great sense of hope for our future as a church, as well as a sense of purpose that if we want to really 'do something,' the time is now."

Like any church gathering, though, fellowship created the bonds that will last longer than a weekend. Saturday's dinner was at the well-known Bluebird Café, where Nashville songwriters perform old songs and new, as well as a late-night touch football game that began when most people had settled in for the night.

"I am grateful for the time we get to spend together, whether it's in theological conversation or a game of football," Harvick said. "We are building relationships that will last well beyond our graduation from the Leadership Fellows Program. It gives an opportunity to bond together as student leaders and share with one another in ways that we might not be able to on our home campuses."

That fellowship provides other ways to look at ministry.

MILLER-
McLEMORE

"I was exposed to people who showed me some of the great alternative ways I can involve myself with leadership in the church in the future," said Chris Miller-McLemore, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University. "I also enjoyed the usual friendship and fellowship that is present at every meeting of HELM Fellows and the HELM staff."

Applications are now available for the HELM Leadership Fellows Program. Current high school seniors and community college students planning to attend a regionally accredited four-year college or university as a full-time student beginning in 2006 are eligible. All materials must be received by March 15, 2006. For more information, visit www.helmdisciples.org.