Organix

Book excerpt: Does your leadershipstyle fit new ways of doing church--leadership that is organic and elasticand that finds ways to seize God-given opportunities? Looking back anddrawing on the ancient Christian tradition, Bob Whitesel describes seven traitsfor successful leadership, which he characterizes by seven symbols: O (the Greek symbol theta) – the firstletter of the Greek word theosstresses that God is the source of the burden for others and provides the powerto help them. Rx (the medical prescription symbol) – an emphasis on addressing the spiritual and physical health of leaders. G (a stylized “G” for “graffiti”)– the edgy, colorful, and artful collages that help define contemporaryorganizations. A (inspired by the recyclesymbol) – the idea of recycling places, experiences and people rather thandiscarding them. N - emerging networks thatc9onnect people more quickly, efficiently, precisely and continuously. I - an emphasis on “incarnation”,a going “in the flesh” to serve others rather than sending surrogates. X (the Jerusalem crosswith a number in each quadrant) – four types of measurement observed inJerusalem (Acts 2:42-47), which at their core point to Christ’s work on thecross. Taken together, these symbols spell out the word “organix” and represent a fundamentally new way to think about your church and how you can best lead.