301. The End of an Era: Saying Goodbye to the Church Leadership Institute Partnership, with Tod Bolsinger

This is it—the final episode of our partnership with the Church Leadership Institute. It's hard to believe how quickly these years have flown by.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson look back on what this collaboration has meant, what we've accomplished together, and where the road leads from here.

THIS EPSODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Markus Watson reflects on starting the podcast during a time of personal transition and describes how the partnership with the Church Leadership Institute began in a providential way.
• Markus Watson shares that joining the Church Leadership Institute’s podcast team was not an answer to a specific prayer, but an unexpected opportunity that resonated with his calling.
• Tod Bolsinger explains that the Church Leadership Institute started as a place for researching adaptive change while directly working with leaders and practitioners.
• Leaders benefit most from research that connects theory with real-life contexts, especially in smaller church settings.
• Churches and leaders need resources that are accessible to smaller congregations, not just large organizations.
• Tod Bolsinger emphasizes that making adaptive change in smaller churches can feel as difficult as changing one’s family of origin.
• Experimentation, contextual cohorts, and digital platforms proved effective for spreading adaptive leadership resources across diverse church settings.
• Delivering effective leadership development depends on understanding the specific context of each congregation.
• You cannot develop adaptive capacity simply by consuming information; leaders must actively practice adaptive work.
• Tod Bolsinger stresses that you cannot outwork a changing world, highlighting the importance of discernment and adaptability rather than relying solely on hard work.
• Crisis situations, like the pandemic, require leaders to learn new ways of thinking, rather than applying old solutions to new challenges.
• Significant changes, such as the rise of telecommuting, political shifts, and technological advances, have rapidly altered the leadership landscape.
• Tod Bolsinger notes that the main challenge now is developing adaptive capacity in entire congregations, not just among pastors or staff.
• Developing adaptive discipleship within a congregation requires a shift from programmatic solutions to cultivating a transformative organizational culture.
• Markus Watson explores experimenting with new podcast formats and continuing conversations with leaders to support spiritual life and leadership growth.
• Tod Bolsinger charges leaders to embrace a posture of curiosity, prioritizing learning and question-asking over being the “learned expert.”

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Church Leadership Institute
• Related episodes:
  • 100. The Spiritual Life of a Leader, with Tod Bolsinger
  • 116. Power, Vulnerability, Rest, with Tod Bolsinger
  • 144. Is the Church Failing to Make Disciples? with Tod Bolsinger

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