E3: Effective, Empowering Elders by Dr. Rick Thompson

E3 Church Consultations

Rick Thompson is available to come to your church to meet with your elders or any leadership team for a customized consultation.

Consultation #1: How to grow again with your “S” Curve Change

Consultation #2: How to move to an elder board structure

Consultation #3: How to clarify your mission, vision, values and strategy

Consultation #4: How to develop a three year strategic plan

E3 Seminars

Purpose: To present a biblical example (Acts 6) of how elders function so that especially church board members can better understand the biblical role of how to be more effective and more empowering as a church board. The essence of this material can be found in chapters 3 & 4 of my book.

180-minute seminar

Purpose: To present a biblical vision and role for elder boards in the local church in the first session with break out sessions into small groups. The essence of this material can be found in chapters 2. In the second segment, to present a biblical example (Acts 6) of how elders function so that especially church board members can better understand the biblical role of how to be more effective as a church board. The essence of this material can be found in chapters 3 of my book. The final segment will focus on issues of empowerment by church boards. The essence of this material can be found in chapter 4 of my book.

E3 Rick Thompson 60 minute session: Elders (Focus-Chapter 2)

Purpose: To present a biblical vision and role for elder boards in the local church with break out sessions into small groups. The essence of this material can be found in chapters 2. Here is the basic plan with the approximate timing in minutes.

(2)	Introduction of speaker	Two-minute overview of who I am and why I am here
(8)	Introduction of people	Form groups of 4 people: “Who leads your church? What is the role of pastor(s), church board(s) and members in the local church?
(2)	Scripture Reading & Prayer	Isaiah 33
(8)	Teaching	Pastors on top Boards on top Members on top A new balance of responsibilities
(10)	Four Responsibilities of Members-Major Moves	Missionaries - Acts 13 Men - Acts 7 Money - 1 Corinthians 16 Members - Matthew 18 What problems and potential do you observed with members fulfilling these responsibilities? (Open large group interaction)
(10)	Five Responsibilities of Pastors-Be Shepherds of God’s flock	Lead Feed Intercede Heed Bleed How can you encourage and strength your pastors to fulfill these responsibilities? (Open large group interaction)
(10)	Six Responsibilities of Elders (Church Boards)	To guide prayer To guide process To govern by policy To govern by proposals To guard themselves & God’s flock To equip & empower God’s flock (Groups of four people: How would your church strength one of these areas?)
(10)	Q & A

E3 Rick Thompson: 90-minute session (Focus-Chapters 3 & 4)

(5)	Introduction of presenter and the people in the session	Every church a board (names) and boards can be boring! (37) Why are boards boring? What makes a church board effective? Scripture gives us a picture of an effective church board at work.
(5)	Scripture Reading & Prayer	Acts 6:1-4
(20)	Interaction of people	Let’s take the next 10 minutes in groups of 4 to interact: Why was this Acts 6 board effective? What errors did they avoid and what did they do right as a church board? Errors avoided! Prayerlessness and wrong first priorities Personal fix of major problems Micromanaging ministries Lack of strategic leadership Confusing pastor and staff roles Failure to drive off wolves Lack of training and empowerment No clear measurable results
(10)	1. The first priority responsibility of the church board is PRAYER and the ministry of the Word.	Larry Osborne’s Shepherd’s Meeting example What are ways your elders guide the ministry of prayer and the Word? Let’s pray in pairs for your church board.
(10)	2. The responsibility of the board is to guide congregational PROCESSES.	The Acts 6 Crossroads-temptations to fix problems personally What are some ways that your leaders honor the members in decisions?
(10)	3. The responsibility of the church board is to govern with wise POLICIES.	The difference between board oversight and ministry operations. Make available an example of a “Church Policy Manual.”
(10)	4. The responsibility of the board is to govern with major PROPOSALS.	“S” Curve Changes Testimonies - What “S” Curve change did your church make recently?”
(10)	5. The responsibility of the board is to guard and PROTECT God’s flock.	Discerning the difference between Wolves, catfish, and dragons Titus 3:10
(10)	6. The responsibility of the board is to EQUIP & EMPOWER God’s people.	The Greek Word "Equip" Carver Model-What results do you measure and train to accomplish?
	Final Large Group Interaction of all the people	What have you learned from this seminar?

E3 Rick Thompson: 180 minute session (Focus-Chapters 2, 3 & 4)

(2)	Introduction of speaker	Two-minute overview of who I am and why I am here
(10)	Interaction of people	Form groups of 4 people: “Who leads your church? What is the role of pastor(s), church board(s) and members in the local church?
(3)	Scripture Reading & Prayer	Isaiah 33
(5)	Teaching	Pastors on top Boards on top Members on top A new balance of responsibilities
(10)	Four Responsibilities of Members-Major Moves	Missionaries - Acts 13 Men - Acts 7 Money - 1 Corinthians 16 Members - Matthew 18 What problems and potential do you observed with members fulfilling these responsibilities? (Open large group interaction)
(10)	Five Responsibilities of Pastors-Be Shepherds	Lead Feed Intercede Heed Bleed How can you encourage and strength your pastors to fulfill these responsibilities? (Open large group interaction)
(10)	Six Responsibilities of Elders (All Church Boards)	Overview of the Place of Elders & Boards Promise of the 6 responsibilities in next session
(20)	Small Groups of 4 Interaction of people	How do you understand church government? How is your church structured? What are the roles and responsibilities of pastors, the church board, and the members? Which branches of church government in your church are fully functional? Which one might need to have its influence trimmed back? What happens when one branch of church government overshadows the others? In the relationships between the pastor(s), elders, and members, what redesign is needed to make your church more fruitful?
(10)	Large Group Interaction of all the people	What have you learned here today and what concerns and questions do you continue to have for the second session? End of first 90-minute session
(5)	Introduction of presenter and the people in the session	Every church a board (names) and boards can be boring! Why are boards boring? What makes a church board effective? Scripture gives us a picture of an effective church board at work.
(5)	Scripture Reading & Prayer	Acts 6:1-4
(20)	Interaction of people	Let’s take the next 10 minutes in groups of 4 to interact: Why was this Acts 6 board effective? What errors did they avoid and what did they do right as a church board? Errors avoided! Prayerlessness and wrong first priorities Personal fix of major problems Micromanaging ministries Lack of strategic leadership Confusing pastor and staff roles Failure to drive off wolves Lack of training and empowerment No clear measurable results
(10)	1. The first priority responsibility of the church board is PRAYER and the ministry of the Word.	Larry Osborne’s Shepherd’s Meeting example What are ways your elders guide the ministry of prayer and the Word? Let’s pray in pairs for your church board.
(10)	2. The responsibility of the board is to guide congregational PROCESSES.	The Acts 6 Crossroads-temptations to fix problems personally What are some ways that your leaders honor the members in decisions?
(10)	3. The responsibility of the church board is to govern with wise POLICIES.	The difference between board oversight and ministry operations. Make available an example of a “Church Policy Manual.”
(10)	4. The responsibility of the board is to govern with major PROPOSALS.	“S” Curve Changes Testimonies - What “S” Curve change did your church make recently?”
(10)	5. The responsibility of the board is to guard and PROTECT God’s flock.	Discerning the difference between Wolves, catfish, and dragons Titus 3:10
(10)	6. The responsibility of the board is to EQUIP & EMPOWER God’s people.	The Greek Word "Equip" Carver Model-What results do you measure and train to accomplish?
	Final Large Group Interaction of all the people	What have you learned from this seminar?

E3: Effective, Empowering Elders