Winning on purpose : how to organize congregations to succeed in their mission / John Edmund Kaiser.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 174-177) and indexes.

Part one: Do we really want to win? -- Playing to win beats playing around -- A reason to exist - the kind of leadership we need- attracting and keeping leaders - a strategy for getting it done -- The first step is to stop defeating ourselves -- Problems of inward focus - problems of anarchy - problems of democracy - problems of oligarchy - problems of hierarchy -- Three basics make a game worth playing -- The object of the game - the rules of the game - how to keep score - the accountable leadership strategy -- Part two: Do we understand the game? -- The object of the game defines responsibility -- The source of our objective -Jesus's final word on the matter- Jesus's earlier mission statements - the acts of the (commissioned) apostles - winning at the object of the game -- The rules of the game create authority -- A word of warning about rules - how boundaries work - fair game - breaking the rules - changing the rules -- Accountability is how we keep score -- Safe and effective organization - when goals are reached - statistics vs. wins - interpretation and application - win, lose, or draw -- Part three: Do we know what position to play? -- Ministry is a team sport -- Diversity on the team - captain of the team - training and coaching for the team -- The congregation plays ministry -- Control vs. trust - moving the world - accountability-- official and otherwise -- The pastor plays leadership -- The case for a primary leader - character of the pastor as leader - modes of leading for three arenas - limitations of accountable leadership -- The board plays governance -- The governance distinctive - trustees for whom? - defining the guiding principles - keeping score and calling penalties - supporting pastoral leadership - keeping the board on track -- The staff plays management -- Excellence of execution - a comprehensive staff - the pastor's team - two degrees of separation - investment, not expense -- Part four: Do we have the right equipment? -- Organizational documents set up the game -- Creating a corporate "pair o' docs" - clarity about the bylaws - what the bylaws need to cover - how the bylaws need to be changed - how guiding principles authorize the pastor - constructing the guiding principles - mission principles, boundary principles - accountability principles -- Schedules keep the game in play -- The influence of the annual calendar - proportions of the meeting agenda - process for training and selection - the wisdom of a transition plan -- Affiliations relate the team to its league -- Winning in the congregational leagues - winning in the presbyterian leagues - winning in the episcopal leagues - winning in the emerging leagues.