There are five practices which characterise pioneer ministry: listening, adapting, experimenting, co-creating and persisting. They describe the outward work of ministry, but leaders also need reflective skills to be truly effective. Innovating Church explore five inward qualities that underpin and provide a foundation for pioneering leadership:
- Discerning: how does God speak? Sensing the right thing, the right time and place;
- Self-sacrificing: what does it mean to be Christlike? Should we seek success?
- Playful: taking risks, being unsure of the direction of the journey;
- Hospitable: living out the principle of service;
- Resilient: learning from setbacks, growing in courage.
Practitioners from the UK and the US explore how this holistic mix of inward and outward skills can help church pioneers thrive and become truly innovative.
