You too may feel that you are leading in a cultural context you were not expecting. Tod Bolsinger talks about an organization’s DNA: “In biology, DNA ‘contains the genetic information that allows all modern living things to function, grown, and reproduce.’ In human bodies our DNA is code that makes each of us unique, helps us to survive and thrive, and is what we pass on to offspring in reproduction. ", "This is my leadership resource of the year for clergy. “I offer Canoeing the Mountains as a guidebook for learning to lead in a world before us that’s nothing like the world behind us. Join church leaders everywhere in learning to lead all over again in order to serve our changing culture. If you can adapt and adventure, you can thrive a. “Let go, learn as you go, and keep … . Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 1 Post. Drawing from his extensive experience as a pastor and consultant, Tod Bolsinger brings decades of expertise in guiding churches and organizations through uncharted territory. Tod Bolsinger is the Executive Director for the DePree Center Church Leadership Institute, and the author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory, and the newly released, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change Dr. Bolsinger will be offering a … Canoeing The Mountains is a book about culture. And you know you have to learn a new language or develop the skills for navigating an outdoor marker in a foreign land. ", "Since the missional church discussion began to develop real momentum, the constant question has been how does this theological vision of the church after Christendom translate into the practice of real congregations struggling with enormous challenges? The nature of the pastoral role is defined by the Bible. Canoeing the Mountains: Part 12 Michael Mills March 31, 2019 March 31, 2019 Agape Blog ← 2019.03.31 – Parable of the Pharisee … Taking The Hill – With Grandma (Canoeing The Mountains) Tod Bolsinger sums up the Church as a body that functions relationally and purposefully. While they had prepared to find a waterway to the Pacific Ocean, instead they found themselves in the Rocky Mountains. ", "As a committed practical theologian, Bolsinger blends the best insights from Scripture and leadership theory with an empathetic understanding of the most pressing questions of today's leaders. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. 14th Annual Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year, Leadership; Explorers Lewis and Clark had to adapt. Lewis and Clark experienced 15 months of hard travel, a seemingly endless string of days of backbreaking … For anyone committed to and dazed by the changing realities of today's church, Tod Bolsinger offers a needed vision. Bolsinger offers fresh, practical advice that integrates the best of leadership theory with the realities of church leadership, illustrated with vivid metaphors and real-world examples, resulting in a seminal book on how to navigate this new world. Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains, is uniquely positioned to explore the qualities of adaptive leadership in contexts ranging from churches to nonprofit organizations. . Tod Bolsinger's Canoeing the Mountains provides the right mixture of theological insight, leadership theory and relevant stories that will give the necessary principles to help leaders face unfamiliar terrain. This is a book that you simply must read! In his book “Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory,” Bolsinger draws upon leadership theory as well as his experience as a pastor and seminary professor and administrator to offer a “trail map” for Christian leaders navigating a rapidly changing world. In this practical guidebook, Tod Bolsinger relies on the metaphor of Lewis and Clark to reveal how you can lead your congregation through the new landscape we've found ourselves in. It draws on Heifetz’s writing on adaptive leadership, Friedman’s understanding of anxiety in systems and the gridlock that this can produce, Kotter and Wheatley’s work on change management, and more. Most importantly, it is shaped by theologically informed hope, not just optimism, and takes the risks that must be taken for the sake of faithful witness today. Canoeing the Mountains: Part 1 This excellent book will help you navigate the uncharted territory we face and this first video, summarizing section one , will help introduce this resource to you, including discussion questions. It is a living organism, a vibrant system. ", "I see many pastors and leaders of churches who are exhausted by the daunting task of leading churches in a culture that is changing faster than it ever has before. . But seeing and embracing differences, if we know that we are loved and cherished just as we are, is also the way that we … "Canoeing the Mountains is a must-read for pastors and church leaders who want to understand the precarious religious landscape in America today. Let’s go back.” But they didn’t. Throughout the book, you'll find "Reorientation" lessons to help you lead in uncharted territory with confidence and courage. In “Canoeing the Mountains,” Tod Bolsinger gives us a guidebook to help lead our congregations into this new landscape. Acknowledgments . ", "Do not canoe another stroke or portage another step without Canoeing the Mountains in hand. It's a map for navigating the future that I have made part of my practice. This is an important new resource. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press - Praxis, 2015. CANOEING THE MOUNTAINS CHAPTER 1: "SEMINARY DIDN'T PREPARE ME FOR THIS" Key Idea: Main Points For Reflection 1 Heifetz, Ronald A., Marty Linsky, and Alexander Grashow, The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World, Kindle ed., loc. Don't Just Do Something, Stand There . Tod Bolsinger answers this pressing question in his timely book Canoeing the Mountains. uses the metaphor of 'canoeing the mountains' based on the experience of Lewis and Clark, who successfully completed the mission of the Corps of Discovery because of their ability to lead creatively in light of unexpected circumstances. Tod's book is one I am recommending to my clients. Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory by Tod Bolsinger Summary and Worksheets . In organizational systems thinking the DNA of a group is a way of describing the essential and unique attributes—the ‘defining essence’ or code of that group.”, He goes on to say, that “code is neither healthy nor unhealthy in itself, but the culture that comes from a church’s code can be either positive or destructive. ", Part 1: Understanding Uncharted Territory Along the way this wisdom spills over into meaning and insight for any leader in business, education or politics. . Seasoned pastor Tod Bolsinger draws on his experience as a church consultant and student of contemporary leadership theory in order to tackle the most pressing ministry … Instead of giving a 'one-size-fits-all' solution, Bolsinger provides guiding principles for doing church in this new era. In Canoeing the Mountains, Tod Bolsinger cleverly solicits imagery and vocabulary that today's pastors and leaders can cling to as they begin to truly climb the mountain of adaptive change necessary to transform churches to better health. And just like human bodies, human organizations thrive when they are cooperating with the wisdom of God for how that system is designed, how it grows and how it adapts to changing external environments. . It even has a study guide. A great deal of excellent work has been done, and there are excellent resources for the community and leadership seriously committed to missional change. . Join us on June 1 as Flourish San Diego presents an afternoon with Tod Bolsinger, Vice President of Formation and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Combining solid biblical theology, contemporary leadership theory and years of experience as a pastor and church consultant, Bolsinger offers a new vision of pastoral leadership as well as dozens of practical examples that bring this vision to life. As we face a changing environment and consider what it looks like for us to adapt, what pieces of our DNA must remain? The cultural context in which the pastoral role is expressed is changing. Tod's retelling of the story of Lewis and Clark provides concrete stepping stones to a fluid journey and repackages these concepts in a way that is digestible, inspiring and thought provoking.