Leading Congregations in Mission - Community of Christ

Creating Cultures of
Innovation, Collaboration,
Courage, and Commitment
By Jim Poirier,
Presiding Bishopric member-designate
I was listening to a radio
interview recently with Jim
Leech, chief executive officer
of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension
Fund, the largest singleprofession
fund in Canada.
He and his team manage over
$117 billion in accumulated
assets for 300,000 teachers
and retired teachers in Ontario,
Canada.
Even after the economic
downturn in 2008, the fund
remains 94-percent funded.
The average teacher receives a pension for 32 years, so
Leech’s decisions affect the livelihood of many professionals.
His group works closely with the Ontario Teachers Federation
and the Province of Ontario in managing these funds. In
2011, the fund returned 11.23 percent.
When asked about the elements that made his organization
so successful, Leech identified four distinct “cultures”:
innovation, collaboration, courage, and commitment. Each
is necessary to create an environment of confidence and
growth. People look to Leech to manage the business so
each culture is evident.
As high priest visionary leaders in congregations, we also
are looked to by people. By supporting cultures of innovation,
collaboration, courage, and commitment our congregations
can be enabled to give their true capacity to the mission
of Jesus Christ. This is what holistic mission is all about, and
high priests can help make it happen.
A culture of innovation is created when people
are encouraged to bring ideas forward. Exercises in discernment
and discovery invite input on important issues from all
ages. The six principles of generosity are innovative ways to
respond to the generosity of God. In brief, these principles
are: 1) generosity—a spiritual discipline; 2) respond faithfully;
Generosity
3) respond financially; 4) share generously; 5) save wisely;
6) spend responsibly. For more information about these
principles see: www.CofChrist.org/onlineresources/reunion/SharinginChristrev1018lastchapter.pdf.
The three final principles and the order in which they
are presented provide a discipline that directs us in the way
of generosity while providing hope for the future.
Society tells us to spend first, then save, and finally to
give. By doing so, many have gone into excessive and unhealthy
debt caused by wants becoming needs. (Where have
we heard that expression before?) Little is left to save or give.
But by looking differently at life in response to the blessings
we have first received, we give first, then save, and finally
spend responsibly.
By giving first in response
to the love of God, we look
beyond ourselves to the lives
of those around us.
By giving first in response to the love of God, we look
beyond ourselves to the lives of those around us. We then
save so that we can meet life’s unexpected needs. After we
have done that we are better able to spend in a responsible
manner.
This innovative approach to life is the basis of our
stewardship response to the love of God, and it is where
high priests can be in the forefront. It focuses on the life and
ministry of Christ and asks everyone to participate. In this
participation, perspectives change from society’s pull to one
of joyful response.
As Ministers of Vision, become familiar with the principles
of generosity and present them as a response to the life
and ministry of Christ. Call on people to give first, then save,
and then spend responsibly. It’s innovative generosity and an
innovative way of life. Visit www.CofChrist.org/give.
A culture of collaboration is found when high
priests model the Enduring Principles, especially Worth of
All Persons, All Are Called, and Blessings of Community. Ministers
of Vision are able to see the potential in everyone and
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