May 4

What a tremendous lesson in leadership we are given in the moment Solomon passes his throne to his son Rehoboam. Division always has an epicenter, a moment of inception. The division of Israel is often attributed to Rehoboam and Jeroboam but I believe it began among Rehoboam's Council. One group gave one course of direction born out of the conviction of their hearts and one group gave a different course of direction, born out of the conviction of their hearts. A great leader would have done nothing until both groups were reconciled together and of one mind and one heart. This division became one that expanded out for centuries of history.

Our core leadership team at City Life doesn't vote on anything. We work until we are of one heart and one mind. Unity is what every leadership team should be reverberating throughout their church, vibrations of togetherness that inspires the whole house toward togetherness! In Acts 2:1 we read that they were "all together in one place." And again, in Acts 2:44 we read "Now all the believers were together..." This Greek word for "together" can be used for geographic togetherness but also for being together of one heart and mind. Acts 2:1 speaks of a geographic togetherness while Acts 2:44 addresses their unity of heart.

There will always be division ultimately. There will always be dissenting people as decisions move out into the broader group of leaders and members of a church. Seldom does everyone in the whole of the church agree on everything. And disagreement does not have to be about right and wrong. We far too often want the the opposing side to be wrong to buttress our position, out of insecurity. My experience has been that most moments of division in churches are about preferences and methodology. Both positions can be right while simultaneously divergent.

Consider travel. There are many routes to a destination. Is one right and the other wrong? Each is right but one cannot travel on both concurrently, bringing about a divergent moment. In a church's life, there will be many divergent moments. But the first signs of separation should only and always be as vision moves out into the broader realms of concentric circles. However, the core should never be responsible for the division, only and always the unity!

At City Life, our core is defined by two groups, the first circle is what we call our Governance Team (Lead Pastor, Elders, and Two Trustees) and also the next circle out, our Ministry Life Team Council (all the leaders of our various ministries). If this group is not on the same page, we don't turn the page...but once they are, we run after vision together!

Great leaders inspire people together to one place, both space and desire!

Pastor Fred