Ten challenges for innovative church leaders 

Last week, we converged for UNCO West. UNCO is short for Unconference, a gathering with an open-space format. We congregate at Stony Point Center and San Francisco Theological Seminary, and both sites have become more than just a place to gather. They have been incredibly nurturing and have really become partners in this ministry laboratory. We come together to support one another in our ministries, dream about innovative worship spaces, and challenge each other in social justice work. Some years I go with a hope to take over the world. Other times, I'm exhausted and just need the community. Every year, it’s a good gauge to find out what’s exciting and difficult about being an innovative church leader. Here are a few things that I gleaned from our recent gathering.

•Fundraising. Whether it’s for non-profits or local churches, raising money is an important aspect of our work. We were struggling with worshiping communities that might not be able to support the ministry (often communities are geared toward those who are differently abled, in poverty, or homeless), so how do we articulate a clear vision to those who have the resources?

•Supporting Church Planters and Innovators. Church planters and innovators were working in isolation, without much encouragement. It was difficult to articulate a vision for the ministry, especially when we were creating something new. Denominational bodies often ignored us, until they wanted to start criticizing. Also the newly gathered community needed to form the ministry, and it might look different than the one that the funding bodies want. How can we support one another in all of this?