Pinnacle Developments: Breaking Through Barriers To Increased Missional Movement
by Rev. Mark E. Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader
Partnering With Others To Discover And Pursue God's Mission In The World
Mission Mantra
Transitioning from a founder-(centered, generated, focused, animated) organization to an associate-(centered, generated, focused, animated) sustainable organization
Vision, BHAG, 2021-23
Cultivating a supportive, proactive, and wildly creative team ecosystem, maximizing the gifts of each Associate, resulting in exceptional contributions to God's mission
Vision, BHAG, 2023-24
No, this space is typically not about us, but about our common mission with you in the world. Nevertheless, many of you have asked, so I’m stepping aside from usual practice to update our readers on our focus in recent years.
About 7-8 years ago, I had the sense that we were maxing-out our capacity in terms of getting work done. Many organizational needs were passing across my desk, disappearing into a rabbit hole, never to emerge. My stress was growing, with visions of escaping Pinnacle rising in my mind, heart, and spirit. Fortunately, with good counsel and coaching, I stepped back for some balcony time, eventually recognizing what was afoot. We were functioning with pastoral size oriented leadership and organizational processes, though we had grown into the program size. Those of you who know Church Size Transition and Theory will recognize this language and paradigm.
This recognition provided excellent clarity for discernment. Looking at the two Big Hairy Audacious Goals (Thanks Jim Collins) above, it’s clear we consciously made the commitment to push through, becoming a different type of organization. This means we have dedicated the last four years to intentionally and fundamentally changing how we function, in order to cross the threshold into a new season of organizational capacity and movement. With reflection, here are our four areas of capacity building and examples of each, should you be interested.
Adding Leadership
The primary way we have done this is through creating and staff positions, like
• Mission Advancement Coordinator – Ircel Harrison. Think Executive Pastor to get a sense of this role.
• Consulting Coordinator – Dan Holloway
• Communications Strategist and E-News Coordinator – Marci Wilson-Boggs
• Website Coordinator – Rhonda Abbott Blevins
• Financial Coordinator – Helen Hood Renew
These positions, with these dedicated people serving in them, has dramatically increased our capacity to effectively manage our work.
Creating And Developing Effective Systems
Being a Free Spirit Type (PeopleMap Communication System), I have a low tolerance for unnecessary processes and systems. At the same time, it became clear we needed internal systems to help us pursue our mission. This looks like:
• A Pinnacle Operations Guide
• Invoicing, Collecting, and Paying Processes
• Regular monthly meetings (described later)
• A Leadership Team whose role is to look over our mission advancement and organizational needs each month
Changing the Role of Leadership
Over the last five years, my role has dramatically shifted from primary direct service provider to Associate coach and collaborator. Though I still love coaching, consulting, and presenting, I also love seeing our Associates provide these services in ways that light them up. Yes, I’ve had to give up some aspects of our ministry that I love, but for the sake of our mission, it’s been and continues to be worth the shift.
Cultivating Our People
Did you notice our BHAG for 2023-24 above? We aspire to be the kind of team that brings out the best in one another. This means,
• Engaging in regular team meetings
• Participating in a practice group, with individual practice plans for each Associate, all focused on achieving our aspirations
• Staffing coaching and consulting with the team
We want to do everything we can to help our team move toward their aspirations. Yes, this is challenging work, so even with strong support, it’s not easy. With strong support, it’s far more likely that we will serve effectively.
Outcomes
So, how do we know if this work is resulting in mission advancement? Here are the clues we are seeing so far:
• Summit Coach Training is an ICF accredited, active coach training endeavor
• Ascend Enneagram is providing various Enneagram-based services
• Navigating GriefLand is providing services
• Our Transforming Church Initiatives are active assisting churches toward transformation
• Missional Sermon-Based Small Groups is equipping churches to pursue small group ministries
• The Lead Pastor Base Camp will provide it’s first Base Camp in February 2025
• Pinnacle’s Consulting Academy is launched, with the first Course (Foundations In Church Consulting) starting in February
• Our individual and group coaching, along with consulting projects, continue to grow
• The Clergy Collective has two new leaders this year, along with new coaches
• More Associates are providing services than ever before
• Due to our size, we are able to form partnerships for larger-scale services with denominations, seminaries, and the like
Well, thank you. First, thank you for reading to this point. Second, and even more, thank you for partnering with us, choosing Pinnacle to walk with you along the way. Your trust blesses us in ways beyond what we can communicate.
So, we are ready to move ahead. I can’t wait to pursue our BHAG for 2025-26… another article perhaps. In the meantime, this wild Christ-following journey draws us onward. Thank you for being on the pilgrimage with us everyone.