Members and Friends of Lamar UMC:

The genuine expressions of welcome and hospitality by the people of Lamar UMC have impressed me greatly.  The staff and the leadership have just been terrific.  Thanks to your gracious efforts, this has been a most enjoyable and smooth transition for Carmen and me.  We are both pumped about being here!

Already, I have hit the ground running.  Showing up at Bible School was definitely an early challenge but was just the way I like to do things.  By jumping in with the staff, leadership, parents and children I was warmed in my heart and received once again that inner confirmation from the sending operation of the Holy Spirit and of course the Missouri Conference.  I believe the Bishop and the appointive cabinet were led in sending us to Lamar.

I give thanks for Pastor Don and LaMalva, especially their influence and leadership.  Moreover, their ministry is something I can build upon and respect.  They have been extremely helpful during the transition and I pray the best for their lives and the new direction they seek.

Finally, I want to discuss a leadership concept that I mentioned to the congregation last Sunday that helps bring clarity to who I am and how I will be leading for a few months.  I call it the "trust-objectivity" dilemma.

When discerning vision and sharpening clarity, pastors are faced with an interesting dilemma between trust and objectivity.  Trust and objectivity are inversely related.  When the leader is new to the organization, he or she will have maximum objectivity, but little trust.  As trust is earned over the first several years, the vantage point of objectivity diminishes until it is gone forever. 

In other words, ever effective leader at some point and in some area will need to make critical decisions for the ministry that will carry long-term implications.  With my consulting skills and background, I plan initially to lead as a strategic outside with the benefit of the objectivity of being new all the while building the trust essential to a lasting relationship.  In this unique way, I can best serve you and add value to who you are.  Does this sound exciting as we begin our journey together?

Blessings,

Dr. Barry E. Winders