399: Board Leadership: Guiding Organizational Culture for Greater Church Impact

Today, we're thrilled to welcome Victoria Mupwaya of Miracle Life Family Church and the Rhema Bible Training Center in Lusaka, Zambia, who will share her insights on building a flourishing culture through effective leadership and healthy board governance.

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In this episode:

Growth and Impact of Miracle Life Family Church and Rhema Bible Training Center

• Victoria highlights significant growth in the church and training center, including:
• Increase in Sunday attendance from 17 people in 1998 to 3,700-4,000. (02:59)
• Substantial participation of children, with numbers exceeding 1,000. (03:22)
• Graduates from Rhema Bible Training Center: 997 from 94 different churches, with over 100 becoming pastors. (03:33)
• The church's building campaign, including new facilities for various age groups. (04:28)

Leadership and Succession Planning

• Importance of leadership succession and growth of associate pastors. (06:10)
• Leadership was tested when senior pastors were away due to illness. (06:24)
• Success in managing the church during senior pastors' absence and identifying growth areas. (06:53)

Adapting to Challenges and Changes

• Adapting to COVID-19 impacts and transitioning to remote and hybrid work models. (07:24)
• Challenging and evolving work culture and systems, focusing on performance and output over hours worked. (08:21)

Commitment to Employee Engagement

• Miracle Life’s involvement in the Employee Engagement Survey with Best Christian Workplaces for over 7 years. (09:03)
• Improvements and certification as a Best Christian Workplace for four years. (09:15)
• Use of survey results to address problems and improve management practices. (10:06)
• Emphasis on continuous improvement and pursuit of excellence. (11:15)

Benefits of Employee Engagement Surveys

• Setting benchmarks and measuring improvements over time. (13:33)
• Building trust, transparency, and a positive work environment. (14:06)
• Lowering turnover and enhancing employee health and satisfaction. (16:10)
• Becoming an employer of choice and attracting talent. (16:37)

Experiences in Employee Engagement in the Marketplace

• Victoria’s experience with employee engagement at Barclays Bank. (17:44)
• Importance of collective efforts, stakeholder engagement, and focus-group discussions. (19:44)
• Holistic approach to employee engagement throughout the employee life cycle. (20:34)

Similarities and Differences in Employee Engagement in Marketplace vs. Ministry Settings

• Similarities:
  • Pursuit of structured policies, learning, growth, and strategic planning. (23:09)
  • Discomfort with managing conflict and underperformance. (24:57)
• Differences:
  • Robust reward and compensation policies in the marketplace. (25:48)
  • Ministry settings requiring a culture of excellence and accountability aligned with Colossians 3:23-24. (26:09)

Embracing Structure and Policies

• Victoria notes that the church has embraced structure, standard operating procedures, and benchmarks. (29:33)
• There is a common understanding among employees about the need for order and standards. (29:46)

Board Governance and Responsibilities

• The board sets the tone for human resource practices through effective recruitment and performance management of the CEO. (30:59)
• The board supports senior pastors by ensuring clarity in their responsibilities and reflecting changing demands. (31:27)
• Emphasis on continuous performance conversations and capacity building. (32:07)

Support for Leadership Team

• The board ensures a holistic approach, including wellness, medical reviews, rest, fair compensation, and benefits. (33:25)
• Importance of having sabbaticals and annual leave to prevent burnout among pastors. (34:00)

Empowerment and Organizational Culture

• Board members actively participate in various church ministries to understand the organization beyond the boardroom. (35:37)
• Ensuring greater autonomy and real-time decision-making by the management. (36:47)
• Emphasis on mentoring and professional development, with board members providing direct support and resources to staff. (37:21)

Challenges in Building a Flourishing Workplace Culture

• Different levels of managerial competence and the need for consistent growth. (39:31)
• Continuous coaching and mentoring to help every employee. (39:35)
• Importance of tough conversations, honesty, correction, and accountability. (39:59)

Common Threads in Employee Engagement Across Cultures

• Purpose-driven work and clarity on roles. (41:20)
• Confidence and trust in authentic leadership. (41:45)
• Opportunities for development and career growth. (41:55)
• Effective organizational communication. (42:22)
• Recognition and reward, including both positive and negative feedback. (42:51)

Unique Aspects of Employee Engagement in Zambia

• Emphasis on relational aspects and authentic relationships. (43:48)
• Trust in leadership and the importance of maintaining relationships. (43:55)

Appreciation and Future Goals

• Victoria expresses gratitude for the partnership with Best Christian Workplaces Institute and looks forward to continued improvements. (46:20)
• Al emphasizes the importance of strengthening the local church and spreading the Good News through excellence and leadership. (46:39)

Read the Transcript

Read a complete, word-for-word transcript of the episode

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