The Unity Factor

It's No Secret

Serving on a church board can be a tough assignment. Marathon business meetings and petty squabbling can quickly take a toll. But lay leaders aren't the only ones who find board meetings to be a harrowing experience. So do many pastors.

Larry Osborne was no exception. Six months into a new pastorate, he found himself embroiled in controversy. Old members left as fast as new ones could be added. He and the board seldom saw eye to eye on anything.

Troubled and confused, he set out to find some answers. What were the secrets of an effective leadership team? Could a pastor lead without becoming a dictator? What would it take to develop and maintain a unified board? Could it even be done?

Now, many years, board meetings and hours of research later, Pastor Osborne applies tested, no-nonsense wisdom to these and other questions.

Whatever your situation...whether your church is in a start-up phase, is small and struggling, or is one of a growing number of so-called mega-churches, Larry has been there. As the senior pastor of North Coast Church, he's walked his congregation and board through each stage. Now, in The Unity Factor, he shows us what it takes to develop a healthy leadership team with sensible strategies and warm encouragement

Larry W. Osborne is the pastor of North Coast Church in Vista, California. A popular contributor to LEADERSHIP Journal, he writes and speaks extensively on the subject of leadership and developing healthy ministry teams. He holds the M.Div. and D.Min. Degrees from Talbot Theological Seminary. Larry and his wife, Nancy, live in Oceanside with their children, Nathan, Rachel and Joshua.