Command Philosophy

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Command Philosophy - updated January 2020

A Command Philosophy is a document that declares to the author and other readers, actions and expectations that are the products of the author’s core values. 

This command philosophy reflects an order from inner circles outward, the items should not be understood as being disconnected, they build upon the other, beginning with myself, my family, then parish, community and the world. This document draws on a Rule of Life. 

Self - I must keep myself fit, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and vocationally

·      I read scripture, practice prayer, and other spiritual disciplines daily

·      I exercise, daily, in the morning 

·      I detach from technology for significant periods of time in a week, I am renewed by tractoring, or laboring outside at least once a week

·      I use my vacation annually

·      I attend at least two learning/connecting seminars for learning and connecting. I plan to read 10 or more books in 2020.

Family - My family represent the people that I am primarily responsible to for blessing, cultivating, equipping, sharing life with, and serving.   

·     Their phone calls, emails, office visits are answered in a first priority manner      

·      I confide in my wife the details of my life and work

·     All major decisions, vocational, educational, and financial, etc. are be made cooperatively, and only after prayer, discussion, and sleep

·     We practice a family altar: We plan and work together as a team: We laugh much.

·     We create a yearly budget, a garden, and a vacation plan

    

Parish – I will lead by example, then words

·     Every week I invite people to respond to the call of Jesus to become followers of Him for the first time and/or for a deeper walk 

·      I do little things, e.g. picking up trash, fixing broken things, filling gaps       

·      I am engaging, approachable and available

o   I keep regular office hours, and respond to communication within a business day  

o   I have one impactful contact with persons every working day  

o   I am available to people before and after worship services  

·      I lead leadership teams to read two texts per year: I share other insightful and important learning material with teams weekly  

·      I encourage creativity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and joyfulness  

·      I express Christ centered entrepreneurship; I celebrate and coach it in others

·      I have at least 1 intern per year, and work to create a pro-intern environment

·      I provide guidance and accountability through best practices

Community

·      I do not speak ill of churches or clergy 

·      I serve a community endeavor at least 50 hours in a year

·      I maintain covenant with my denomination, serving in ways to encourage holy ambition

·      I partner in collaborative endeavors that are win-win

·      I refrain from endeavors that do not have a symbiotic point of mission with the parish 

World

·     News of and prayer for the world compiles the fabric of my life

·      I serve in a global setting with a team at least every five years

·      I engage in developing global friendships

.........
My first attempt at a Command Philosophy, written in October of 2011. 
A Command Philosophy is a term used within the framework of military leadership.  It is often developed by officers to reflect actions that are the products of their core beliefs.  The command philosophy is presented to others in the chain of command, above and below, so that they might know what actions they can expect from their fellow soldier.

This command philosophy reflects an order from inner circles outward, the items should not be understood as being disconnected, they build upon the other, beginning with my family, then parish, community and the world. It comes from and builds upon a personal Rule of Life.

Family

·      First priority.  My family is a gift of God that I will treasure.  They are the people that I am primarily responsible to for blessing, cultivating and equipping for life. 

o   Their phone calls, emails, office visits will be answered in a first priority manner.      

o   When away from home for an evening I will touch base at some point in the day.

·      I will confide in my wife all the details of my life.  Things shared with me in confidence will also be shared with my wife.

·      All major decisions, vocational, educational, and financial, etc. will be made cooperatively, including our children, and will only be made after discussion and sleep.

·      Spiritual, Team and Leadership Development will begin with my family. We will practice a family altar.  We will plan and work together as a team.  Each will bear responsibility and we will enjoy the fruits of our labor.  We will laugh much.

·      Physical Fitness will be part of our routine.  I will exercise in the morning.

·      Resource care.  We will create a yearly budget, a garden, and a vacation plan.   

Parish

·      I will be a pastor who leads by example first and who frames my actions with words.

o   I will do little things, e.g. picking up trash, fixing broken things, noticing gaps      

·      Every week I will invite people to respond to the call of Jesus to become followers of Him for the first time and for a deeper walk.

·      I will be approachable and available.  I will keep regular office hours.  I will welcome those who make appointments and those who stop by.  I will respond to communication within a business day.  I will have one impactful contact with persons every working day.  I will be available to people before and after worship services.  I will speak truthfully, plainly and with love.  I will listen.  I will value people who deliver good and bad news.

·      I will be a learner and ask others to join me in learning. I will read 20+ books per year.  I will ask leadership teams to read two texts per year. 

·      I will encourage creativity, flexibility and resourcefulness that is Christ centered.  I will grant responsibility and freedom to Christ centered entrepreneurship.

·      I will provide guidance and accountability through best practices; frequent meetings, recognition of outstanding effort, team ministry development, safety awareness, leaders developing leaders.

Community

·      I will not speak ill of churches or clergy.   Ecumenism is a response to Jesus’ prayer in John 17.  I will maintain covenant with my denomination and be a co-laborer within it.  

World

·      I will be glocally minded.  News of and prayer for the world will compile the fabric of life.

·      I will serve in a global setting with a team at least every two years.

·      I will seek to culture global relationships and perform as a servant to the King.