Toward A New Model for Global Leadership The world went through some monumental shifts during my tenure in mission leadership. While many had been talking about partnership and collaboration, as well as paternalism and colonialism for many years, it was during early in my 30 years of ministry that major changes were burgeoning in many […]
Articles
Defining the Difficult Term, ‘Polycentric’ by Joe Handley
In this new series of short videos from the Lausanne Movement, we define key missional terms in an easy-to-understand way. This video features Joseph Handley, Lausanne catalyst for leadership development, explaining the word ‘polycentric’. More Info Published here with permission from the Laussanne Movement.
Polycentric Leadership for Kingdom Movements (Part II)
Joseph W. Handley, Jr. Published in Global Missiology, www.globalmissiology.org, April 2022 Abstract One of the simplest definitions for a Kingdom Movement is that proposed by David Garrison in looking at Church Planting Movements: “a rapid multiplication of indigenous churches planting churches that sweeps through a people group or population segment” (Garrison 2004, 21). Over the […]
Endorsements
To get a sense of what others are saying, here are those endorsing the new book: Polycentric mission leadership is becoming essential for any church or mission organization that wants to work respectfully and fruitfully within the Global Church. This book highlights and unpacks the scholarly thinking that is emerging in this field. It is […]
Decentralising leadership: from monolithic to modular and polycentric
GUEST POST BY DANIEL OSPINA Original article at RnDAO Why talk about leadership? Let’s bring it back to the people. If you’ve ever been in an executive position, been an influential DAO member, or founded a new organisation, you’ll likely viscerally know the weight of responsibility. There can be so much work, so much uncertainty […]
BMS World Mission: A Case Study toward Polycentric Mission Leadership
Rev. Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Ph.D. and Rev. Kang-San Tan, D.Min. Ph.D. The British Baptist Missionary Society (BMS World Mission) holds a treasured place in the history of the modern mission movement. It was William Carey, often called the father of modern missions, who catalyzed the work with his famous An Enquiry into the Obligation […]
A Case Study in Polycentric Mission [AR1] A3-SIM: Strategic Partnership [AR2]
Robert Adair From 2011 to now, A3 (formerly Asian Access) missionaries (A3m) have made two transitions that have placed them under polycentric governance. This case study will attempt to explain the context and challenges of the current structure. Background In 2011, A3 formed a strategic partnership with SIM to deploy missionaries to Japan. SIM provided […]
Polycentric Leadership for Kingdom Movements (Part I)
Joseph W. Handley, Jr. Abstract One of the simplest definitions for a Kingdom Movement is that proposed by David Garrison in looking at Church Planting Movements: “a rapid multiplication of indigenous churches planting churches that sweeps through a people group or population segment” (Garrison 2004, 21). Over the years, the terminology has changed but in essence Garrison’s definition captures […]
Strike the Match Podcast with J.D. Payne
Joe Handley speaks with J.D. Payne about Polycentrism on J.D.’s podcast, Strike the Match. Listen to them speak here or at jdpayne.org. More Information This discussion is posted here with permission from Strike the Match and originally posted here at: https://www.jdpayne.org/2022/02/joe-handley-and-polycentric-mission-leadership/
Case Study: Lausanne Movement
by Noel Becchetti Vision: Mission: Connecting influencers and ideas for global mission “I’d characterize Lausanne’s leadership style as one of discussion and consensus.” David Bennett has served with the Lausanne Movement since 2009, his current role being Global Associate Director for Collaboration and Content. But the Lausanne Movement itself is nearing its 50th year of […]
