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In this Harvard Business Review Case Study Brad Powell, the newly hired senior minister of a Temple Baptist Church, must lead the organization to reverse a three-decade decline and return to fulfilling its mission. Brad spent the first six months assessing the situation, building relationships, and reiterating the longstanding mission of the organization. Now, with an understanding of its history, an intimate knowledge of the immediate challenges, and a clear vision of what the organization should become, Brad is considering his strategy and next steps. As the leader of a nonprofit organization resourced by members and volunteers, Brad must lead change that produces results without compromising the mission. The B case summarizes Brad's actions and the results.

Dudley, Carl S. Effective Small Churches in the 21st Century. Nashville: Abingdon Press. 2003. ISBN: 0687090903 ISBN-13: 9780687090907 In the Louisiana Conference of United Methodists, only 89 churches have Sunday morning worship attendance greater than 100. Of course, there are a few who have over 1,000 in worship each Sunday, but over 400 churches in the conference are small (very small) and this seems to be the same trend in every Conference and Jurisdiction. The truth is, most United Methodist pastors will never serve a large church; therefore, it is important to have a resource that is written specifically for small churches, rather than trying to apply "mega-church" answer to small church problems. Effective Small Churches is that resource. Using their congregational experiences as case studies, readers will examine, with Carl Dudley's help, how their unique qualities can be mobilized to encourage local leaders, strengthen commitments, organize resources, and focus their energies to experience to meet new challenges. The primary goal of the book is to lead ministers who have begun a new appointment through a series of specific exercises, questionnaires, and guided dialogue with church members to jump start their appointment. So many good ideas. The Cabinet should make every pastor go through the exercises and report on their findings to their District Superintendent during the first six months at their new church.

In this series Eli Stone works for a law firm who has built their success on representing the clients that provide the largest payouts, the most media coverage and potential for future legal engagements that perpetuate the first two criteria. As Eli Stone takes on less prestigious, less financially beneficial and more morally grounded cases, the partners react. The firm is eventually split in two as one partner chooses the high yet substantially more difficult road and two leave with more than half of the staff to maintain a law firm with the previous standards and expectations. This show demonstrates how leaders and followers react when there are dramatic changes to vision, moral standards, financial motives and leaderships reactions to these things.

"The sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Eureka's Ingomar Club is moving forward after the club and one named defendant dropped a demurrer -- a plea for dismissal -- filed in the case last week. The suit, filed by Jennifer "Jenny" Partsafas against the club and former employee Anthony Pagani, was challenged when defense attorney Catherine Manske filed the demurrer earlier this month. A preliminary objection to the original complaint filed by Partsafas' attorney Zach Zwerdling in February, the demurrer referred to the complaint as "uncertain, ambiguous and unintelligible," according to documents filed in the Humboldt County Superior Court." Okay, I know that I really must stop searching my home town news paper for articles that relate to our class. It's becoming really fun for me and I know that can't be good. This article caught my eye because it is about ethics and boundaries and yes, there is a name I recognize in the article. Zack Zwerdling. Again, Zack and I grew up together and attended the same high school. Now I know the answer to the question, "Whatever happened to that weird, wonderful and brilliant kid, Zach Zwerdling?" Zack appears to be defending the rights of a young woman who has taken on a major institution in the Humboldt County area, the Ingomar Club. No small feat. I will have to stay tuned to the Times Standard to find out the results of the lawsuit. I promise not to put THAT ONE on Diigo. Go Zack. You were the underdog at one time, now you are standing up for one. Awesome.