Canoeing the Mountains – Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory

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Bolsinger says that ministry on the map is about solving “technical challenges.” Their solutions are based on best practices, offered by an expert. For example, how to lead a Bible study or set up a fund-raiser. The ultimate how-to guide to the exciting water sports for both novices and more experienced intermediate-level paddlers, with techniques for mastering flat water, white water, open water and the sea. Soggy Sneakers has been Oregon’s primary source of information for whitewater enthusiasts for 35 years. Members of Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club―who have run all of Oregon’s rivers―share their expertise and detail rapids and landmarks found on each run. There’s something for everyone, from Class 1 (flatwater) excursions to Class 6 (most challenging) rapid-filled adventures.

Whitewater Books 1 Introduction to Paddling: No Barriers (The Young Adult Adaptation): A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon By Erik Weihenmayer Bolsinger says that transformational leadership does not begin with transformation. It begins with competence. Before a team will follow a leader into uncharted territory, there needs to be a sense that the leader has already done a good job stewarding the resources on the map.And to make matters worse, the pastors don’t know what to do either. As a seminary vice president, I am now charged with confronting this reality head-on. Our graduates were not trained for this day. When I went to seminary, we were trained in the skills that were necessary for supporting faith in Christendom. When churches functioned primarily as vendors of religious services for a Christian culture, the primary leadership toolbox was They arise when the world around us has changed but we continue to live on the successes of the past. They are challenges that cannot be solved through compromise or win-win scenarios, or by adding another ministry or staff person to the team. They demand that leaders make hard choices about what to preserve and to let go. They are challenges that require people to learn and to change, that require leaders to experience and navigate profound loss. [6] Written by the American canoe Association and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Introduction to Paddling is an easy-to-understand guide to flatwater and river paddling. Based on an earlier work by the Ohio DNR, Flat-water Paddler, this amply illustrated book tells beginning paddlers everything they need to know, from appropriate clothing to the parts of the boat, from correct strokes to proper safety concerns. Good for instructors and those who like to teach themselves, this book is an important resource for those who like to paddle or want to start.

Leadership is disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb . . . [This] is a skill that requires nuance: Disappoint people too much and they give up on you, stop following you and may even turn on you. Don't disappoint them enough and you'll never lead them anywhere." (123-124) If you are reading this in hopes of implementing somebody’s perfect model for building disciples, you might be disappointed. Canoes are for 2 or 3 adults or 2 adults and 1 or 2 young children. They are almost twice as long as a kayak and weigh about 30kg. This makes them more stable and more difficult to capsize, but also more difficult to steer.Seminary didn't train me for this." "Our church is dying and I have no clue what to do." Over and over, Tod Bolsinger encountered these statements in his consulting work. Pastors are trained in teaching, liturgics, and pastoral care, and often, those tools just don't seem enough in our changing world. Bolsinger likens this to the moment Lewis and Clark climbed the Lemhi Pass, having canoed up the Missouri River, and instead of expecting to find a river on the other side of the mountain that would carry them to the Pacific, they found...mountains. The needed to exchange canoes for horses, and adapt to an "off the map" situation. In this book, Bolsinger considers the adaptive leadership of Lewis and Clark, and applies it to Christian leaders often tempted to try to "canoe the mountains," because they don't know any other way to lead. Often, they may be the greatest obstacle to transformative change in their churches or organizations. The choice they face is between adventure and organizational death. All of this is part of understanding the "uncharted territory" that calls for a new kind of leadership. There are several companies that provide kayaks or canoes on the River Wye for hire. They offer a choice of one person kayaks, and 2 or 3 person canoes (4 if two are children). Hire includes oar, a buoyancy aid, and a waterproof barrel to store a few supplies. A church that has maintained unity through homogeneity will find it difficult to welcome those who differ in lifestyle, education, mores and social class" (75) Wear something you are happy to get wet. You might be one of the very few who capsize. But, even if you don’t, you’ll probably end up splashing yourself with an awkward oar manoeuvrer. Whether your interest in kayaking stems from the desire to get outside and exercise, spend time with your friends and family, or explore the endless waterways that surround you, this easy-to-read guide makes paddling fun and safe for both new and experienced paddlers looking to broaden their horizons.

In Fifty Places to Paddle Before You Die, the newest addition to the Fifty Places series, Chris Santella explores the best destinations for the diverse sport of paddling. The book features the world’s top spots for kayaking, rafting, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Destinations include the Grand Canyon, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, Baja California, Indonesia’s Komodo Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula, as recommended by paddling experts. Compelling travelogues are complemented by beautiful and vibrant photographs of the locations and travel tips to help readers experience the destinations for themselves. Most of us who have been asked to consider leadership have big cheering sections. We are used to applause, affirmation and feeling successful. But the minute we accept the call to adaptive leadership that brings transformation, we should expect most of the cheering to stop." (137) Second, I appreciated Bolsinger’s discussion on mission versus methodology. Rightly so, Bolsinger emphasizes that it is the mission that should rule everything, not the methods. Leaders and organizations often neglect their mission in favor of formerly successful methods; churches will go through a split before giving up a method that is no longer fruitful. Again, tongue-in-cheek, Bolsinger highlights that the mission of Lewis and Clark was to get to the west coast, not to canoe there. As soon as their method was not helpful for the mission, they left the canoes behind. Unfortunately, in my own experience, leaders are very reluctant to give up old successful methods of doing things (the glory days), even if they cannot take you into the next stage.

The following are questions from the book and from my own mind that are guiding a book study I'm leading on the final section. They may be helpful to you. Andrew is Director of Communications for the North American Lutheran Church (NALC), and was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) in 2019. He currently serves as assisting clergy at Incarnation Anglican Church (State College, PA), and has served as a lay minister in Lutheran and Baptist churches since 2010. Andrew received a Bachelor of Science in Religion degree from Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA) and a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry and the North American Lutheran Seminary (Ambridge, PA). In May 2022, he completed his Master of Sacred Theology degree from Trinity, where his thesis explored positive and negative missiological practices used by Anglican missionaries to the Samburu tribe in northwest Kenya, particularly surrounding inculturation, gender, and indigenous leadership. He is married to Shannon, and has a son, Ephrem. They live together in Boalsburg, PA where they enjoy walking outside on nice summer days. Assuming you want to take lots of photos make sure your phone is waterproof or has a waterproof cover like this one. In this changing world, we need to add a new set of leadership tools. And this applies equally well to Christians serving in leadership beyond the parish. The challenges of a changing world come even more rapidly in business, education and nonprofit leadership. And while this book’s primary audience is congregational leaders, I have added some material specifically for Christian leaders in other contexts. For adventure, speed and feeling closer to the water then the kayak is a better option. For a relaxing social tour with the family then go with the canoe. WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?