This page is dedicated to leadership development at Hoadley Church. If you lead anything in any capacity, this page is for you. I will continue to develop it over time with new resources. Some topics in development are communication in a volunteer environment, leadership coaching, and volunteer leader fatigue and burnout.
We will begin with the idea of resonance.1
What is Resonance?
Resonance describes an experience where you feel fully present to someone or something else, discovering yourself in that encounter. It’s about connection. The outcome is that we find meaning beyond what can be seen or explained.
The experience operates on two levels simultaneously. Resonance functions both as the action of seeking connection and as the result of that seeking. It is a way of being present that remains grounded in the current moment rather than distracted by future expansion. It requires prioritizing depth and genuine participation over growth. It operates independently of pace. You can experience resonance whether moving quickly or slowly; the speed itself matters less than the quality of presence. It holds no illusions about controlling outcomes but instead acts to receive and patiently wait for what remains beyond our control.
Rather than measuring success through programs, attendance, or productivity metrics, resonance emerges when leaders prioritize depth of connection over constant expansion. It is a way of engaging that remains grounded in the present moment rather than chasing future growth. It involves moments when leaders genuinely hear one another, when their shared work carries meaning beyond the task itself, and when they experience engagement so complete that even brief times of connection are filled with significance.
The challenge surfaces when busyness dominates church culture. Getting people to carve out unhurried time for authentic encounter proves difficult when the prevailing mindset demands constant progress and accomplishment. As we see and hear each other more fully, we will delight in one another, and that delight naturally leads to mutual service.
Helpful Links
- The material related to resonance is from Andrew Root and Blair D. Bertrand, When Church Stops Working: A Future for Your Congregation beyond More Money, Programs, and Innovation (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2023). ↩︎