Martin E. Lee, D.Min. Email and Phone Number

Deliver professional development and training across a nearly 6,000-church network comprising professional church workers (district presidents, pastors, principals, business managers, and boards) in governance, compliance, operations, staffing, and finance. Lead churches through leadership transitions, delivering guidance on change, process mapping, and unification. Recommend disciplinary measures and leadership transitions by hosting town hall meetings, one-on-one sessions, cottage meetings, and by empowering task forces. Extensive travel nationwide providing expertise to governing boards, staff, teachers, and church-school community stakeholders. Engage adaptive leadership approach, deploying concepts from distinctive Lutheran theology, systems theory, organizational theories, and economic theories.

LuTMA provides educational training for leadership and organizational transitions.

Assigned to research and resolve financial impropriety accusation and senior level employee discipline. Provided church with steps to navigate through employee dispute and restore trust. Led resolution that prevented multimillion-dollar lawsuit and healed congregation through grief process. Assisted in clarifying Vision, strengthening denominational ties, and increasing potential for successful transition under new leadership. Assisted in implementing new governance structure and procedures to prepare congregation for, and become committed to, new leadership and a new future.

Resolved misappropriation of funds and harassment issue by focusing responsibility, providing counsel, setting up transitional task force (TTF), and instituting annual performance evaluations, policies, best practices, and clear job descriptions for staff and executive officers. Leveraged 90-day ‘joining phase’ methodology to convene private, confidential meetings with all members and stakeholders. Utilized focus groups and townhall meetings to name issues and begin the process of resolving feelings of grief. Led Board of Directors in policy governance training to prepare for, and become committed to, leadership roles, responsibilities and a new future.

Addressed challenges for Detroit area parochial school by working with governing board on church transition plan and senior pastor on succession plan after a 20-year ministry. Mentored senior pastor in self-definition and self-differentiation. Trained staff in root cause analysis and cause mapping for diagnostic problem-solving regarding early learning center summer hours and front office layout and flow. Assisted congregation in transitioning to Policy Governance to clarify boundaries and promote an accountability culture.

Unified mission, vision, and values of parochial school and church with 400 students and over 80 employed teachers and staff. Mentored associate pastor in self-definition and self-differentiation, leading to a smooth departure. Worked with non-Lutheran school community (91% of the teachers) to build collaboration, mutual respect, trust, and transparency. Led financial management and strategic planning to repair staff salary and benefit inequities. Assisted in introducing a shared-expense allocation model between the church and school. Assisted the congregation in transitioning to Policy Governance to clarify boundaries and promote an accountability culture.

Provided guidance and oversight in a staff reconfiguration and reduction in force (RIF). Installed safeguards and financial controls in school budget, tuition setting, and tuition discounting policies. Implemented operational checks and balances for governing board and staff performance evaluations.

Partnered with executive leadership and Kellogg benefit plan consultant to study 67-person employee benefits plan, and transition to an improved benefits plan model, reducing cost and improving benefits. Assisted in implementing a shared-expense allocation model between church and school.

The mission of Church Organizers Foundation (COF) is to provide education, training and advice on stewardship from a classical perspective. Classical stewardship at COF means back to the basics, simple accounting by the stewards, through monitoring a dual bottom line for missional impact and financial viability. At the same time, COF promotes generative thinking and the development of new methods and processes for measurable and meaningful accounting, tracking, and reporting for missional impact and financial sustainability. COF is established to prepare and promote scholarly materials and media on classical stewardship history, theory, practice and benefits in a modern and global society. COF further provides stewardship services to the public, such as financial planning and asset management, for reduced rates or for free to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.CSI is a Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm, approved in the states of California and Michigan. Investment accounts are held in custody at Charles Schwab-TD Ameritrade. As of December 2021, CSI provides advisory services to $52.7 million and has $10.1 million of assets under management.