Michael Readinger

What’s to Celebrate?

By Michael Readinger | July 13, 2016
Michael J. Readinger

I am conflicted as I write this column. The city of Cleveland is exploding as it celebrates an NBA championship, ending the city’s 52 long years with no pro sports championships. The area is at a high point as the region celebrates the Cavaliers’ basketball victory, but that’s not all that’s going on. The Lake…

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Many Hands Make Light Work

By Michael Readinger | June 14, 2016
Michael J. Readinger

This Haya proverb from Tanzania has been on my mind quite a bit lately. In African culture, “many hands make light work” has a meaning of unity, organization, freedom, collective power, security and development. In our health and human service ministry, I often see similar expressions of this proverb. For example, I was honored to…

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This I Have Learned: There’s No Need to ‘Mike-ro-manage’

By Michael Readinger | May 17, 2016

CHHSM President and CEO Michael J. Readinger was featured in the inaugural “This I Have Learned’ column in the bi-monthly magazine of LeadingAge, an association of 6,000 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. In the 18 months that I have been called to my position as president/CEO of our small…

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Who Do You Say I Am?

By Michael Readinger | March 13, 2016
Michael J. Readinger

In Mark’s gospel, just after the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” Then he takes his questioning a step further to ask, “But who do you say I am?” These important questions about servant leadership were lifted up at the 78th CHHSM Annual Meeting in…

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Defining Our Movement

By Michael Readinger | February 15, 2016
Michael J. Readinger

Bold vision. Inspired leaders. Shared values. According to the newly defined membership value proposition, these six words are how you see CHHSM fulfilling its mission of advancing and sustaining the work of healing and service as a ministry of the church. Bold vision is the prophetic voice of our member ministries as they live out…

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Promises for a New Year

By Michael Readinger | January 13, 2016
Michael J. Readinger

Now is the time to envision the road ahead. As the New Year begins, we are mapping goals, making resolutions and planning for the future. In that spirit, here are CHHSM’s promises for the coming year: The mission of our shared faith-based ministry will be at the forefront of all our work. The United Church…

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Adventure

By Michael Readinger | December 14, 2015
Michael J. Readinger

Advent is a time of waiting, quietness and hoping for the unexpected. It’s a time of anticipation, as well as a celebration of the joy, peace, hope, love and promises of our God who came to dwell among us. How much of that joy, hope, peace and love did the marginalized experience in their struggle…

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One Year In

By Michael Readinger | November 12, 2015
Michael J. Readinger

As you read this issue of Diakonie, the CHHSM board is on its way to Cleveland to meet for the final time in 2015. This meeting is an important one for the life of our shared ministry. We will perform all of the regular fiduciary functions, hold an important education session, do some generative work…

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Reaping What We Sow

By Michael Readinger | October 13, 2015
Michael J. Readinger

It is autumn. The blood moon was glorious and harvest season is upon us. While assessing the bounty of the summer’s labor and preparing for winter, I think about the scripture from 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “But this [I say], they who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and they who soweth bountifully shall reap…

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Collective Wisdom

By Michael Readinger | September 13, 2015
Michael J. Readinger

Recently I was wrestling over a complicated work issue and was feeling lost. There are so many variables around CHHSM’s value proposition process, staffing, finances and strategic planning that I just felt stuck. It all came together when one person casually asked me what I was working on that was bothering me. That conversation led…

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