One of my Christmas book purchases was Dan Dick’s Equipped for Every Good Work. It is a really interesting and comprehensive approach to building a gifts-based church. I am really looking forward to using it with the church I serve.
Here’s the bad news, though.
I found out that I am pretty much the status quo of United Methodism. My primary spiritual gift is Teaching, followed closely by Discernment. My other secondary gifts are Shepherding, Wisdom and Knowledge. My leadership/interaction style is Pleaser. My primary spiritual orientation is Head.
On at least the last two of those, Dan points out that my styles are right smack down the main street of the UMC. In other words, I am the problem. Every time someone says, “The church is doomed to die if it remains as it is. I’m the ‘as it is.’”
My apologies to all my United Methodist brothers and sisters who are trying to save the church and reach out in new and bold ways. I am the problem. You should drive me from your midst before God sends the snakes.
I am a part-time local pastor serving 
The doctrine of original sin is surely more humbling to man than the opposite: And I know not what honour we can pay to God, if we think man came out of His hands in the condition wherein he is now.
Ah, but you are only a problem if you choose not to maximize the potential of your gifts. We may be a denomination characterized by one certain segment of gifts, but that isn’t the problem. The problem lies in the number of teaching, discerning, knowledgable and wise UMs who do nothing with their gifts. All gifts are good, all gifts have incredible potential — linked to the gifts of others, miraculous synergy occurs. No one is the problem committed to being part of the solution — and you, John, are part of the solution!
Thanks for the pep talk, Dan. BTW, my wife laughed when I said one of my gifts was Wisdom.