“Oh, but you’re the pastor. That should be expected, that should be considered part of the job.”
Man, would I love to have a dollar for every time I have heard that one! I could retire and live off the interest.
SOME. PEOPLE. SURE. HAVE. THE. WRONG. IDEA. OF. IMPORTANCE. AND. MINISTRY.
I had lunch with someone recently and we were talking about just this thing. See, we are considering hiring him for a full-time Youth Pastor position. He would be ideal. He has been doing it as a volunteer up to close to 2 years now. I would love to have him come on board as staff and it is a real possibility since we now have the room and were able to renovate our space by paying cash. He was “fleshing out” some of his thoughts to me about how he sees his job/responsibility if we hire him and one of the things he said sparked our conversation. Long story short I made this observation:
“We are not wanting someone to take over everything and do everything so everyone is relieved of their ministry opportunities. We/I am more interested in “you” taking the reins by overseeing things and getting involved where you perceive a need. Many forget that Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that the ministry is not left up to a select few, but rather the leaders are to equip the people to do the work. If we take over and do it all then we rob others of their ministry.”
The mentality I am afraid the American church especially has fostered is leave the ministry to the big boys. Tragically, at the same level, many leaders micro-manage and don’t leave things alone and allow people to do their ministry. “Here, let me do it and show you how it’s done.” So we take it from them and voila! We wonder where in the world the person went and then we lament that “I have to do it all by myself.” Works great for a pity party; lousy for getting people involved. Bob Goff touched on that with this quote:
I used to think I had to be somebody important to accomplish things, but now I know Jesus uses ordinary people more.
Holy straight-talk Batman! Does that mean that everyday Joe who cares and loves but may not be the brightest light bulb in the socket has a ministry. YOU BET YOUR LIFE IT DOES! And the sooner we all realize that (especially pastors/leaders) the bigger the impact will be made on our world. Got any thoughts you care to share? Have you ever been “relieved” of a ministry by a leader who thought you weren’t “doing it right”?
This is one post from my ongoing series on Love Does by Bob Goff.
I was relieved of a ministry last summer with no warning and no explanation. It came out of the blue. Basically I think they did it because I wouldn’t help lead a charge to take on the pastor (even though I agreed with their fundamental concerns)
That had to hurt. But I respect your unwillingness to “lead a charge.”
I think that ministry leaders think that all folks like me can do is open a door and say hello or point folks to empty parking spaces. That is so not me. In fact, I think there is not much value in this kind of assignment. I can find my own parking space without some goon with a foam finger standing in my way. Furthermore, I will not feel the least bit put out if you let me open the dang door by myself. In fact, I would prefer it. I would much rather help out with the main course than be charged with the garnish (which people only discard anyway). I feel better for getting that off my chest!
Sadly, many ministry leaders have failed to see that many are capable of doing far more than they do. There are some who feel very fulfilled doing “simple” things. It makes them feel a part of something. But they are obviously missing the boat when they relegate those who can and want to do more to “little” things. Glad you feel better.
haha….I feel like that everyday “Joe” who cares & loves but may not be the brightest light bulb whenever I think about helping out with a ministry.
I’ve never been relieved, (yet) but I always question if I’m doing things right when I volunteer, so I told myself to just do it the way my heart leads & if it’s not “right”, then somebody will tell me or God will guide me elsewhere. Very good blog! Important stuff. This month we are making coffee & passing out donuts, yes, it has nervewracked me because I want to do it “right”, I finally decided to calm down, it’s only coffee & a donut, if I mess that up, I really am the dimmest lightbulb in the box.
I know you, Jan, and know you take seriously every ministry opportunity you are given. you are right though. Sometimes it is just good to go along for the ride.
I did have an experience at my last church where the pastor ridiculed the church but more so a group of people who greeted (of which I was one). I know he was attempting to call all to action just as this book is doing here but it did sting a bit after spending years at what you felt was your ministry only to be referred to as “walmart greeters”..kind of funny but probably unfortunate for those who felt they were serving and using their gifts. I hadn’t recalled this until now so I must not have let it go, ha! Instead I let the church go and chose not to participate which wasn’t healthy either…
For some, being a greeter is an important thing. Someone in leadership should call that pastor’s hand on his walmart greeter comment. That is uncouth. Hopefully, you have been able to get things “fixed” in your head.
I’ve been told that I’m “not doing it right” that I wasn’t “doing enough” that in addition to ministering as a full time volunteer I had to do more. I think these sorts of situations come about because a pastor thinks that he is responsible for the outcome of “his” ministry. That he has to manipulate and force people to do what he thinks they should be doing because he has to give an account to Almighty God. The outcome of this sort of thing is that people become discouraged, and give up altogether. Another outcome is that people come to doubt what they are really hearing from their Abba.
It is sad that “men of God” feel like they need to manipulate and force people to do things. Take note of Ed’s comment below. Since when is it “my” church anyway? What a way to knock people out of their saddle. I know the pain you have been through Susan, but also know you are now experiencing freedom.
That always happens when the pastor changes from our church to my church. We have always had plenty of people to help out until, one day he said this my church and I will lead it where I see it needs to go. Suddenly all our volunteers started disappearing.
Great point Ed! So many pastors use the “my” word way too much.
I don’t think I was ever told I was not doing enough but the subtle pressure of being at every meeting, every event or whenever the church doors were open was very much present. When I (as one of the leaders) started to question (respectively) who we were really serving…it was seen as disloyal. When I choose my family over “ministry” it started to put distance between me and the rest of leadership, but that I expected. Thankfully I’m at a place hwere my pastor gets it and understands his role in equipping and releasing and he loves serving his family first.
Bill I sense that same heart in you…bless you for that!
Your decision to choose family over ministry will never be regretted Jay. Your family certainly never will. Thanks for your kind words.
Never been relieved, though there have been times where I do think square pegs are shoved in round holes. There are also times where I feel that there were others that could do better serving in areas where I was serving.
I think it is important for the health of a ministry to assist in redirecting mal-aligned gifts into different areas. This has to be done with grace and love, and not with negative comments.
Too often spaces need filled so we try to do the old square peg/round hole thing. You bring up a good point, especially about redirecting in love.
Great post Bill. From even a secular view point the guys on top have to be the managers, not the guy in the trenches. I have a friend and pastor who said it well, “You can go and touch lives in places I’d never be able to.” He gets that that’s not his calling. Like you he sees his job as equipping the saints. Which is the most difficult job of all.
When the average Christian realizes that this isn’t a spectator sport our world will begin to change… By the hand of God through us who’ve been equipped.
What your friend and pastor said is so true. Imagine what will happen when we do begin to function as we should. Thanks Floyd.
Hi Bill,
I guess from my viewpoint there is no equipping of the saints apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Leaders have qualifications that they must meet in the Bible. Mostly, they must be spirit-filled, godly men and women who display fruit clearly to others.
I think what we can say is that the current leadership style of the church does not equip the saints. I’m speaking in a generalized way. Rather than giving life, the church seems to be taking away life from people.
Something about the church is defeating the saints but I’m not able to put my finger on what it is. It is clear because of the fruit that is being produced in people’s lives, that no one to date has been able to figure out what is happening. There has been lots of ideas and speculation and books written and advice given. To no avail it seems.
Perhaps one issue is that the church is very controlled by a select ‘few’. This was the style of the ‘church’ in Jesus’ time. There was the high priest, the sanhedrin, the lawyers(teachers of the law). This is very similar to the structure of church we have today in our current time.
People are responding as they did in the time of the Pharisees. Religion was left for the ‘leaders’ to decide, the people came as participants in that structure.
I’m thinking that church leaders today are looking for more participation and involvement but the structure that is in place does not allow this to occur.
Hi Bill,
I think the comment posted by Tom about his previous church pastor shows how worldly minded the ‘church’ has become. This pastor is comparing his ministry partners as ‘hired workers’. He apparently associates the church with a ‘business’ and is using business philosophy and strategies to try and ‘grow’ his church spiritually. This ‘growing’ can only happen by increasing the numbers of people who come to services. This ‘business’ strategy does nothing to minister to the saints.
I think this is what we are seeing in our day. Churches growing in the numbers of people that are coming to services, but very little if anything that is happening to equip the saints.
We have to say. ‘The Holy Spirit is absent’ in these churches that are producing little if any real godly fruit in someone’s life.
I once heard Rick Warren say, “when starting Saddleback my goal was to work my self out of a job.” meaning to raise leaders and volunteers to take over the responsibility’s of the church.
I think one of the most essential aspects of a church leader is to train and develop others to lead and serve the church. It’s all about equipping.
Great thoughts