Lay Leadership

This week I released my philosophy on lay leadership. Perhaps the most underutilized aspect of church governance seems to be the lay leadership committee found in the Book of Discipline. My experience shows that we tend to do the minimum (renominate last year's leaders) or we plug names on the roster only for those names which have people attached to them find out after the fact. Or we promise those approached that they are not going to have to do anything for the position they've agreed to fill. Oddly enough, they are good at fulfilling that promise.

Without further ado, here's what I gave to the Lay Leadership:

Philosophy on Lay Leadership

First, Paul, in 1^st Corinthians 12, deals with healthy structure and leadership of the local church. Chapter 12 speaks of the body with its interlocking necessity of all parts functioning together and that diversity exists and is necessary for the functioning of the body. In addition, Paul speaks of leadership within the body.

To use the analogy of the human body, the body is divided into two systems—thinking & doing and maintenance. While this analogy is imperfect, allow me to offer the following:

The thinking and doing functions of the body consists of the brain/nervous system and the skeletal/muscular system. These two systems provide the thoughts and activities of the body. The maintenance system consists of the respiratory, circulatory and digestive activities of the body. These three systems provide the resources for the thinking/doing system to perform.

So it is in the church that we have two systems that exists side by side—The Active Ministries and the Administrative Ministries. The Active Ministries consist of Nurture, Outreach and Witness. Out of these three ministries, we do such activities as worship, Sunday school, local mission, youth and evangelism. Beside the Active Ministries, the Administrative Ministries exists. These ministry teams consist of Church Council, Pastor Parish team, Finance team, Trustee team and Lay Leadership team. The Administrative Ministries exist for the purpose of resourcing the Active Ministries. The Church Council acts as the decision making body of the church. It sets direction, determines needs and coordinates the Active and Administrative Ministries.

When a church is focused too much on the Administrative Teams and not on the Active Teams, then a church tends to become inwardly focused. The slogan becomes “we’ve got to take care of our own before we can reach out to the community.”

Becoming a Christian involves a change in the direction of one’s life. Just as the Lord’s Prayer says, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we begin to seek to fulfill God’s will in our lives not necessarily our self-determined wills. As such, a Christian in the local congregation, church, has responsibilities to the Church. In our professing our faith and becoming a member of the local congregation, we agree to support this congregation by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our services and our witness. Our support should be understood as fulfilling five expectations:

1. 1. Worshipping God every week with a community of believers.

2. 2. Learning more about God and the Church through the activity of discipleship

3. 3. Participating in the ministry and mission of the local church.

4. 4. Supporting the local church financially with the goal of giving tithes and offerings

5. 5. An intentional and persistent prayer life dedicated to seeking and doing God’s will individually and collectively. This expectation is overarching the four above.

Men, women and youth have to achieve a sufficient level of buy-in in order for the church to be the healthy body of believers transforming the world. This buy-in consists of seeking to fulfill the five expectations listed above.

Ultimately, Lay Leadership is about putting the best and brightest Christians in the Active Ministries of a local church. In addition, the Lay Leadership seeks to place those with servants’ hearts in the role of Administrative Ministries. Out of this paradigm, the local congregation becomes focused on being in ministry resourced by the time, talent and treasury of the men, women and youth of the church.

That's the game plan for us to live into over the next two years.

Innovation

One of my favorite sayings is: "The message of Jesus Christ is eternal, the medium changes with time."

So what is the message? Two of Jesus' teaching: The Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:29-31) and The Great Commission (Matthew 28:10). In the church, all innovation revolves around these two teachings.

Any thoughts?

Season of a Thousand Tiny Mistakes

Recently, I heard the story of two groups asked to make clay pots. Group 1 was told to make the best clay pot possible with the resources they had. Group 2 was told to make as many pots as possible over the next 30 days. Each group was given all the resources they needed. At the end of 30 days, each group was judged to see which had the best pot. Surprisingly, the second group had the better pot. Over the 30 period, they made pot after pot learning from their mistakes. Group 1 never had the opportunity to learn from their mistakes as most of their mistakes were hidden from lack of comparsion.

Churches are like these groups. Many churches are only interested in the one pot and never see the imperfections that needed to be improved. Others learn from their mistakes and constantly improve.

As much as I have the power to inaugurate at Pine Valley, I am announcing "the season of a thousand tiny mistakes." We are about growing and learning by making tiny mistakes that help us toward greater perfection. Giant mistakes tend to be debilitating. Tiny mistakes are "teachable moments."

So we'll see how the next thirty days goes.

AC 2009

In just one more day the North Carolina Annual Conference will begin.  This year has its issues.  First the regionalization of the United States under the amendments to the Constitution.  Second, this year I'm an elder and seeking God's voice.  Too often, I've seen & heard people go to the microphones for the express desire to hear their voices and wisdom.  Both tend to be overrated.  Third, Adam Hamilton will be speaking on leadership Friday afternoon & evening.  Fourth, visiting with old friends.  

In addition, I'm trying to get ready to move.  A little behind, but working to make it.  Don't really have a choice, have to be out by June 23rd.  

Off to the races we go.

Turning the Corner

     It's June 5th and in less than 17 days I will be in a new church.  The last few weeks have been filled.  Tying ministries down for my successors to grab on and begin to own.  Yes, I have successors--my responsibilities have been split between two individuals--Contemporary Worship to one & Youth to another.  Youth has been handed off and the new Youth Director has hit the ground running.  Praise the Lord!  Thursday, I spent considerable time with my successor as Associate Pastor.  She is excited and I'm looking forward to her taking the reigns on June 23rd.  

     I understand more the "in between times" we preach about as I'm between ministries.  Yet Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I had my first dream about my new church.  I don't remember anything of the dream other than it involved my new church.  (Yes, I have dreams & nightmares about my present church--God still uses dreams to speak).  

     So I'm trying extra hard to begin to respond to the Holy Spirit's leading on Pine Valley.  My prayer time is beginning to be shaped by praying for the leaders and more than that praying that I will seek God's will rather than implementing my plans.  

     As such, I hope to begin using this blog to pour out my thoughts as I seek God's mind for His church.  

     I'm given to believe that all new appointments come with thorny questions.  I expect no difference in this new appointment.  I'll see how the questions come up and more importantly how they are resolved.  

    Let the journey begin.

5 minutes before Midnight

Tuesday morning, I blogged about getting the call from the appointive cabinet.  It's now Friday morning and I've not received the call.  What happened?  I don't know.  All day Monday and Tuesday, I fretted about "getting the call."  Going to bed on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I came to the realization, "so what?"  I can't do anything to change when the call comes.  So I am reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew--"Do not worry...indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things [food, clothing, etc--my emphasis].  But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  

I look upon the scenario of the call not coming to the fabled "five minutes before midnight" premise (see this article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Clock).  So I sit at the five minute mark waiting.  In the meantime, I've gone back to doing everything else I'm supposed to do.  As people have asked me, "Do you know?"  My reply is "No, I don't.  However, I know where I'll be until June 23.  That's the emphasis of my priorities."  

Prayer:  Almighty God, you know our needs even before we ask.  Grant to all the pastors waiting for the call.  Strengthen them to remember your call proceeds that placed by the appointed cabinet.  In Jesus' name.  Amen."  

Countdown

It's after 1 am on Tuesday morning.  Sometime today or possibly tomorrow, I get that phone call.  All itinerating Methodist clergy get the call.  It goes something like this, "The cabinet has met and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit have discerned you are to serve '_______' UMC."   I've received two of those calls so far in my ministry.  The first to my student appointment.  The second to my appointment as the associate pastor at St Paul UMC.  Now four years later, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I move.  

I'm excited by the new that approaches.  I'm terrified by the unknown that accompanies the new.  I'm sadden by the closure that comes with moving.  Many people both in the church and the community have woven their lives into the fabric of my life.  Sadly, part of the reality of itinerancy is the the unraveling that occurs.  

In addition, I wonder about my colleagues that are moving.  I know that God is in their moves as much as mine.  However, do they or I when we are told that "______" UMC is receiving us realize that itinerancy is about service not fulfillment.  That salary raises or decreases are not really the benchmarks of our ministry.  Instead, its about bearing fruit.

Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to receive a church with with an increase, however, I realize that my sanctification needs to mature because I may not receive an increase.  For too long, we pastors have come to an expectation that our financial fruit must grow while we as a denomination have allowed the Church to diminish.  

At the end of the day, it's about the call.  Not from the DS, but from God.  Itinerancy is a reminder that we like our Savior have been called to serve and if necessary to lay our lives down for others.

Prayer:  My Lord, let me keep my eyes upon your eyes.  For in them, I see the reflection of the call to ministry in your Church.  Amen.