I had the privilege of being with my buddy Rick Valore over the weekend for a LifeServe Conference (http://lifeserve.group.com/ ) planning team retreat. Rick is the Executive Director of a cool ministry called Project 1.27 (http://project127.com/). Project 1.27 is named for the directive in James 1:27 to care for widows and orphans - the ministry serves to help Christian couples adopt foster and orphan children in Colorado. During one of our meetings, Rick said something that really made me stop and think. He suggested that rather than thanking ministry volunteers, we should commend them for their service and partnership in ministry.
Most ministry leaders are conscious of the need to affirm, and recognize their volunteers, or ministry partners. To affirm someone is to celebrate them for who they are (apart from what they do); and to recognize someone is to celebrate them for what they've done. A good leader also remembers to regularly thank others for their partnership, service, and contribution to the mission. To commend someone, however, is a very different thing entirely, and is actually a more significant action, I believe.
Commending involves presenting or praising someone as worthy of mention and worthy of your confidence. (To recommend takes the action a step farther by submitting the person as worthy of another's consideration.) As a leader commends a particular ministry or responsibility to a volunteer's care, that leader entrusts the given role and responsibility wholeheartedly to that person. Going beyond delegation, this Equipping Leader places the ministry in the volunteer's capable hands and lets go! A commendation also states approval. Volunteers need to know that they have not only a leader's trust, but also their approval. Communicating confidence, trust, and approval provides a tremendous blessing and encouragement to another person. Providing a commendation may be the needed spark to continue to fuel a volunteer's fire.
Biblically, this word in the Greek is rich with meaning and nuance. Synistemi (commend) carries the connotation of bringing together, uniting, establishing, and preparing. It also means to demonstrate, show, or bring out. I'm reminded of the biblical term parakaleo - literally to call alongside. In a nutshell, parakaleo means to encourage or comfort. If the act of commending includes bringing out or bringing forth an attribute or action in question, then it seems to me that when leaders commend a volunteer, they participate with the Holy Spirit in calling forth the God-given gifts of the person. Offering a commendation is therefore an evocative and grace-filled gesture; part of the equipping role related to calling forth and releasing the gifts of the people. To be a "commender" is to be an encourager, an exhorter - one who maintains the other's best interest at heart and seeks to foster the other's growth, development, and maturation.
As one among The Company of the Committed, seek every opportunity to go one step beyond affirming, recognizing, and thanking your volunteers and offer them the gift of commendation. Offer this gift verbally or in writing, and look for opportunities to commend people publicly, as well.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
More on People vs Tasks
Thinking some more about my orientation as a leader - do I tend to be focused more on people, or on tasks, and what is the call of Christ related to my ministry focus? Close your eyes for a moment (after you read the rest of this sentence!) and consider your ministry; think about all its many aspects - what do you see? (Pause and reflect.) In your minds' eye, did you see primarily people or did you see projects, programs, initiatives, services, events, and to-do lists?
It's easy to quickly say, "well of course I saw people!" That's what ministry is, it's serving the people. Allow me to challenge you with a different set of questions: when you look at "your" ministry (the ministry that you feel called to and perhaps were hired to do) do you see the people in your ministry area primarily as recipients or as participants? Are those people spectators or servants? How about the folks who volunteer in your ministry area - do you view them as helpers or as partners? Are they "just" volunteers, or are they ministers, commissioned in baptism and part of the Priesthood of Believers?
These are important questions and vital distinctions. In many staff-driven congregations, the people either primarily spectate while the busy staff carries out the work of the ministry; and/or a good number of people volunteer but wind up functioning mainly as "worker-bees," essentially "helpers" for the busy staff who lead the charge and assign roles and tasks. In this scenario, the ultimate goal often becomes developing and growing the church. Metrics and numbers form the scorecard. We know we're successful when we've got lots of programs and events going on constantly. The problem is, if the end goal is to grow and develop the church, then people become the means toward that end. People become tools, resources that are used to grow the church.
Imagine the converse - flip that scenario on its head: what if the end goal is to grow and develop God's people, and the church becomes the means toward that end? In this case, the church and its resources become the tool that is used to grow the folks. You may read this scenario and say, "well of course, that's the Great Commission - to make disciples!" But if we're really honest with ourselves, I think in many North American churches the tables get turned. Somewhere along the way, we've lost our way and our wonderful events, programs and opportunities become the objective and the people wind up getting used and spent in the process. Take a look at your congregation or the ministry you serve. Ask yourself, what is our scorecard? How do we measure success? When you survey the people in your fellowship, are they growing in their walk with Christ? Are they going on to maturity? What percentage of people are actively engaged in gifts-based ministry? What percentage of people in your fellowship are in leadership roles and have a true investment, ownership, and responsibility in ministries to which they feel called? If the honest answer is "not many" or "not enough" then your emphasis is more on the church and people are simply cogs in the machinery.
Never underestimate the Holy Spirit-given power and the potential in the pews! As one among the Company of the Committed, take a look at your scorecard today. What subtle shifts can you begin taking today to bring the focus back around to people over process? As you do that, you will in fact become more faithful to Christ's Commission to disciple-making.
It's easy to quickly say, "well of course I saw people!" That's what ministry is, it's serving the people. Allow me to challenge you with a different set of questions: when you look at "your" ministry (the ministry that you feel called to and perhaps were hired to do) do you see the people in your ministry area primarily as recipients or as participants? Are those people spectators or servants? How about the folks who volunteer in your ministry area - do you view them as helpers or as partners? Are they "just" volunteers, or are they ministers, commissioned in baptism and part of the Priesthood of Believers?
These are important questions and vital distinctions. In many staff-driven congregations, the people either primarily spectate while the busy staff carries out the work of the ministry; and/or a good number of people volunteer but wind up functioning mainly as "worker-bees," essentially "helpers" for the busy staff who lead the charge and assign roles and tasks. In this scenario, the ultimate goal often becomes developing and growing the church. Metrics and numbers form the scorecard. We know we're successful when we've got lots of programs and events going on constantly. The problem is, if the end goal is to grow and develop the church, then people become the means toward that end. People become tools, resources that are used to grow the church.
Imagine the converse - flip that scenario on its head: what if the end goal is to grow and develop God's people, and the church becomes the means toward that end? In this case, the church and its resources become the tool that is used to grow the folks. You may read this scenario and say, "well of course, that's the Great Commission - to make disciples!" But if we're really honest with ourselves, I think in many North American churches the tables get turned. Somewhere along the way, we've lost our way and our wonderful events, programs and opportunities become the objective and the people wind up getting used and spent in the process. Take a look at your congregation or the ministry you serve. Ask yourself, what is our scorecard? How do we measure success? When you survey the people in your fellowship, are they growing in their walk with Christ? Are they going on to maturity? What percentage of people are actively engaged in gifts-based ministry? What percentage of people in your fellowship are in leadership roles and have a true investment, ownership, and responsibility in ministries to which they feel called? If the honest answer is "not many" or "not enough" then your emphasis is more on the church and people are simply cogs in the machinery.
Never underestimate the Holy Spirit-given power and the potential in the pews! As one among the Company of the Committed, take a look at your scorecard today. What subtle shifts can you begin taking today to bring the focus back around to people over process? As you do that, you will in fact become more faithful to Christ's Commission to disciple-making.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
People Focus or Task Focus
Ministry is messy. I was pondering that reality anew this morning as I ministered with and among the congregation I serve. Sometimes we leaders would like to be able to tidy things up, survey our ministry world and discover order and efficiency, to feel like we have a handle on things, that everything is in its place. Ministry is not like that; ministry is messy. It's messy because people are involved. In fact, not only are they involved, people are the point! Ministry is about people, for people, and with people. Because we're fallen human beings, each coming to church complete with foibles and imperfections along with gifts and beauty, then all that we do will be graced with messiness. Messy things are often slippery; they wriggle free of our grasp, they remain in disarray; as soon as we find order they revert immediately to chaos. Ask my son, Joe - there is great inherent beauty in messiness! It's a thing to be celebrated!
When you, as leader, find yourself frustrated with the messiness and chaos of ministry, ask yourself this question: Am I committed primarily to tasks or to people? As one among The Company of the Committed, this is a crucial query. I consider myself to be "whole-brained." That means that I utilize both sides of my brain in my thinking and creative processing, and indeed I intentionally tap into both. The "left brain" is logical and analytical - it likes systems and processes; it likes tasks and to-do lists - it likes to define process and accomplish tasks. It likes closure. From the "right brain" flows creativity and imagination. The right brain is much more comfortable with chaos, infinite possibility, abstraction, and ambiguity. It loves freedom and mystery and messiness. Each of you are primarily right or left-brained or whole brained. If you are primarily left-brained, or if you find yourself operating most often from that orientation, then it's easy to fall into the trap of valuing tasks above people. The left brain becomes easily frustrated when best-laid plans go awry, when tasks aren't completed on time, when other people inhibit or compromise progress, when you've communicated something "500 times" and people still don't get it or respond according to instructions.
When I look at the ministry of Jesus as presented in the Bible, I don't see him creating lists, running programs, managing systems, and becoming frustrated at an endless to-do list. I see him hanging out among the people, sharing Good News, healing the sick, encouraging the downtrodden, sharing table fellowship, praying . . . and being incredibly long-suffering. Indeed, as a leader, his relationship with his mentees - the disciples - was one of journeying together, sharing life and touching a needy world as they went. I'm not saying that systems and processes and programs and tasks are all wrong - they have their place for sure in 21st century ministry. The bible even tells us, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1Cor. 14:40).
Here's the crux of the matter for me - if I as a leader become committed more to tasks than to people, then ministry becomes drudgery and I fall prey to anxiety, stress, depression, fatigue and discouragement; AND I wind up running over people and wounding them in the process. Conversely, when I maintain my focus on people, then ministry becomes cast in a colorful hue like a child's water color - it's messy, the colors are outside the lines, it's unpredictable, it may even at times seem undefinable. But the beauty lies in the people whom God calls us into community alongside. When I see people and ministry for what they are - imperfect, unpredictable, "slippery" - and when I tap into my sense of humor and am able to laugh at the quirkiness and craziness, then I begin to see people the way God does (dare I say I begin to see myself the way God does). God sees the mess and loves us just the same. God delights in bestowing love, grace, mercy, and good gifts upon his children. As one among The Company of the Committed, can you too become more loving, more merciful, more gracious, more giving, more long-suffering? I pray it be so this day in ever-increasing measure.
When you, as leader, find yourself frustrated with the messiness and chaos of ministry, ask yourself this question: Am I committed primarily to tasks or to people? As one among The Company of the Committed, this is a crucial query. I consider myself to be "whole-brained." That means that I utilize both sides of my brain in my thinking and creative processing, and indeed I intentionally tap into both. The "left brain" is logical and analytical - it likes systems and processes; it likes tasks and to-do lists - it likes to define process and accomplish tasks. It likes closure. From the "right brain" flows creativity and imagination. The right brain is much more comfortable with chaos, infinite possibility, abstraction, and ambiguity. It loves freedom and mystery and messiness. Each of you are primarily right or left-brained or whole brained. If you are primarily left-brained, or if you find yourself operating most often from that orientation, then it's easy to fall into the trap of valuing tasks above people. The left brain becomes easily frustrated when best-laid plans go awry, when tasks aren't completed on time, when other people inhibit or compromise progress, when you've communicated something "500 times" and people still don't get it or respond according to instructions.
When I look at the ministry of Jesus as presented in the Bible, I don't see him creating lists, running programs, managing systems, and becoming frustrated at an endless to-do list. I see him hanging out among the people, sharing Good News, healing the sick, encouraging the downtrodden, sharing table fellowship, praying . . . and being incredibly long-suffering. Indeed, as a leader, his relationship with his mentees - the disciples - was one of journeying together, sharing life and touching a needy world as they went. I'm not saying that systems and processes and programs and tasks are all wrong - they have their place for sure in 21st century ministry. The bible even tells us, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1Cor. 14:40).
Here's the crux of the matter for me - if I as a leader become committed more to tasks than to people, then ministry becomes drudgery and I fall prey to anxiety, stress, depression, fatigue and discouragement; AND I wind up running over people and wounding them in the process. Conversely, when I maintain my focus on people, then ministry becomes cast in a colorful hue like a child's water color - it's messy, the colors are outside the lines, it's unpredictable, it may even at times seem undefinable. But the beauty lies in the people whom God calls us into community alongside. When I see people and ministry for what they are - imperfect, unpredictable, "slippery" - and when I tap into my sense of humor and am able to laugh at the quirkiness and craziness, then I begin to see people the way God does (dare I say I begin to see myself the way God does). God sees the mess and loves us just the same. God delights in bestowing love, grace, mercy, and good gifts upon his children. As one among The Company of the Committed, can you too become more loving, more merciful, more gracious, more giving, more long-suffering? I pray it be so this day in ever-increasing measure.
Friday, November 5, 2010
True Commitment
Thinking about commitment this week with regards to ministry and leadership. I could be flippant and joke about our potential need to "be committed" institutionally, and some days it feels that way when the craziness of life weighs heavily upon us. But seriously, what does it mean to be committed?
Those of us in leadership in ministry must guard against what commitment is not. Commitment is not giving yourself to the work of the ministry. That pronouncement may puzzle you at first glance, but this statement reflects a critical truth - your life depends on it. God's call on your life is not to the work of the ministry; God's call is to commit yourself to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Period. For many well intentioned leaders, we initially devote ourselves wholeheartedly to Christ, receiving his life and abiding in him - taking our place "in Him" as so many scriptures testify. But somewhere along the line, we fall into the subtle idolatrous trap of devoting ourselves wholeheartedly to the work of the ministry. Slaving 24/7 to this brutal task master, we drift and lose our way. Soon we aren't "living, moving, and having our being" in the Living One; instead we toil in our own strength and limited resources - dry, famished and fatigued because we're too busy working to come to the One whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.
Those of us in leadership in ministry must guard against what commitment is not. Commitment is not giving yourself to the work of the ministry. That pronouncement may puzzle you at first glance, but this statement reflects a critical truth - your life depends on it. God's call on your life is not to the work of the ministry; God's call is to commit yourself to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Period. For many well intentioned leaders, we initially devote ourselves wholeheartedly to Christ, receiving his life and abiding in him - taking our place "in Him" as so many scriptures testify. But somewhere along the line, we fall into the subtle idolatrous trap of devoting ourselves wholeheartedly to the work of the ministry. Slaving 24/7 to this brutal task master, we drift and lose our way. Soon we aren't "living, moving, and having our being" in the Living One; instead we toil in our own strength and limited resources - dry, famished and fatigued because we're too busy working to come to the One whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.
As the Apostle Paul reflected on his ministry and service to God’s people, he made a profound assertion. Paul’s declaration forms the foundation for authentic Christian leadership. Without tapping into this essential truth, it is impossible to embody the kind of leadership that honors God and truly blesses God's people. Paul writes, “To this end [pursuing the call] I labor, struggling with all his [Christ’s] energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Col. 1:29). Paul labored and struggled in ministry, not in his own strength and limited resources, but with all of Christ’s energy, powerfully at work in him. Christ promised, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8). The Greek word translated power, is dynamin, as in dynamite! Believers receive spiritual dynamite when they receive the Holy Spirit. In that defining moment, one’s life pursuit becomes Christ crucified, and the joy-filled desire to share that sacrificial love with the whole world. Christ’s energy, His life-giving, Resurrection power, is at work in you! Have you fully surrendered and yielded to it? Have you fully availed yourself to it? As you do, it will no longer be you who serves, but it will be Christ who serves His people through you. Paradoxically, then and only then, will you become a spiritual leader.
As one among the Company of the Committed, make sure you remain true to your first Love, and flee the temptation to be committed to anything or anyone other than Jesus the Messiah.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Company of the Committed
In 1961, the Quaker author and theologian Elton Trueblood published The Company of the Committed. This prophetic work served as a witness and summons to action in its day; reading it today the call is no less relevant and contemporary. I've titled this blog after Trueblood's work as a tribute to his important contribution to the theological conversation around the ministry of all believers, and also because I believe it is a fitting descriptor for the Body of Christ.
I hope this blog becomes a forum where ministry leaders can gather to share their hearts, hopes, highs, and hurts around equipping God's people for ministry. Whether you're a paid leader on staff at a church or non-profit or a non-paid person serving in the trenches of ministry, I invite you to lend your voice to the dialogue. Feel free to raise questions, challenges, concerns; share a prophetic word, impart wisdom, offer thoughts and perspectives; recommend resources, lift up best practices, guide us toward innovation. We'll learn, stretch, and grow together.
Trueblood writes, "The Church of Jesus Christ is a sleeping giant. Its unrealized potential is almost staggering to contemplate." As ministry leaders, God charges us (Ephesians 4:12) with mining out the treasure and releasing the God-given potential in our churches and fellowships. As we release the ministry to the people, allowing them to be partners - shareholders and stakeholders in the work, we engender the kind of ownership and investment that leads to true commitment. True commitment is not possible when leaders treat the people like "just volunteers." Speaking of commitment, Trueblood observes, "Commitment is never real unless it leads to mission." When leaders invite the people into greater ownership and commitment, the end result is participation in God's mission beyond the walls of the local fellowship. Equipping is never an end - equipping is a means toward fuller participation in the mission of Christ. As leaders equip the saints for the work of ministry, they help to return Christianity back to the grassroots movement to which the scriptures bear witness. Rather than a hierarchy led by religious leaders, the church becomes a collaborative partnership - the Company of the Committed. Let's strive together to awaken the sleeping giant.
I hope this blog becomes a forum where ministry leaders can gather to share their hearts, hopes, highs, and hurts around equipping God's people for ministry. Whether you're a paid leader on staff at a church or non-profit or a non-paid person serving in the trenches of ministry, I invite you to lend your voice to the dialogue. Feel free to raise questions, challenges, concerns; share a prophetic word, impart wisdom, offer thoughts and perspectives; recommend resources, lift up best practices, guide us toward innovation. We'll learn, stretch, and grow together.
Trueblood writes, "The Church of Jesus Christ is a sleeping giant. Its unrealized potential is almost staggering to contemplate." As ministry leaders, God charges us (Ephesians 4:12) with mining out the treasure and releasing the God-given potential in our churches and fellowships. As we release the ministry to the people, allowing them to be partners - shareholders and stakeholders in the work, we engender the kind of ownership and investment that leads to true commitment. True commitment is not possible when leaders treat the people like "just volunteers." Speaking of commitment, Trueblood observes, "Commitment is never real unless it leads to mission." When leaders invite the people into greater ownership and commitment, the end result is participation in God's mission beyond the walls of the local fellowship. Equipping is never an end - equipping is a means toward fuller participation in the mission of Christ. As leaders equip the saints for the work of ministry, they help to return Christianity back to the grassroots movement to which the scriptures bear witness. Rather than a hierarchy led by religious leaders, the church becomes a collaborative partnership - the Company of the Committed. Let's strive together to awaken the sleeping giant.
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