Last night while I was working at my computer I turned on the radio feature for I-Tunes and clicked on Classic Country. This is not normally my first music choice these days, but for some reason I wanted to listen to some of the old country songs I listened to growing up. It only took about three songs, and my mind was back in our old milking barn. We lived on several dairy farms when I grew up, but for some reason when I think back to those days I go back to the same farm. There we still put milk in the milk cans and then placed the cans in a tank of cooling water until the truck came to pick them up. During school I usually didn't have to help milk in the morning, but during the summer I was in the barn early in the morning and back again most evenings to help. I can still see the set-up of that barn, I can still remember the names of some of our cows, and I certainly remember the smells. I also remember an old radio that set on a ledge high up on the wall that was turned to a country music station that we listened to while we milked. Many of the songs I heard last night were the same ones that we listened to in the barn, and that is why my mind went back to those days so long ago.
Of course, all my time wasn't spent in the barn. We had a lake that was about one acre big filled with fish and frogs. I caught many fish out of that lake with an old rod and reel my grandfather gave me, and I caught lots of frogs that provided some good frog leg dinners. A basketball hoop was nailed on the side of the barn that offered me plenty of time to work on my jump shot. Even as young as I was I was often driving a tractor plowing a field or raking hay. I learned how to drive when most kids my age were still trying to learn how to ride a bicycle. Our TV got three channels, sometimes four, if we got the antenna turned just right. Sunday afternoons were often spent visiting family.
It was a simple time. No cell phones, no computers, no being available 24-7-365. A big event for me was going to the feed mill with Dad and getting a nickle for the coke machine. The good old days. Or was it? Living on a dairy farm meant that we never went far from home. There was a lot of hard work that is easily forgotten now thanks to our selective memories. Sometimes I think it would be nice to return to those simpler days, but the fact is the world has changed. Most of us will never recapture those days, and maybe we shouldn't even try.
A lot of churches would like to return to a time when it was easier to be a church. All a church had to do in those days was open its doors and the people would come in. The Baptist church took care of the Baptists in town, the Methodist church met the needs of the Methodists, and each denominational church cared for its own. As I said, we moved several times when I was growing up, but finding a church was easy. We just attended the closest Baptist church. They all used the same literature and pretty much followed the same worship format.
Well, those days are over. As much as some churches would like to return to those days, it's never going to happen. People come to church with different expectations, and fewer people go to church at all. A few years ago studies came out explaining why the unchurched were staying away from the church. Now, those studies are finding that even many believers are avoiding traditional churches as they feel such churches are hazardous to their spiritual health. Many question if today's church is even relevant to the needs of our society.
The answer to that question is yes. The church will always be relevant because we proclaim a message that continues to address the deepest needs of mankind. We offer a message of hope, of forgiveness, of justice, of mercy, and an opportunity to reconnect with our Creator. However, if that message is packaged in programs and ministries that fails to connect with people we will continue to be seen as irrelevant. Let's stop trying to recapture the good old days and look for ways to share the great message of Jesus Christ that will capture the minds and hearts of people today.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Preaching hope
I missed the initial broadcast of Billy Graham's "My Hope America" but had the opportunity to watch it last night. Several things came to my mind as I watched the broadcast. The first was the simplicity of the message. One of the things that always fascinated me about Billy Graham's messages was how simple they were. They were clear, simple, and direct to the point. Mankind is lost without Christ, but because of the cross a relationship with God is available to anyone who will simply invite Jesus Christ into their lives. And, like in this most recent message, he wasn't bashful about insisting that Christ is the only way to God. You may not agree, and you may even want to argue, but Graham would just respond, "The Bible says...," and you would be left to deal with it. Anyone was free to reject what he said, but no one could walk away and say they didn't understand his message or how he was asking them to respond.
A second thing that I thought about was the level of respect he has maintained throughout his long ministry. We live in a time when religious leaders are not held in the highest esteem by many people, but Graham has always been respected. He has modeled a life of integrity that has earned him the right to be respected. This is something that each of us in ministry must seek to emulate. If we can finish our ministries respected by the majority of people who have known us we will have done well. Such respect does not come naturally. Scripture teaches that we are to avoid even the appearance of evil, and that requires that we set boundaries for our lives and activities. Graham always carried himself with dignity and avoided the kinds of scandals that brought down other ministers with high-profile ministries. He was able to do that by identifying the core values that would guide his life and ministry and then faithfully living according to those values. We should do no less.
In his younger years his voice rang with authority and his eyes flashed with passion when he preached. I enjoyed the clips of him preaching in some of the great crusades he led. I was privileged to attend several nights of the crusade in Indianapolis in 1980, and I still remember the power of his voice. I listen to so many preachers today who seem timid when they speak. Their voices lack authority and passion. Graham had both when he preached, and I think it is because he believed what he was saying. He didn't apologize for anything he said because he believed he was right. We need that kind of bold preaching in our pulpits today. Although his voice was not as strong in this recent telecast, the passion and authority is still there.
Finally, I thought about how true his words were. Jesus Christ is the only hope for America, and for our world for that matter. Our salvation will not come out of Washington DC. It will not come through the United Nations. It cannot come from technology, science, the business community, or from other religions. The stories of the two young people that we saw throughout the telecast illustrates how every path other than the one that leads a person to the cross of Christ proves to be a dead end. There is no hope at the end of those false paths. It is only when one takes the narrow path that leads to the cross and salvation can one find the hope we all need to live our lives.
Friends, you are the messengers of that hope. No one else has the message that you and I have to share. Mankind is lost because of sin, but God loves us so much that he sent his Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. All who will may come and enjoy a relationship with God, but such a relationship is only available through Jesus Christ. That may not be PC enough for some folks in our pluralistic society, but that is their problem, not ours. God sets the conditions for a relationship with him. We are free to accept or reject those conditions, but we are not free to change them to suit ourselves.
It is time this message of hope is heard once again throughout the churches of our nation. It is time for a clear trumpet to be heard throughout the land. We who have been called to serve as pastors and ministers must preach once again with passion the message of hope that is the Gospel. When we do that we will once again see our altars filled with people seeking God, and when that happens a revival will break out that will bring hope back to America.
A second thing that I thought about was the level of respect he has maintained throughout his long ministry. We live in a time when religious leaders are not held in the highest esteem by many people, but Graham has always been respected. He has modeled a life of integrity that has earned him the right to be respected. This is something that each of us in ministry must seek to emulate. If we can finish our ministries respected by the majority of people who have known us we will have done well. Such respect does not come naturally. Scripture teaches that we are to avoid even the appearance of evil, and that requires that we set boundaries for our lives and activities. Graham always carried himself with dignity and avoided the kinds of scandals that brought down other ministers with high-profile ministries. He was able to do that by identifying the core values that would guide his life and ministry and then faithfully living according to those values. We should do no less.
In his younger years his voice rang with authority and his eyes flashed with passion when he preached. I enjoyed the clips of him preaching in some of the great crusades he led. I was privileged to attend several nights of the crusade in Indianapolis in 1980, and I still remember the power of his voice. I listen to so many preachers today who seem timid when they speak. Their voices lack authority and passion. Graham had both when he preached, and I think it is because he believed what he was saying. He didn't apologize for anything he said because he believed he was right. We need that kind of bold preaching in our pulpits today. Although his voice was not as strong in this recent telecast, the passion and authority is still there.
Finally, I thought about how true his words were. Jesus Christ is the only hope for America, and for our world for that matter. Our salvation will not come out of Washington DC. It will not come through the United Nations. It cannot come from technology, science, the business community, or from other religions. The stories of the two young people that we saw throughout the telecast illustrates how every path other than the one that leads a person to the cross of Christ proves to be a dead end. There is no hope at the end of those false paths. It is only when one takes the narrow path that leads to the cross and salvation can one find the hope we all need to live our lives.
Friends, you are the messengers of that hope. No one else has the message that you and I have to share. Mankind is lost because of sin, but God loves us so much that he sent his Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. All who will may come and enjoy a relationship with God, but such a relationship is only available through Jesus Christ. That may not be PC enough for some folks in our pluralistic society, but that is their problem, not ours. God sets the conditions for a relationship with him. We are free to accept or reject those conditions, but we are not free to change them to suit ourselves.
It is time this message of hope is heard once again throughout the churches of our nation. It is time for a clear trumpet to be heard throughout the land. We who have been called to serve as pastors and ministers must preach once again with passion the message of hope that is the Gospel. When we do that we will once again see our altars filled with people seeking God, and when that happens a revival will break out that will bring hope back to America.
Friday, November 8, 2013
The bivocational entrepreneur
I am occasionally asked why I post articles on ministry related articles and articles that address small business and entrepreneurialism. Some people think that because I write a blog for bivocational ministers and smaller churches that I would only post ministry related articles on my social media accounts. Actually, there are several reasons why I also post business related articles.
The first reason is because some bivocational ministers are involved in small businesses. Based on a survey I did in 2004 and numerous conversations I've had over the years with bivocational ministers I know that their other careers run the gamut. Certainly, not every bivocational minister owns or works for a small business, but some do. I want to believe the articles I post will help them operate their businesses better.
A second reason is that I am convinced that many leadership principles and activities from the business community are transferrable to ministry. Just as it's important for a small business to properly market itself it is important for a small church (and larger ones) to market themselves if they want their communities to know they exist. A bivocational pastor needs to understand sound marketing techniques. A minster also needs to understand budgeting, how to best develop a team, the importance of vision and how to pursue one, how to effectively communicate to the various groups he or she will come in contact with each day, how to more effectively manage time, how to make the best use of his or her strengths, how to manage conflict, how to introduce and manage change, and numerous other tasks. The business community can tell us much about how leaders should go about these various tasks, and we should take advantage of what they can teach us. I try to pull out some of the best advice from the various sources I read and share that advice with my readers in the hopes that it will benefit them and their ministries.
A third reason I post leadership and entrepreneurial information from the business community is that most bivocational ministers I know have entrepreneurial mindsets. In fact, I would go so far to say that if one is not entrepreneurial he or she will likely not enjoy a very effective ministry. Bivocational ministers take risks every day and face challenges for which there are no easy answers. We often have to do things that had never been done before in our particular ministry setting especially if we are the first bivocational minister our church has had. It's not that we just color outside the lines; sometimes we don't even have any lines and have to insert them as we go. Personally, I enjoy learning from entrepreneurs regardless if they come from a church background or a business background.
Finally, I post the business articles because I believe ministers today, and certainly those in the future, will have to become even more entrepreneurial. Years ago I heard Zig Ziglar speak at a leadership conference. One of the things he said that day was that there was no such thing as job security. He insisted the best anyone could experience was employment security. I agreed with his comments as soon as he said them. I graduated from high school, got a good job with a local factory, and worked there for thirty years until I qualified for their early retirement. Those jobs and opportunities are not going to be there for future generations. Even blue collar workers like me will have to be continually learning new skills in order to qualify for the jobs of the future. Staying with one company until retirement will soon be unheard of.
The same is true for those of us in ministry. In the past a student graduated from college, went to seminary, and after graduation went to his or her first church. It was expected that the seminary trained minister would remain in full-time ministry until he or she retired. That is not a safe assumption to make today. Increasingly, I find myself talking to fully-funded ministers who are convinced that they will soon have to become bivocational if they wish to remain at their current church. They often tell me that they don't mind going bivocational, but their fear is that they are not trained to do anything but ministry. They literally do not know what they could do apart from ministry to provide for their families.
These folks better start exercising their entrepreneurial muscles, and I am hopeful the articles I refer them to will help them do that. I refer my readers to articles that address business start-ups, financing, marketing, how to supervise team members, how to overcome obstacles, how to do strategic planning, and virtually everything that a business leader might need to know. With the many changes occurring today in the business and church world, we need to know how to do all these things if we want to remain employable in the future.
I am convinced we will see the numbers of bivocational ministers continue to climb in the foreseeable future. Some of these will be former fully-funded ministers who will begin to serve as bivocational ministers out of necessity. Now is the time for them to begin learning new ways of thinking and to seek out the skills apart from ministry that God has given them so they can be prepared if they find they need to transition into bivocational ministry. I hope that I can help them do that.
The first reason is because some bivocational ministers are involved in small businesses. Based on a survey I did in 2004 and numerous conversations I've had over the years with bivocational ministers I know that their other careers run the gamut. Certainly, not every bivocational minister owns or works for a small business, but some do. I want to believe the articles I post will help them operate their businesses better.
A second reason is that I am convinced that many leadership principles and activities from the business community are transferrable to ministry. Just as it's important for a small business to properly market itself it is important for a small church (and larger ones) to market themselves if they want their communities to know they exist. A bivocational pastor needs to understand sound marketing techniques. A minster also needs to understand budgeting, how to best develop a team, the importance of vision and how to pursue one, how to effectively communicate to the various groups he or she will come in contact with each day, how to more effectively manage time, how to make the best use of his or her strengths, how to manage conflict, how to introduce and manage change, and numerous other tasks. The business community can tell us much about how leaders should go about these various tasks, and we should take advantage of what they can teach us. I try to pull out some of the best advice from the various sources I read and share that advice with my readers in the hopes that it will benefit them and their ministries.
A third reason I post leadership and entrepreneurial information from the business community is that most bivocational ministers I know have entrepreneurial mindsets. In fact, I would go so far to say that if one is not entrepreneurial he or she will likely not enjoy a very effective ministry. Bivocational ministers take risks every day and face challenges for which there are no easy answers. We often have to do things that had never been done before in our particular ministry setting especially if we are the first bivocational minister our church has had. It's not that we just color outside the lines; sometimes we don't even have any lines and have to insert them as we go. Personally, I enjoy learning from entrepreneurs regardless if they come from a church background or a business background.
Finally, I post the business articles because I believe ministers today, and certainly those in the future, will have to become even more entrepreneurial. Years ago I heard Zig Ziglar speak at a leadership conference. One of the things he said that day was that there was no such thing as job security. He insisted the best anyone could experience was employment security. I agreed with his comments as soon as he said them. I graduated from high school, got a good job with a local factory, and worked there for thirty years until I qualified for their early retirement. Those jobs and opportunities are not going to be there for future generations. Even blue collar workers like me will have to be continually learning new skills in order to qualify for the jobs of the future. Staying with one company until retirement will soon be unheard of.
The same is true for those of us in ministry. In the past a student graduated from college, went to seminary, and after graduation went to his or her first church. It was expected that the seminary trained minister would remain in full-time ministry until he or she retired. That is not a safe assumption to make today. Increasingly, I find myself talking to fully-funded ministers who are convinced that they will soon have to become bivocational if they wish to remain at their current church. They often tell me that they don't mind going bivocational, but their fear is that they are not trained to do anything but ministry. They literally do not know what they could do apart from ministry to provide for their families.
These folks better start exercising their entrepreneurial muscles, and I am hopeful the articles I refer them to will help them do that. I refer my readers to articles that address business start-ups, financing, marketing, how to supervise team members, how to overcome obstacles, how to do strategic planning, and virtually everything that a business leader might need to know. With the many changes occurring today in the business and church world, we need to know how to do all these things if we want to remain employable in the future.
I am convinced we will see the numbers of bivocational ministers continue to climb in the foreseeable future. Some of these will be former fully-funded ministers who will begin to serve as bivocational ministers out of necessity. Now is the time for them to begin learning new ways of thinking and to seek out the skills apart from ministry that God has given them so they can be prepared if they find they need to transition into bivocational ministry. I hope that I can help them do that.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Because it's ministry we shouldn't be paid?
Yesterday I posted an article on why people think it is OK to ask creative people to work for free. If you didn't see the article you can read it here. We need to ask why the same thing is often true for those of us in ministry. I lead workshops and conferences on small church and bivocational ministry. I cannot tell you the number of times I've had requests to lead a conference and was told that the organizers didn't have much money and would only be able to provide a small honorarium plus expenses or ask me to do the event for free. One organizer put a cap on the expenses he would cover about three weeks before the event was scheduled which meant I either had to accept that limit or cancel the week long series of seminars. Guess who would have been blamed for the cancellation? That limit did not cover my expenses so I had to cover them myself from the already reduced fee I had previously agreed to. I was away from home for a week, lead three six-hour long workshops during that week, and got to pay for the privilege out of my own pocket. But, after all, it's ministry so it's OK...right?
I have friends in the Southern Gospel Music industry. Most performers in that industry work jobs throughout the week and travel on the weekends to various churches and events to sing. These include not only local groups but also some who are well-known nationally. They have to work in order to provide for their families because their music ministry won't pay the bills. I've been told of churches that agreed to receive a love gift for the group, and when the pastor saw how much had been given decided it was too much. He kept some of it for the church and gave the group what he thought was fair. Some have told me after spending a weekend on the road away from their families they didn't receive enough to even pay for their fuel. Yesterday, I saw an advertisement for a upcoming event for a country music performer. Tickets were $69.00 and $87.00 each. I've heard people complain when organizers raised their ticket prices to $15.00 to hear 12-15 different Southern Gospel Music groups perform on the same night. But, after all, they are doing ministry so they shouldn't expect to be paid much...right?
I know very few ministers who receive a decent salary and benefit package. If the average income of their congregation was determined, in many cases, the pastor's compensation would be well below that average. And, if church income drops what does the finance committee begin looking at? Since in smaller churches, especially, the pastors salary and benefit package is often the largest single expenditure on the church budget, that is where many of them look to make cuts. Little thought is given to urging the congregation to increase its giving; it's easier to make cuts, and since the pastor is doing ministry it's OK...right? GOD will take care of the pastor and his or her family...right?
If you haven't guessed, none of these are right. Scripture clearly teaches that churches have an obligation to provide financially for those who minister to them. If music and seminar organizers don't have the funds to pay for their singers and speakers, then don't host the event. If churches cannot provide responsibly for those who provide leadership, then use lay leaders or close your doors. It's time that churches, denominational bodies, and others stop thinking it is OK to use the gifts and talents of people for free just because what they are doing is ministry.
My main concern here is for pastors. The fees I charge are very small, especially when compared to most secular speakers, and for some groups I discount that even more, but I have the flexibility to decide whether or not I'm going to speak to some group. Most pastors do not have that flexibility. Their financial futures are sometimes at the whim of a small controlling group in the church who still believe that it is not necessary to provide fair compensation for ministry. That is a mindset that needs to end now.
I have friends in the Southern Gospel Music industry. Most performers in that industry work jobs throughout the week and travel on the weekends to various churches and events to sing. These include not only local groups but also some who are well-known nationally. They have to work in order to provide for their families because their music ministry won't pay the bills. I've been told of churches that agreed to receive a love gift for the group, and when the pastor saw how much had been given decided it was too much. He kept some of it for the church and gave the group what he thought was fair. Some have told me after spending a weekend on the road away from their families they didn't receive enough to even pay for their fuel. Yesterday, I saw an advertisement for a upcoming event for a country music performer. Tickets were $69.00 and $87.00 each. I've heard people complain when organizers raised their ticket prices to $15.00 to hear 12-15 different Southern Gospel Music groups perform on the same night. But, after all, they are doing ministry so they shouldn't expect to be paid much...right?
I know very few ministers who receive a decent salary and benefit package. If the average income of their congregation was determined, in many cases, the pastor's compensation would be well below that average. And, if church income drops what does the finance committee begin looking at? Since in smaller churches, especially, the pastors salary and benefit package is often the largest single expenditure on the church budget, that is where many of them look to make cuts. Little thought is given to urging the congregation to increase its giving; it's easier to make cuts, and since the pastor is doing ministry it's OK...right? GOD will take care of the pastor and his or her family...right?
If you haven't guessed, none of these are right. Scripture clearly teaches that churches have an obligation to provide financially for those who minister to them. If music and seminar organizers don't have the funds to pay for their singers and speakers, then don't host the event. If churches cannot provide responsibly for those who provide leadership, then use lay leaders or close your doors. It's time that churches, denominational bodies, and others stop thinking it is OK to use the gifts and talents of people for free just because what they are doing is ministry.
My main concern here is for pastors. The fees I charge are very small, especially when compared to most secular speakers, and for some groups I discount that even more, but I have the flexibility to decide whether or not I'm going to speak to some group. Most pastors do not have that flexibility. Their financial futures are sometimes at the whim of a small controlling group in the church who still believe that it is not necessary to provide fair compensation for ministry. That is a mindset that needs to end now.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
When you want to move to a new place of ministry
In recent weeks I've talked with some pastors who are considering if it might be time to move to a new place of ministry. Some of them are under pressure to leave their current church so it probably is time for them to be seeking a new church. Others feel that they have accomplished everything they can do in their present ministry and are using that as a springboard to begin searching for new ministry opportunities. This is a difficult time for clergy and their families and is not a time to get hasty and do something you'll soon regret.
For two years before I left my pastorate at Hebron Baptist Church I knew my time there was drawing to a close. I did not especially want it to leave, but I could sense my ministry at that church was closing down. We had enjoyed eighteen years of positive ministry there, but I felt the church had gone as far as it could under my leadership. They needed a new pastor with different gifts than I had in order to move forward. This was a scary time and I sought the counsel of family and our Area Minister. Although I felt certain it was time for me to go the question was where?
Many years earlier I had read a book on pastoral transitions in which the author wrote that this is the loneliest time in a clergy person's life. One can seek counsel from as many people as possible, but it is still a decision only the minister can make. Family needs and considerations play a huge part in that decision, but it remains one that the minister has to make by himself or herself. It is important to know why you are leaving your present ministry and to be willing to wait for God to open the right doors. For two years I prayed and considered various ministry options until God opened the door to my present place of service.
I see too many pastors run into this process willing to pursue any open ministry opportunity they find. That is a recipe for disaster. This is a time to move slowly and deliberately. Both the church and the minister should take time to really get to know one another. It is expected that the church will contact references; the minister should also contact people about the church. Call other churches in the area and ask about the one you are considering. If the church is in a denomination call the denominational or judicatory leader who serves that church. I was once being considered by a church in another state, and I called the judicatory person who had the area in which that church was located. Interestingly enough, that happened to be the church of which he was a member so he was able to tell me quite a bit about the church. Although he was very positive about the church, after further discussions with the search committee I decided this would not be a good fit for either of us and declined their offer to become their pastor.
There will likely be several meetings with the committee or team designated by the church to search for candidates to bring before the membership. Be prepared for those meetings. My experience has been that many committees, especially in smaller churches, are not prepared with good questions to ask the candidate. As the potential new leader of this congregation this is a great time to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Be prepared with good questions you can ask the committee that will not only answer your questions but help them better know you.
When I interviewed with Hebron I didn't know what to ask them, and they really didn't ask very good questions either. We were fortunate. Despite doing everything wrong in the interview process we turned out to be a good match and enjoyed a good ministry together. Others I have known were not so fortunate. They ended up accepting a church that was not a good match for their spiritual gifts and personalities. In many cases those ministries were both miserable and short-lived. As I have coached bivocational pastors who were seeking a new place to serve I have found that many of them were uncertain what to ask the search committees. In my book The Bivocational Pastor: Two Jobs, One Ministry
I list the questions I began to ask church search committees. I would have these typed out and laying before me. Often, during the interview process, the committee would answer some of them during our conversations, but at the end of that process I asked the ones they had not answered. Sometimes, the answers I received prevented me from accepting a church that would certainly not have been a good match for me and my family.
This period of seeking a new place of ministry is a challenging one. If you are in such a place now spend much time in prayer, talk to spiritual leaders you trust, and when new doors of ministry seem to open, do your homework and find out as much about that church and what they need in a new pastor as possible.
For two years before I left my pastorate at Hebron Baptist Church I knew my time there was drawing to a close. I did not especially want it to leave, but I could sense my ministry at that church was closing down. We had enjoyed eighteen years of positive ministry there, but I felt the church had gone as far as it could under my leadership. They needed a new pastor with different gifts than I had in order to move forward. This was a scary time and I sought the counsel of family and our Area Minister. Although I felt certain it was time for me to go the question was where?
Many years earlier I had read a book on pastoral transitions in which the author wrote that this is the loneliest time in a clergy person's life. One can seek counsel from as many people as possible, but it is still a decision only the minister can make. Family needs and considerations play a huge part in that decision, but it remains one that the minister has to make by himself or herself. It is important to know why you are leaving your present ministry and to be willing to wait for God to open the right doors. For two years I prayed and considered various ministry options until God opened the door to my present place of service.
I see too many pastors run into this process willing to pursue any open ministry opportunity they find. That is a recipe for disaster. This is a time to move slowly and deliberately. Both the church and the minister should take time to really get to know one another. It is expected that the church will contact references; the minister should also contact people about the church. Call other churches in the area and ask about the one you are considering. If the church is in a denomination call the denominational or judicatory leader who serves that church. I was once being considered by a church in another state, and I called the judicatory person who had the area in which that church was located. Interestingly enough, that happened to be the church of which he was a member so he was able to tell me quite a bit about the church. Although he was very positive about the church, after further discussions with the search committee I decided this would not be a good fit for either of us and declined their offer to become their pastor.
There will likely be several meetings with the committee or team designated by the church to search for candidates to bring before the membership. Be prepared for those meetings. My experience has been that many committees, especially in smaller churches, are not prepared with good questions to ask the candidate. As the potential new leader of this congregation this is a great time to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Be prepared with good questions you can ask the committee that will not only answer your questions but help them better know you.
When I interviewed with Hebron I didn't know what to ask them, and they really didn't ask very good questions either. We were fortunate. Despite doing everything wrong in the interview process we turned out to be a good match and enjoyed a good ministry together. Others I have known were not so fortunate. They ended up accepting a church that was not a good match for their spiritual gifts and personalities. In many cases those ministries were both miserable and short-lived. As I have coached bivocational pastors who were seeking a new place to serve I have found that many of them were uncertain what to ask the search committees. In my book The Bivocational Pastor: Two Jobs, One Ministry
I list the questions I began to ask church search committees. I would have these typed out and laying before me. Often, during the interview process, the committee would answer some of them during our conversations, but at the end of that process I asked the ones they had not answered. Sometimes, the answers I received prevented me from accepting a church that would certainly not have been a good match for me and my family.This period of seeking a new place of ministry is a challenging one. If you are in such a place now spend much time in prayer, talk to spiritual leaders you trust, and when new doors of ministry seem to open, do your homework and find out as much about that church and what they need in a new pastor as possible.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Leadership is about taking responsibility.
I find it interesting that everything that was wrong with America was President's Bush's fault when President Obama came into office and throughout his first term, and now none of our nation's problems are the President's fault. Every day there seems to be a new problem that the President knew nothing about. Now, I am not one who believes every problem is the fault of the President regardless of his party affiliation, nor do I believe that the President has the power to resolve every issue. But, leadership is about taking responsibility, and our current President is unwilling to accept responsibility for the problems that threaten to engulf his administration and this nation. He was more than willing to blame the previous adminstration for the problems he inherited but is unwilling to accept the responsibility for the ones he and his administration have created. That is not leadership.
An article on President Harry Truman reports that "in an address at the National War College on December 19, 1952 Mr. Truman said, "You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done, after the game is over. But when the decision is up before you -- and on my desk I have a motto which says The Buck Stops Here' -- the decision has to be made." In his farewell address to the American people given in January 1953, President Truman referred to this concept very specifically in asserting that, "The President--whoever he is--has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's his job." In a statement to reporters who were asking why President Bush was defending Rumsfeld Bush responded, "I am the decider, and I decide what's best." One can argue as to whether or not a decision was the best one, but it is the responsibility of the leader to make decisions and then to own them. Most Presidents have understood this; our current one does not seem to.
The same responsibility falls to those of us in ministry leadership positions as well. We have to seek advice from various people and search for the best possible solutions to the challenges we face, but at the end of the day it is our responsibility to make the decisions that we believe gives our churches and ministries the best opportunities to excel. Will every decision be the right one? I wish, but sadly they won't. In fact, sometimes we will make some really poor decisions that can set our ministries back. At such times the real leader will admit his or her mistake and begin to move the ministry in a different direction.
One of the things I appreciated about the church I served for 20 years was their willingness to support me even when I made poor decisions. Believe me, in twenty years of ministry in one setting a pastor has the opportunity to make numerous bad decisions, and I took full advantage of those opportunities! In some churches it would have been three strikes and you're out, but I was blessed to have a congregation that allowed their pastor to be imperfect.
However, I am convinced they may not have been so forgiving if I had not been willing to admit my mistakes. Had I tried to blame others or pretend I wasn't aware of things that were happening that should have been under my watchcare our congregation would have challenged that and held me accountable...as well as they should.
As a leader you are called upon to make decisions some of which only you can make. Some of those decisions will be great ones, and some will be really bad. Regardless, you have to own all of them, and if you are not willing to do that you are not qualified to be a leader.
An article on President Harry Truman reports that "in an address at the National War College on December 19, 1952 Mr. Truman said, "You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done, after the game is over. But when the decision is up before you -- and on my desk I have a motto which says The Buck Stops Here' -- the decision has to be made." In his farewell address to the American people given in January 1953, President Truman referred to this concept very specifically in asserting that, "The President--whoever he is--has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's his job." In a statement to reporters who were asking why President Bush was defending Rumsfeld Bush responded, "I am the decider, and I decide what's best." One can argue as to whether or not a decision was the best one, but it is the responsibility of the leader to make decisions and then to own them. Most Presidents have understood this; our current one does not seem to.
The same responsibility falls to those of us in ministry leadership positions as well. We have to seek advice from various people and search for the best possible solutions to the challenges we face, but at the end of the day it is our responsibility to make the decisions that we believe gives our churches and ministries the best opportunities to excel. Will every decision be the right one? I wish, but sadly they won't. In fact, sometimes we will make some really poor decisions that can set our ministries back. At such times the real leader will admit his or her mistake and begin to move the ministry in a different direction.
One of the things I appreciated about the church I served for 20 years was their willingness to support me even when I made poor decisions. Believe me, in twenty years of ministry in one setting a pastor has the opportunity to make numerous bad decisions, and I took full advantage of those opportunities! In some churches it would have been three strikes and you're out, but I was blessed to have a congregation that allowed their pastor to be imperfect.
However, I am convinced they may not have been so forgiving if I had not been willing to admit my mistakes. Had I tried to blame others or pretend I wasn't aware of things that were happening that should have been under my watchcare our congregation would have challenged that and held me accountable...as well as they should.
As a leader you are called upon to make decisions some of which only you can make. Some of those decisions will be great ones, and some will be really bad. Regardless, you have to own all of them, and if you are not willing to do that you are not qualified to be a leader.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Building up your library
I've spent a little time this evening looking at the shelves of books that line two+ walls of my study. There are hundreds of books on these shelves plus I have more on my NOOK and Kindle devices. As I was looking at the shelves of books I was reminded of when I began my pastoral ministry in 1981. I had one three-shelf bookshelf that that had books on one shelf. I found it very difficult to prepare proper sermons and do the study I needed to do on various topics of pastoral ministry. Two or three times a month I would visit a nearby college library to use their commentaries and other religious books. While that helped I dreamed of developing a library of my own.
I now have the opportunity to visit numerous pastors in their churches, and one of the troubling things I find in many of their studies is the lack of good books. Sometimes this is true of fully-funded pastors, and it is often true for the bivocational ministers I visit. As one who has always believed that leaders are readers, I wonder what they are doing to grow their leadership and communication skills. Perhaps, like me in my earlier years of ministry, they make use of public and college libraries, but this has its limitations. It takes time to go to the library, and the resource you need may not be available when you need it. My recommendation for ministers is to build up a library of the resources that you need to be effective in ministry.
Books are expensive so most ministers will need to build their library slowly. The good news is there are many ways to save substantial dollars on the books you want. For several years I attended the annual book sale our local public library held each fall. I became a member of the library so I got access to the sale the day before it opened to the public. That cost me $10.00 a year. When the doors opened I went straight to the religious section. Most years I left there with at least one sack of ministry-related books. My best find was the two-volume Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament which sells for around $100.00 which I bought for $2.00.
Many of the books I purchased were ordered through CBD which offers Christian books at very good prices. I also had some success visiting a used Christian bookstore near the seminary when I was a student where I found books at greatly reduced prices. It's also amazing what one can find at yard sales and at the Goodwill stores. A pastor friend of mine who has thousands of books in his library regularly visits Goodwill stores looking for books.
Some publishers look for persons to review their books. A few years ago I began reviewing books for one such publisher. From a list of books I could select one that I thought I would enjoy, they would send me the book free of charge (which I got to keep), and when my review was published I could select another free book as payment for my review. I did this for a few years and added several books to my library at no cost to me.
Although many e-books are nearly as expensive as printed ones, both NOOK and Kindle do offer some great prices on quality e-books. Just last night I purchased a book for my Kindle that normally sells for $16.99 for the printed version for $2.99. That kind of savings can really help your book budget.
Speaking of book budgets, your church should have in its budget a line item that will reimburse you for the books and other resources you purchase. Our small church provided me with a $400.00 per year book allowance. They saw it as an investment in their future, and so should your church. If your church does not offer the pastor a book allowance ask for one.
Because books are so expensive one needs to purchase them carefully. Early in my ministry I spent quite a bit of money on two commentary sets that proved to not be very helpful. That was money I could not afford to lose, but I did learn a valuable lesson about being sure the books I bought would actually be helpful to my ministry.
The books you buy are an investment in your ministry. They will shape you and the way you think. They will help you as you prepare your messages and as you lead your congregation. They will give you new tools you will use as you minister to people. They will also help expand your thinking and challenge some of the preconceptions you may have about various issues and doctrines. I would not be the person and the minister I am today if I had not read the books I've read. Invest in yourself and build you a library that will serve your ministry well.
I now have the opportunity to visit numerous pastors in their churches, and one of the troubling things I find in many of their studies is the lack of good books. Sometimes this is true of fully-funded pastors, and it is often true for the bivocational ministers I visit. As one who has always believed that leaders are readers, I wonder what they are doing to grow their leadership and communication skills. Perhaps, like me in my earlier years of ministry, they make use of public and college libraries, but this has its limitations. It takes time to go to the library, and the resource you need may not be available when you need it. My recommendation for ministers is to build up a library of the resources that you need to be effective in ministry.
Books are expensive so most ministers will need to build their library slowly. The good news is there are many ways to save substantial dollars on the books you want. For several years I attended the annual book sale our local public library held each fall. I became a member of the library so I got access to the sale the day before it opened to the public. That cost me $10.00 a year. When the doors opened I went straight to the religious section. Most years I left there with at least one sack of ministry-related books. My best find was the two-volume Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament which sells for around $100.00 which I bought for $2.00.
Many of the books I purchased were ordered through CBD which offers Christian books at very good prices. I also had some success visiting a used Christian bookstore near the seminary when I was a student where I found books at greatly reduced prices. It's also amazing what one can find at yard sales and at the Goodwill stores. A pastor friend of mine who has thousands of books in his library regularly visits Goodwill stores looking for books.
Some publishers look for persons to review their books. A few years ago I began reviewing books for one such publisher. From a list of books I could select one that I thought I would enjoy, they would send me the book free of charge (which I got to keep), and when my review was published I could select another free book as payment for my review. I did this for a few years and added several books to my library at no cost to me.
Although many e-books are nearly as expensive as printed ones, both NOOK and Kindle do offer some great prices on quality e-books. Just last night I purchased a book for my Kindle that normally sells for $16.99 for the printed version for $2.99. That kind of savings can really help your book budget.
Speaking of book budgets, your church should have in its budget a line item that will reimburse you for the books and other resources you purchase. Our small church provided me with a $400.00 per year book allowance. They saw it as an investment in their future, and so should your church. If your church does not offer the pastor a book allowance ask for one.
Because books are so expensive one needs to purchase them carefully. Early in my ministry I spent quite a bit of money on two commentary sets that proved to not be very helpful. That was money I could not afford to lose, but I did learn a valuable lesson about being sure the books I bought would actually be helpful to my ministry.
The books you buy are an investment in your ministry. They will shape you and the way you think. They will help you as you prepare your messages and as you lead your congregation. They will give you new tools you will use as you minister to people. They will also help expand your thinking and challenge some of the preconceptions you may have about various issues and doctrines. I would not be the person and the minister I am today if I had not read the books I've read. Invest in yourself and build you a library that will serve your ministry well.
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