Church and Delegation (1)

One dogcollar I've come across had the idea that team meant people did what they were told to to do and yet, when asked, they were 110% certain (weren't good at maths either!) that they were a shining example of delegation and collaborative excellence.

Delegation can be found in many examples in the NT Church - perhaps the best of these being the creation of deacons in Acts chapter six. There was a bit of division apparent between Jewish and Greek believers over the support the Greek widows weren't getting (or were getting in a perhaps less favourable way to the Jewish widows).

Here we have the perfect opportunity for a split and the remedy, the creation of deacons, suggests that this was merely overwork and overstretched administration, something that is always present when any organisation outgrows its structures. This is why it's good to put the structures in place at the beginning so that as things grow, the mechanisms are ready to accommodate the growth and avoid the problems that organisational lag can bring.

The early church was organised but demand was outstripping the ability to meet it smoothly and when gaps appear so too do stresses and divisions. For instance one church I was in had the Vicar's wife and the Vicar and many of the PCC involved in it and they were always shining and smoothly run. Another had a few of the zealots and this was always wanting, but rarely getting, when it cam to their ministry area. Soon the tensions were obvious as the 'have nots' felt marginalised and ignored. The situation didn't get any better when someone donated kit to the 'have everything' group for their having more was the match that started the fire that saw some leave!

Most of the time we have problems in church there is poor administration and clergy who just 'weren't aware!' and this is why delegation is so very important because it's easy to miss things from the top of the pyramid (and whether it is a pyramid needs to be addressed) but simple for those one the ground where the need is real and obvious - and so we delegate.

Let's take a look at Acts 2. 2-4:
'Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, 
“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” '

One of the important things in any organisation is that everyone should be doing what they can in the right place that they should be doing it! Everyone has a role to play in church and often I find the clergy are out there doing stuff that others should be doing and this adds to their workload and removes the opportunities to be doing what is right for others. This is not about 'being superior' but about acknowledging roles and accepting responsibilities.

When I came to one church I was told off because I washed up, swept and generally helped. My reason was that I didn't want to look like I was lording it and because it's who I am. I still do it but am sensitive to the fact that for some the tasks I might be doing are their primary, and perhaps only, tasks. So we need to look at the areas that need to be addressed and managed in our churches and work out who should be doing them and how they should be doing it - and then consider the relationships and structures that are needed to assist and support them so they do it!

We'll take a look at this some more tomorrow.

Enjoy