It started with a Common Worship Communion at home, followed by another up the road (with an annual district church meeting thrown in) and ended with Book of Common Prayer evensong to complete the day.
Annual meetings are always fun for, like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get! But we managed to stroll through it and I was home for lunch before we hit 14:00. Lunch done, there was just enough time to follow up on a few things pastoral before it was off down the road for the final service of the day.
'The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end . . . '
How could one miss the opportunity to bring the day to a close with a homily on the Old Testament reading. So I took it with book hands.
How often do we reflect on God's amazing love as shown to us through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ? How often do we think of the resurrection of Lazarus as an opportunity to get us familiar with God's overwhelming power; and how often do we wonder how we limit God's power in, and through, us?
Here I am Lord, send me, use me. is this our prayer today?
Lord, use us and the people of this town to proclaim your love and to set the captives free,
Showing posts with label equipping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label equipping. Show all posts
Sunday, 2 April 2017
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Spiritual Parenting: A guest writes
I recently read a short article about some parents who were being investigated for child neglect after allowing their 10 and 6 year-old children to walk home from the park alone; a distance of 1 mile through a nice, well-to-do residential area. The comments ranged from those applauding the parents for their common-sense approach in giving their children freedom and teaching them personal responsponsibilty to those berating them for their laziness and lack of care.
I didn’t share my opinion. Having so little background information about the parents, the children and the area through which they were walking, I felt I had no right to comment. However, it stayed in my thoughts. In my time as a Parenting consultant, I came across families that fell into two distinct camps: those that expected too much of their children and those that expected too little. The latter group were those parents who did everything for their little ones, believing that they were showing love. The outcome was that the children were stunted in their development, unable to perform simple tasks such as tying shoe laces and were unprepared for life ouside of the home. I met some of these children when I was a student; they lived on takeaways because they had never learned to cook (no need to: mum always cooked) and didn’t know how to use a washing machine (mum always did that too!).
The former group believed their children were capable and mature beyond their years. So often they would tell me that their child was very bright, top of the class, an early reader etc. Children are like sponges, they soak up intellectual stimulus, but they are emotional beings too. These parents came to me becasue their child was having behavioural difficulties; crying and tantrums when told ‘no’ or when they lost at a game. Although the child had progressed intellectually beyond their years, their emotional development was lagging.
It struck me that so often, church leaders fall into these same traps.
The over-indulgent minister who cares for his people by doing everything for them; taking on the full responsibility for their spiritual discipline and growth. The problems arise when the minister tries to encourage the congregation to take on some roles or tasks within the church and finds that their people lack the confidence and the initiative to do so. The congregation in turn look unrealistically to the minister to provide for all their spiritual needs and often end up leaving the church stating that they were ‘unsupported’.
The other type are those who are so enthusiastic to develop their people that they push them into roles that they don’t have the spirtual maturity to sustain. Without a well developed prayer life or deep understanding of their standing in Christ, the baby Christian can become overwhelmed and end up stressed, burnt out and disillusioned leading to them leave the church and be unwilling to get involved in any form of ministry in future. They might even cause problems for others along the way as they struggle to cope with responsibility beyond their means.
Church leaders - much like parents - have to perfect a delicate balancing act. A good parent will aim for their own redundancy: a time when the children have learned the life skills they need to fend for themselves. A good minister will likewise strive to teach and enable church members to stand on their own feet spiritually, having been trained and equipped ‘for works of service’ (cf Ephesians 4:11). This is the route to a healthy family and a healthy church.bog
I didn’t share my opinion. Having so little background information about the parents, the children and the area through which they were walking, I felt I had no right to comment. However, it stayed in my thoughts. In my time as a Parenting consultant, I came across families that fell into two distinct camps: those that expected too much of their children and those that expected too little. The latter group were those parents who did everything for their little ones, believing that they were showing love. The outcome was that the children were stunted in their development, unable to perform simple tasks such as tying shoe laces and were unprepared for life ouside of the home. I met some of these children when I was a student; they lived on takeaways because they had never learned to cook (no need to: mum always cooked) and didn’t know how to use a washing machine (mum always did that too!).
The former group believed their children were capable and mature beyond their years. So often they would tell me that their child was very bright, top of the class, an early reader etc. Children are like sponges, they soak up intellectual stimulus, but they are emotional beings too. These parents came to me becasue their child was having behavioural difficulties; crying and tantrums when told ‘no’ or when they lost at a game. Although the child had progressed intellectually beyond their years, their emotional development was lagging.
It struck me that so often, church leaders fall into these same traps.
The over-indulgent minister who cares for his people by doing everything for them; taking on the full responsibility for their spiritual discipline and growth. The problems arise when the minister tries to encourage the congregation to take on some roles or tasks within the church and finds that their people lack the confidence and the initiative to do so. The congregation in turn look unrealistically to the minister to provide for all their spiritual needs and often end up leaving the church stating that they were ‘unsupported’.
The other type are those who are so enthusiastic to develop their people that they push them into roles that they don’t have the spirtual maturity to sustain. Without a well developed prayer life or deep understanding of their standing in Christ, the baby Christian can become overwhelmed and end up stressed, burnt out and disillusioned leading to them leave the church and be unwilling to get involved in any form of ministry in future. They might even cause problems for others along the way as they struggle to cope with responsibility beyond their means.
Church leaders - much like parents - have to perfect a delicate balancing act. A good parent will aim for their own redundancy: a time when the children have learned the life skills they need to fend for themselves. A good minister will likewise strive to teach and enable church members to stand on their own feet spiritually, having been trained and equipped ‘for works of service’ (cf Ephesians 4:11). This is the route to a healthy family and a healthy church.bog
Monday, 12 May 2014
Being Collared (3) - All Member Ministry
Being ordained is an interesting reality because there are so many people out there who see Church as a clerical entity. The old days of 'Father knows best' may have (thankfully) gone but there are many who would like it to continue, albeit in a modified form, and not all of these wear dogcollars!
I get to talk to quite a few people who are keen to see the clergy:
I get to talk to quite a few people who are keen to see the clergy:
- Bring people into the church
- Build up the congregation's numbers
- Manage the finances such that the Parish Share is paid
and more besides.
On the other side of the line, there are many clergy who would like to see the congregation members:
- Fulfil their baptismal calling - reading, praying and sharing the Good News of Jesus, the Christ
- Witness to those around them and bring them into the church family
- Pay just a little bit more so that the Parish Share can be met
And, again, more besides.
Recently, engaged with a rather tired and frustrated cleric I realised that the goal of the all-member ministry church where the tasks are taken up by those in the pews who are seeking to find their calling, ministry and passions and engage with them to build up the Church and themselves is not the universal 'holy grail' I had hoped it was.
For this person's understanding of all-member ministry was: 'Do what you want!'
Interestingly, their understanding of 'being collegial' was: 'I'll let you!'
Now, it may come as no surprise to find that the cleric in question was one of those exceedingly clever clergy who had managed to 'get their church down to a manageable size' by the exercise of their visionary ministry. When pressed further the familiar mantra that 'it's easier to do the job yourself' was to be heard - and this is true, for:
- sharing the needs
- demonstrating what's required
- watching someone else have a go
- watching them fail
- picking up the pieces (and making it work)
- picking up the volunteer and dusting them off
- explaining it all again
- doing it with them
- watching them do it (knowing you could have done it quicker, better and . . . )
- dealing with the 'concerned' people (who could have done it better but never volunteer)
All takes time. After all, who else would do this sort of thing with volunteers?
Oh yeah, Jesus!
For many years I have heard church members tell me how much they wish the Vicar didn't do 'everything' (some have added 'so well') and have moaned at whosoever would listen about how they could do it (and better). Now I have tried for years to get them to do that but invariably the money has never been put where the negativity and moan was. In fact, some of the most promising people have been the biggest curse in this area - for having ability and opportunity and still managing to step aside from the task and take up the moaning role is, I'm sorry to say this, nothing less than a curse.
Now, if you're a church member and have thought you could do something in church were you given the chance - God has heard your prayers and delivered 'All Member Ministry' to the building you call 'church'.
Clergy - open your arms, put down your heavy loads and take the time to teach the people how to do the stuff that needs doing (yes, I know it is harder than doing it, but this 'lazy man's load' will pay dividends later).
Congregations - look at what's going on and where you see a need you can meet, stick your hand up and shout, 'Pick Me!' You'll struggle (even if it's only because of the dogcollar) but you'll soon find yourself equipped, released and seeking others to work alongside you (because there's no point in starting a mini clericalism model now, is there?) and the church will grow and be a place of joy.
. . . and the Vicar can go fishing ;-)
. . . and the Vicar can go fishing ;-)
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Giving members away - the key to growth?
Just a quick thought regarding church growth is that I come across so many places where the people are all inward looking and the last time they send someone off to be trained in any form of ministry in the wider Church was before any of those attending were born.
What makes it fun is that those who see to release their members into serving the wider Church generally find themselves blessed with growth and in fact the more they give away the more they seem to have. That doesn't mean that we do it to get members but it does seem to be the reality that there is a quid pro quo with God and membership.
So, here's a challenge tomorrow- why not take a look at the people around you and ask God what calling they have, for we all have a calling on our life, and then work out how you can support it?
You never know you might be pleasantly surprised (and they may be totally gobsmacked too)!
Let's make 2014 the year when we release our members into their ministry and find the joys of being a 'sending church' eh?
What makes it fun is that those who see to release their members into serving the wider Church generally find themselves blessed with growth and in fact the more they give away the more they seem to have. That doesn't mean that we do it to get members but it does seem to be the reality that there is a quid pro quo with God and membership.
So, here's a challenge tomorrow- why not take a look at the people around you and ask God what calling they have, for we all have a calling on our life, and then work out how you can support it?
You never know you might be pleasantly surprised (and they may be totally gobsmacked too)!
Let's make 2014 the year when we release our members into their ministry and find the joys of being a 'sending church' eh?
Thursday, 26 September 2013
Mission Shaped Ministry
Tonight sees the first of two 'taster' sessions for a new Mission Shaped Ministry course that is being held in Tamworth (staffordshire) and I have to be honest, I am excited about it.
We don't know how many will be coming to the thing and that makes it all the more fun - do we cater for thousands or five?
What I do know is that the whole concept of 'Fresh Expressions' and 'mixed economy' Church is the way forward and developing a people who are missional and looking to engage and be relevant is exactly what the Doctor ordered.
Here's a copy of the flyer I have distributed around the area for you to pray over, recommend and enjoy:
Thank You
We don't know how many will be coming to the thing and that makes it all the more fun - do we cater for thousands or five?
What I do know is that the whole concept of 'Fresh Expressions' and 'mixed economy' Church is the way forward and developing a people who are missional and looking to engage and be relevant is exactly what the Doctor ordered.
Here's a copy of the flyer I have distributed around the area for you to pray over, recommend and enjoy:
Thank You
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Mission and Ministry go together in perfect harmony ...
Side by side on the church's keyboard ...
Mission and ministry - two words that naturallly occupy the same space and yet, like all siblings, fight and struggle for dominance.
You can't build Church without mission - but you can't sustain church without ministry.
We can't grow church without pioneers - but you can't establish church without settlers!
The problems crowd in when we start to divide up the Church into job titles and work areas, skillsets and roles, but the reality is that many are gifted and called to excel in certain areas and these are often the same areas that our passions lead us to. I guess it's the same conundrum that musical ability presents:
You play on the piano as a child and people affirm and applaud because you are 'musical'. This leads you to play more and learn because you enjoy the attention, approbation and it's becoming part of who you are and what you do. Eventually the question comes:
Are you good at music because you love it Or do love love music because you're good at it?
(After all, you might not feel the same about geography, history, music or administration)
One of the challenges in the world of calling and ministry is that although we have giftings, calling and passions - there is a church to be put, and kept, on the road and though this is a job for all-member ministry, there is a need for those who would be collared to appreciate and, when the need (which often) arises, perform and otherwise enable, support and release others I to the many areas of need in the busyness of church.
The need for Ministerial Development Reviews that inform and help in the discernment of future paths before us is obvious and the task of equipping those who come from the cathedral, newly ordained, with much, or little, in their hands is obvious.
The need for those who will stand and preach the Gospel in the streets and marketplaces; those who will gather together the ones and twos such that church us found, and having done so lead them into the twin realities of bath and bread - the twins who are ever in concord and upon who - looking to the Cross and the return of Jesus, the Christ.
This week is a week of revelation for me thus far as I avoid hearing the words from the front perhaps, putting them aside to hear the heartbeat of God, and hear the words (from the heart) of many around me. Hearing the passion of those who are on the ground reflected in the path that has been trod and the ministry of managing from those in the diocesan offices.
One going the other growing so that more may go - partners, co-workers, each fulfilling their part (and living 1Corinthians 12*)
And the good news to those whose ministry is different (and perhaps strange) from ours:
We love you and value you - Thank You for being faithful where you are
Pax
*Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
Mission and ministry - two words that naturallly occupy the same space and yet, like all siblings, fight and struggle for dominance.
You can't build Church without mission - but you can't sustain church without ministry.
We can't grow church without pioneers - but you can't establish church without settlers!
The problems crowd in when we start to divide up the Church into job titles and work areas, skillsets and roles, but the reality is that many are gifted and called to excel in certain areas and these are often the same areas that our passions lead us to. I guess it's the same conundrum that musical ability presents:
You play on the piano as a child and people affirm and applaud because you are 'musical'. This leads you to play more and learn because you enjoy the attention, approbation and it's becoming part of who you are and what you do. Eventually the question comes:
Are you good at music because you love it Or do love love music because you're good at it?
(After all, you might not feel the same about geography, history, music or administration)
One of the challenges in the world of calling and ministry is that although we have giftings, calling and passions - there is a church to be put, and kept, on the road and though this is a job for all-member ministry, there is a need for those who would be collared to appreciate and, when the need (which often) arises, perform and otherwise enable, support and release others I to the many areas of need in the busyness of church.
The need for Ministerial Development Reviews that inform and help in the discernment of future paths before us is obvious and the task of equipping those who come from the cathedral, newly ordained, with much, or little, in their hands is obvious.
The need for those who will stand and preach the Gospel in the streets and marketplaces; those who will gather together the ones and twos such that church us found, and having done so lead them into the twin realities of bath and bread - the twins who are ever in concord and upon who - looking to the Cross and the return of Jesus, the Christ.
This week is a week of revelation for me thus far as I avoid hearing the words from the front perhaps, putting them aside to hear the heartbeat of God, and hear the words (from the heart) of many around me. Hearing the passion of those who are on the ground reflected in the path that has been trod and the ministry of managing from those in the diocesan offices.
One going the other growing so that more may go - partners, co-workers, each fulfilling their part (and living 1Corinthians 12*)
And the good news to those whose ministry is different (and perhaps strange) from ours:
We love you and value you - Thank You for being faithful where you are
Pax
*Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
Sunday, 7 July 2013
So what is my job? Correction
Those of you who follow the blog will remember that I recently wrote:
'Those who are happy to come to the show and sing the happy songs and have their ears tickled - the day is coming when the battle will be engaged and you will find yourself 'not fit for purpose' - time to 'man up' Church!'
This brought about the following response:
'How much more emotional manipulation are you going to employ on your site to get people to be doing what you, Vic, think people should be doing?
This isn't your job, Vic - your job is to seek after God and put yourself at his disposal. Be loved by him and then love others as you are loved.
Your job is not to guilt-trip, embarrass or intimidate people into conforming to your ideology... this is the fast-track to burn-out.
Come back to me on this one, and tell me why I'm wrong.'
Well, I did indeed come back to them and this is instalment number three (in a series of goodness knows how many) because another of the jobs I do is to tell people when they are doing wrong, or doing it wrongly. Now of course I don't employ emotional manipulation or guilt-trips, embarrassment or intimidation (after all, I'm not a liberal you know :-) ) but I do employ telling the truth in love as per today's reading of Galatians 6 which I have paraphrased elsewhere as:
'Guys, if you see someone doing something wrong, those of you who know me should restore them gently; but take care in the way that you do it so that you don't end up being wrong too!'
Now this 'wrongness' that we need to take care not to fall into is often demonstrated by the hardline fundamentalist and the 'Jesus wants everyone to be happy' liberals alike who point the finger and denounce, attack, vilify and engage in the finely tuned art of the ad hominem.
But you see my role means that when I see people who are sitting in front of the TV when they should be getting fit for the role for which they've volunteered I have to tell them that they are slacking. When I see people who claim to be Christians and yet their attitudes, lifestyles or behaviour deny this, then it's my role to come alongside and help them understand, accept and amend their ways accordingly. This is not the wicked application of rules and regulations but helping people to reach their fullest potential as people and as disciples - and we do want that, don't we?
My critic is wrong because to do anything other that strive to get one's own life sorted and working as well as possible and take this as the datum for those who are part of the Church is to be a hypocrite - and I struggle to ensure that I'm not that. My critic is also wrong because not only do I avoid all the things they accuse me of (and in accusing me perhaps come close to owning them for themselves) but I work hard to train, equip and release (I know some don't like this terminology but isn't that Biblical language) and to work alongside (and for if the opportunity arises) others in the Church.
The problem is that some would see just being in the Church as enough and the more those in the Church are like the world the better it is. After all, if we don't confront people with their errors then they are happy to have us around and therefore Church is popular.
And of course it is because it doesn't ask for set standards of behaviour but accepts everything (including the spirit of divination according to Schori's last sermon on the wicked Paul!) on the premise that whatever makes you happy pleases God.
Psalm 119 tells us that the person who keeps God's laws and seeks the Lord with all their heart - they are truly happy, not the foolish who will perish because of their folly and their desire to make their god in their own image.
No, I'm sorry but when I see people who claim to be Christian avoiding the discipline that comes from denying ourselves and taking up our cross and embarking on a life of discipline, prayer and praise that is the hallmark of true discipleship, then I have to offer correction by coming alongside.
We have one chance at this life (Heb 9.27) and my role is to do it the very best I can and to help others. I use the same measure on them as I do for myself and this is right - for it's part of my job as a family member.
We watch out for and correct each other in love - don't we?
'Those who are happy to come to the show and sing the happy songs and have their ears tickled - the day is coming when the battle will be engaged and you will find yourself 'not fit for purpose' - time to 'man up' Church!'
This brought about the following response:
'How much more emotional manipulation are you going to employ on your site to get people to be doing what you, Vic, think people should be doing?
This isn't your job, Vic - your job is to seek after God and put yourself at his disposal. Be loved by him and then love others as you are loved.
Your job is not to guilt-trip, embarrass or intimidate people into conforming to your ideology... this is the fast-track to burn-out.
Come back to me on this one, and tell me why I'm wrong.'
'Guys, if you see someone doing something wrong, those of you who know me should restore them gently; but take care in the way that you do it so that you don't end up being wrong too!'
Now this 'wrongness' that we need to take care not to fall into is often demonstrated by the hardline fundamentalist and the 'Jesus wants everyone to be happy' liberals alike who point the finger and denounce, attack, vilify and engage in the finely tuned art of the ad hominem.
But you see my role means that when I see people who are sitting in front of the TV when they should be getting fit for the role for which they've volunteered I have to tell them that they are slacking. When I see people who claim to be Christians and yet their attitudes, lifestyles or behaviour deny this, then it's my role to come alongside and help them understand, accept and amend their ways accordingly. This is not the wicked application of rules and regulations but helping people to reach their fullest potential as people and as disciples - and we do want that, don't we?
My critic is wrong because to do anything other that strive to get one's own life sorted and working as well as possible and take this as the datum for those who are part of the Church is to be a hypocrite - and I struggle to ensure that I'm not that. My critic is also wrong because not only do I avoid all the things they accuse me of (and in accusing me perhaps come close to owning them for themselves) but I work hard to train, equip and release (I know some don't like this terminology but isn't that Biblical language) and to work alongside (and for if the opportunity arises) others in the Church.
The problem is that some would see just being in the Church as enough and the more those in the Church are like the world the better it is. After all, if we don't confront people with their errors then they are happy to have us around and therefore Church is popular.
And of course it is because it doesn't ask for set standards of behaviour but accepts everything (including the spirit of divination according to Schori's last sermon on the wicked Paul!) on the premise that whatever makes you happy pleases God.
Psalm 119 tells us that the person who keeps God's laws and seeks the Lord with all their heart - they are truly happy, not the foolish who will perish because of their folly and their desire to make their god in their own image.
No, I'm sorry but when I see people who claim to be Christian avoiding the discipline that comes from denying ourselves and taking up our cross and embarking on a life of discipline, prayer and praise that is the hallmark of true discipleship, then I have to offer correction by coming alongside.
We have one chance at this life (Heb 9.27) and my role is to do it the very best I can and to help others. I use the same measure on them as I do for myself and this is right - for it's part of my job as a family member.
We watch out for and correct each other in love - don't we?
Thursday, 25 April 2013
It ain't what you say . . .
It's the way that they hear it!
Last week, I had an opportunity to feel quite pleased with myself as one of the people who'd heard me preach on active remembrance in the Eucharist told me how much they'd learn and the difference that 'amniocentesis' had made to their communion experience!
I can honestly say that I have never, not once, mentioned the testing of amniotic fluids in conjunction with the Eucharist but realised that what they meant was 'anamnesis'.
One of the roles of the minister, especially those who wish to engage theologically at personal and congregational levels, is to take the difficult things and make them simple; take the simple things and make them commonplace and everyday realities. The problem is that we all too often simplify concepts and issues, scattering analogies and naff metaphors as we go, and leave our people with a weak and often impotent God and a flawed and failing Christianity,
God has three leaves and is green, or Mother, Wife and Daughter; the route to modalism or tritheistic stuff is now put on the spiritual GPS and and coherent understanding of the Trinity is lost (of course they could read 'The Shack I guess!). We struggle with the Vigin Birth and so we have adoptionism, Arianism or a 'normal' bloke who, 'Being filled with the Holy Spirit, is enable to be God because God resides in Him and make Him part of God!' (and I have heard that sermon on more than one occasion during my Christian life!
When I used to work with engineering apprentices,we had a large poster on the wall of one of the workshops which proclaimed:
And this was true for the apprentices (I was one, I know!) and was confirmed by the fact that out first attempts at thing often went awry but got better the more we did, and understood, the what, why and how; and is true for congregations too. The problem is this:
Many of us are not exposed to the Bible outside of the Sunday readings and sermon slot.
Many of us never get to discuss what the Bible says in an active way.
Many of us want to 'do' what the Bible says but have 'stuff' (work, hobbies, family, etc.) that get in the way and either prevent us from doing or water it down.
Many of us have a go but don't have the watchful, and corrective, eye and hand with us and so, if ut goes even a little wrong, we find ourselves withdrawing to a place of safety (ie. not doing anything or keeping to what we know we can do)!
Seems that even when we think we've said it well we find that later the people haven't perhaps heard it as well as we thought. There's more to preaching than:
We also need to show them (where possible) and then get them to explain, make, or do too!
Amniocentisis
Mind you, Parthenongenesis is the first book of the Bible that was found in the Parthenon, isn't it?
Last week, I had an opportunity to feel quite pleased with myself as one of the people who'd heard me preach on active remembrance in the Eucharist told me how much they'd learn and the difference that 'amniocentesis' had made to their communion experience!
I can honestly say that I have never, not once, mentioned the testing of amniotic fluids in conjunction with the Eucharist but realised that what they meant was 'anamnesis'.
One of the roles of the minister, especially those who wish to engage theologically at personal and congregational levels, is to take the difficult things and make them simple; take the simple things and make them commonplace and everyday realities. The problem is that we all too often simplify concepts and issues, scattering analogies and naff metaphors as we go, and leave our people with a weak and often impotent God and a flawed and failing Christianity,
God has three leaves and is green, or Mother, Wife and Daughter; the route to modalism or tritheistic stuff is now put on the spiritual GPS and and coherent understanding of the Trinity is lost (of course they could read 'The Shack I guess!). We struggle with the Vigin Birth and so we have adoptionism, Arianism or a 'normal' bloke who, 'Being filled with the Holy Spirit, is enable to be God because God resides in Him and make Him part of God!' (and I have heard that sermon on more than one occasion during my Christian life!
When I used to work with engineering apprentices,we had a large poster on the wall of one of the workshops which proclaimed:
“What I hear, I forget;
What I see, I remember;
What I do, I understand.”
And this was true for the apprentices (I was one, I know!) and was confirmed by the fact that out first attempts at thing often went awry but got better the more we did, and understood, the what, why and how; and is true for congregations too. The problem is this:
Many of us are not exposed to the Bible outside of the Sunday readings and sermon slot.
Many of us never get to discuss what the Bible says in an active way.
Many of us want to 'do' what the Bible says but have 'stuff' (work, hobbies, family, etc.) that get in the way and either prevent us from doing or water it down.
Many of us have a go but don't have the watchful, and corrective, eye and hand with us and so, if ut goes even a little wrong, we find ourselves withdrawing to a place of safety (ie. not doing anything or keeping to what we know we can do)!
Seems that even when we think we've said it well we find that later the people haven't perhaps heard it as well as we thought. There's more to preaching than:
Tell them what you're going to tell them
Tell them
Tell them what you've told them
We also need to show them (where possible) and then get them to explain, make, or do too!
Amniocentisis
Mind you, Parthenongenesis is the first book of the Bible that was found in the Parthenon, isn't it?
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Volunteers - Communicating the Need
One of the most interesting comments in what has been a most interesting week so far (can't believe it's only Wednesday as the week so far has been crammed full of so much!) has bee that of a stressed cleric regarding the needs in their place of worship.
"I can't get them (the congregation) to understand what needs to be done or get them to do it!"
There was this church with loads of opportunities for people to get involved and yet they not only didn't want tio but (apparently) didn't seem to understand why they should be doing it anyway! A nightmare scenario indeed.
So I asked questions (as I do) and got answers (which often I don't) and it went like this:
So what needs doing? The answer to this covered the areas of outreach, children's work, music and doing general tasks in and around the service. It appeared that there were always people who were willing to have the jobs on the stage but when it came to being out of sight or engaged with people who were not church the volunteers all cried off. Many of those asked had done various roles when they'd first come to the church and were reticent to pick them up again. "Done that before" and "Don't have the time' were the top two responses.
In a time when we are looking at reducing clergy numbers the clergy are being blessed with the opportunity of engaging, equipping and releasing the laity (you know - God's people) to fulfil their baptismal calling and become the evangelistic, church-maintaining, church-growing people that they are meant to be. This is our (those who have been 'collared') opportunity to raise up a generation who will engage the world and take (and make) the Gospel real in it. To set people on fire for God such that others will come to watch them burn!
But of course there's the problem with volunteers in that whilst they can be enlisted and tasked with various aspects of being Church, many will submissively take the roles and produce little fruit ("I'm sorry it hasn't been done but I'VE been busy Vicar"). Some of my suggestions had been tried and when whatever it was hadn't happened the response was something along the lines of, "But at the end of the day that's your job isn't it?"
The person in question had come up with an amazing strategy for the church and its problems; They were going to leave! The intended destination was a flourishing church with teams for everything and a life where they, the minister, could spend time reading the Bible, praying and writing sermons. The problem is that they weren't opting out for an easy life but were opting in for a place which would see them establish some security of mind, body and spirit and have them working shoulder-to-shoulder with those who were seeking to build the Church.
A really lovely person came up to me recently and pointed out some areas that 'we' could be engaged in. My response was to applaud the fact that they were open and aware to the needs of the community and I asked how I might help them engage with this. The response was: "Oh, I'm not looking to do it, but I thought you ought to know so that you could!"
The problem before us is one of communicating the needs and helping those around us to understand that the needs exist and the solution stares at them in the mirror every morning. Older congregations are a great resource and newer members (give me twenty new believers and we can take the world) are a blessing but the job is there for all of us. But we can't try the 'embarrass the members' model (which some do) and we can no longer merely assign jobs (as in the 'Father knows best' model) but we can take someone and show them the needs and point them in areas where their passion is (or perhaps once was) and rekindle a fire within them.
So the answer to this? I don't have a clue!
I meet more and more clergy who are doing more with less and they are, generally, responding by closing stuff. Youth groups that were twice weekly now happen once a week. Coffee mornings have ceased and cloth is being cut accordingly. Where we had a church which was engaged with the outside world we are seeing the congregations huddle nearer and nearer the fire to escape the chill winds of mission and engagement outside.
But the future is bright - just wish this cleric was for all I have is a Bible and a desire to reach those outside and and use those inside tho be the vehicles of evangelism, social action and engagement.
As I say - been a long and exhausting week so far - still two hundred plus children are before me today as I engage with 'Open Door' in the parish church and the opportunities for conversation and the sowing of seeds with teachers, parents and the general populace outside the doors of the building has me buzzing and expectant.
Hallelujah!
"I can't get them (the congregation) to understand what needs to be done or get them to do it!"
There was this church with loads of opportunities for people to get involved and yet they not only didn't want tio but (apparently) didn't seem to understand why they should be doing it anyway! A nightmare scenario indeed.
So I asked questions (as I do) and got answers (which often I don't) and it went like this:
So what needs doing? The answer to this covered the areas of outreach, children's work, music and doing general tasks in and around the service. It appeared that there were always people who were willing to have the jobs on the stage but when it came to being out of sight or engaged with people who were not church the volunteers all cried off. Many of those asked had done various roles when they'd first come to the church and were reticent to pick them up again. "Done that before" and "Don't have the time' were the top two responses.
In a time when we are looking at reducing clergy numbers the clergy are being blessed with the opportunity of engaging, equipping and releasing the laity (you know - God's people) to fulfil their baptismal calling and become the evangelistic, church-maintaining, church-growing people that they are meant to be. This is our (those who have been 'collared') opportunity to raise up a generation who will engage the world and take (and make) the Gospel real in it. To set people on fire for God such that others will come to watch them burn!
But of course there's the problem with volunteers in that whilst they can be enlisted and tasked with various aspects of being Church, many will submissively take the roles and produce little fruit ("I'm sorry it hasn't been done but I'VE been busy Vicar"). Some of my suggestions had been tried and when whatever it was hadn't happened the response was something along the lines of, "But at the end of the day that's your job isn't it?"
The person in question had come up with an amazing strategy for the church and its problems; They were going to leave! The intended destination was a flourishing church with teams for everything and a life where they, the minister, could spend time reading the Bible, praying and writing sermons. The problem is that they weren't opting out for an easy life but were opting in for a place which would see them establish some security of mind, body and spirit and have them working shoulder-to-shoulder with those who were seeking to build the Church.
A really lovely person came up to me recently and pointed out some areas that 'we' could be engaged in. My response was to applaud the fact that they were open and aware to the needs of the community and I asked how I might help them engage with this. The response was: "Oh, I'm not looking to do it, but I thought you ought to know so that you could!"
The problem before us is one of communicating the needs and helping those around us to understand that the needs exist and the solution stares at them in the mirror every morning. Older congregations are a great resource and newer members (give me twenty new believers and we can take the world) are a blessing but the job is there for all of us. But we can't try the 'embarrass the members' model (which some do) and we can no longer merely assign jobs (as in the 'Father knows best' model) but we can take someone and show them the needs and point them in areas where their passion is (or perhaps once was) and rekindle a fire within them.
So the answer to this? I don't have a clue!
I meet more and more clergy who are doing more with less and they are, generally, responding by closing stuff. Youth groups that were twice weekly now happen once a week. Coffee mornings have ceased and cloth is being cut accordingly. Where we had a church which was engaged with the outside world we are seeing the congregations huddle nearer and nearer the fire to escape the chill winds of mission and engagement outside.
But the future is bright - just wish this cleric was for all I have is a Bible and a desire to reach those outside and and use those inside tho be the vehicles of evangelism, social action and engagement.
As I say - been a long and exhausting week so far - still two hundred plus children are before me today as I engage with 'Open Door' in the parish church and the opportunities for conversation and the sowing of seeds with teachers, parents and the general populace outside the doors of the building has me buzzing and expectant.
Hallelujah!
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