Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/87

Contributor - Murray Moerman

Title - Stimulating Lay Ministry

Topic - Focusing On Church Growth

An important church growth principle might be expressed in this way: "A church will grow, other factors being equal, in proportion to the percentage of its lay persons it is successful in mobilizing for ongoing ministry."

There is more to it of course. The church growth movement distinguishes between lay workers whose primary focus is inward (i.e. organizing and staffing programs within the church for those who are members of that church) an . d those workers who primary focus is outward (i.e. organizing and staffing programs for those who are yet outside of the church). The first group are called "class I workers" and the second group "class II workers".

Take the time to go through the volunteer workers in your church right now with a sheet of paper with a vertical line down the middle and place each volunteer worker in your church under the heading "class I" Or "class II".

Every church will have a majority of class I workers, the issue however is "what is your ratio of class I workers to class II workers?" Further, "what goals can we set to increase class 11 workers and reduce the ratio?"

Your church could profitably spend an hour of its consistory or evangelism committee meeting time working through these issues. It is my hope that you will.

Be that as it may, it is important that your leadership style, for staff and for lay leaders, is one which releases ever more lay persons into ministry (class I or class 11). Only as the leadership base is enlarged, can the church support and minister to an influx of newcomers. Picture a pyramid in which the base is the lay leadership of a church and the superstructure is the people they serve.

Here are some suggestions as to leadership styles or attitudes which are needed to encourage the release of more lay ministry:

1. An atmosphere of freedom for experimentation. People need to be encouraged to suggest and try new ideas. Encourage creativity, brainstorming, and ideas imported from other fellowships or even countries. Keep a suggestion box and tend to it regularly and positively.

2. Freedom to fail. By calling a ministry project an "experiment" the stigma of failure is reduced. Strive for excellence and success, but if the desired goal is not reacted by those participating in that ministry do not call it a failure but an experiment to be retried upon incorporating some of the learnings gained from the present experience.

3. A "permissive" administrative or ruling structure. Do not require a new idea to jump through too many hoops. Lengthy processes of explaining, defending and delaying new ideas tend to kill creativity and initiative. Develop a bias towards saying "yes".

4. Read and keep an ongoing list of ministry ideas working elsewhere. You can't do it all, so be an "idea generator for others. Always be enthusiastically brimming with what you are learning. Some of the "seeds" will fall on fertile ground. These ideas will release ministry in others.

5. Delegate. "You receive not because you ask not." I keep a note before me on my desk at all times. On it are two questions: "Is what I am doing now building the Kingdom of God?" (if it is not I don't want to do it) and "Can I delegate it?" Many committed Christians don't ask for ministry but are happy to do it if asked.

6. Teach continually about spiritual gifts, the priesthood of all believers, the enabling ministry of the Holy Spirit, the role of the Body of Christ in the world, how t translate spiritual gifts into practical ministry, etc. These themes need to be a part of the air we breathe.

7. Be a nurturer. Continually affirm and encourage those who are involved in lay ministry. Give your best pastoral care to your most effective lay leaders. Be generous in praise. Correct privately, praise publicly. Send personal thank-you notes of affirmation.

8. Recognize lay leadership before the congregation. Regularly invite Sunday School leaders, youth workers, home group leaders, evangelists and other groups of lay leaders to stand on a Sunday morning for prayer and recognition. Give certificates of recognition and encourage the congregation to continue prayer support.

9. Define a percentage of your time to be devoted to lay ministry training events. It is so easy to be caught up in counselling, administration, personal ministry, etc. and find that little time remains for equipping of others. Define a percentage of your time (25%) to be given to developing and presenting equipping seminars and events, translate that percentage to hours per week, and list the training events needed in your fellowship. The needs may be for training and equipping youth leaders, evangelists, pre-marital counsellors, Sunday School teachers or other areas of which the Holy Spirit will prompt you to be aware. Offer, or see to it that someone better qualified than yourself offers, each training event needed.

10. Develop a supportive style. Be one who "comes along side" (cf. paraclete) in support of one who is already working.

11. Maintain the right distance. If you are too close to the person you are seeking to encourage you may overwhelm them. if you watch from afar they will not feel supported. Learn to get a feel of the proper distance. Give people their own "space" but draw in closer with support when needed.

12. Be a "player-coach ". Do yourself what you are encouraging others to do. Modelling is more motivating than exhortation.

13. Show needs for lay ministry graphically. Post charts leaving blanks for those responsibilities and ministries in a given organizational structure which are not yet filled. Don't be afraid of blanks - blanks on the chart show people where they are needed.

14. Be not only an enabler but an equipper An "enabler" only encourages people to move in the direction they aye already travelling. in many cases this leadership style is non-directive and non-confrontational. An "equipper", on the other hand, also gives advice, feedback, constructive criticism and the resources to move in a new direction.

15. Be very sensitive to spiritual gifts in people. Whether you believe spiritual gifts are "in" or "on" people, permanent or temporary, for the benefit of the Body or for the world, ask God for eyes to see the gifts He is giving people and seek to be sensitive to and follow that primary reality.

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