Pop the Question

“So you want to lead the church?”

She says as she peers down her nose, past her cliff-hanging reading glasses. I’m still not sure what she was looking at…it wasn’t my face.
My response seems to be lost as the low rumble of our dismissed church’s exit that Sunday. Either that or she never intended to listen anyway.

“Don’t you think you are a little young to be telling me what to do?”

I explain that, in leadership, leaders are the example to follow not simply dictators who bark orders for their subjects to follow. I explain that my intent is to help move the church forward in whatever way the Spirit leads.

“Sounds to me like you want to be our next pastor…”

Further attempting to reinforce my stance of being an act to follow seems to get me nowhere as she tells me that her wisdom will never be one-upped by such a young man, and that she might be teaching a Sunday School lesson on the value of Elders in the church.
I asked her who she thought might do a better job in leading the church at this time of our transition from one pastor to the next.

“Jesus.” She said, with a matter-of-fact clap.

I made some smart-aleck remark about how I didn’t think he would be willing to come for the money we offered. That too was lost…
I gathered her attention and asked who might be willing to be in the office for the next few months to help run the affairs of the church while we looked for a pastor.
She replied that she didn’t quite know what had to go on everyday at this ‘little country church’ but that she and her husband (the only Deacon of our church) thought that I should be able to work it all out.

My heart jumped as I thought about the fact that one of our most skeptic members was willing to trust me. My blood began to race as I thanked God that he had placed openness in my church’s heart to let me grow in my leadership abilities.

I went to my office and cleared out the rest of the days papers and got ready for the evening service. I heard the last few people exit the church and went to lock the door. As the latch fell across the double door of our main entrance, it hit me, “How do I do what I need to do?”

I knew I should lead our church; but how?

Take A Step

As much as churches need to take in to consideration people who are already in places of service in the church, many service members of our churches need to begin to ask themselves if they are the ones that need to be leading at that particular time. When an individual begins to see him or herself as a leader with specific gifts, they begin the process leading.
As a staff member at one of my first churches, I saw a pastor resign to accept another position elsewhere and began to wonder who would take care of the duties that will be left vacant upon his departure. I wondered if there would be a deacon from our church come in to the office to make sure the staff and other organizations were working at full steam. I wondered if we would elect a team which could help guide us to the next pastor, as well as motivate us during the interim.
What I found instead was a simple neglect of all leadership by the church. No deacon, No Team, No leadership. Opinions ran the gamut and were all voiced with great volume, yet no one dared to take responsibility for the time that was slipping by. A few times, I thought to myself, “What if I, a 20 year old college kid, were to lead this church?...If only for a short time.” Quickly I would come up with some excuse not to pursue such a place, and I would go back to my work.
The problem is that I should have stepped up, and fought the good fight. I should have given these people a reason to have a deacon and team join in the leadership of the church. I should have made my leadership skills and desires work for the church in the Spirit’s power.
If you are someone who is not leading, but could, make a difference. Make a change. Make sure that you don’t look back on this time and wonder what might have been. Even if you are a twenty-something part-time staff member with little experience, and a bad haircut. God favors the obedient, not the strong.

Who Should Lead

There are people who teach and preach from places other than a pulpit. There are men and women who guide and nurture others without pay or thanks. There are some who’s vision for the future seems almost supernatural. Each of these people is able to see the church through to find a pastor.
The staff members of churches, in many ways, have similar skills. Ministers of education, youth, children, music and many others are each skilled pastors of their own realm of service to the church. It is interesting to note that churches dismiss such skills as being secondary to the “Pastor”, when in all actuality; they are some of the most qualified to lead the church during their time of need. Our inability to recognize responsibility is one of the most devastating of failures in the interim time. Leadership is effective when individuals see a need and use their willingness to make a difference.
Church staff and Lay leaders must be aware that the services rendered during this time are momentary and need based. When the new pastor arrives, their service will be, in large part, over; but that doesn’t mean that the service is any less important.
Skills, passion, and availability are some of the most critical attributes for people to serve our Lord. Our churches simply need to validate such qualities by allowing committed men and women to serve in the position that they are most effective, and men and women who find themselves wishing and hoping for something more to happen in their church must be willing to step out in faith and serve during this time of need in spite of what jeers and taunts will inevitably come their way.

The Pastor's Office

The office of the pastor is a unique entity. Thought many members of the church would never set foot inside for fear that their name might be dragged through the mud for ‘needing counseling from the pastor’, a great deal of respect and focus is placed on the office itself. Such focus is never more strict than in the case where the pastor’s office is vacant. Vacation, revival, sickness, visitation, and days off are some of the many things that might remove a pastor from his desk. Any such absence is seen by the congregation as a catastrophic lack of direction for the church itself.
When a pastor resigns, or is asked to resign, the presence of such great pain is coupled with this sense of misdirection and lack of vision. Congregations begin to speak and act with brash, reactionary motions which are nothing more than vain attempts to subdue their own hopelessness and sense of vulnerability. Their pain is so great that they simply overlook a great wealth of leadership that is before them.
Deacons, Elders, Lay Leaders, Staff Members, and Teachers all possess a great many gifts that are necessary for developing and sustaining the church. Yet, we neglect such groups and people based on their ‘Call’ in life, or lack thereof. It is as though our gaze has been held hostage by this pastoral vacancy that we have overlooked the great wealth of pastors who work alongside us every day.

Why Vacant Oversight

When a pastor leaves a church, whether by force or on his own accord, the vacancy is one that is felt throughout the congregation. In many ways the church has become aware of the process of pastors coming and going. We have created positions that only exist when there is no leadership from a pastor, and have become well versed in our introduction speeches. Yet, the primary oversight has been in the development of staff who are capable of filling the void left by a pastor, as well as working for the glorification of the Kingdom without hesitation. Over the past eight years of ministry, my churches have been without a pastor for nearly six. I have seen pastors leave three churches, and have helped the most recent two hire a pastor.

It is my prayer and hope that this ongoing conversation might help others in ministry withstand many of the trials that are faced throughout the interim time by illuminating many of my mistakes, and glorifying our father for His great triumphs.