Dear Pastor: Slow Ministry
Dear Pastor,
One of the things that can most frustrate us in ministry is when we believe we have good ideas that can benefit the church and help it to grow but the ideas are slow to be implemented, if they’re ever implemented at all.
Does that ring true for you?
I remember my very first ministry, when I served as a youth minister. I was fresh out of graduate school, filled to the brim with new learning, and excited about bringing this learning to bear in the field of my youth ministry. I analyzed the youth ministry and decided that we needed to implement a “postmodern” approach of contemplative practices that would catapult our group into mission.
The buzzwords I used (postmodern, contemplative, missional) caused the conservative and traditional church I was working with to become nervous. It was my fault. I had rushed in, desiring for good things to happen, but hadn’t adequately understood the congregational dynamics. Church leaders tried to help me, but as a young minister, I was arrogant in my beliefs and determined that they were sticks in the mud derailing a promising ministry. Small wonder that my tenure only lasted two years.
As I’ve matured in ministry, I’ve reflected on my growth in this area, and that is what I want to share with you. I had to learn to temper the speed of change so that congregants and church leaders could keep pace. There is a direct correlation between when you begin to outpace the congregation in growth and change and the congregation’s anxiety level.
It’s not that folks don’t want change. They are reluctant to change because most churches are closed, known systems where folks find comfort in the reliability of what they have come to expect. Change disrupts this system that breeds comfort; and anxiety is the result of this disruption.
Let’s be honest: some churches need to change, and that change needs to be massive. But this bottom line remains: If you move too quickly, you will lose people. And once you lose people, it is difficult to reclaim them. The process of change requires that you learn how to work well (and without manipulation) with people. It requires humility.
You may have gathered by now that my letter this week is not even really about change. It’s about you. It’s about your attitude toward your church members. We must remember that in a church we both lead and serve people. Leading people can seem to be an easy task, but serving people is where pastors discover their ability to love the people they minister to.
Ask yourself this: Do you really love the church you serve? And not just the church (aka, the organization), but the people who make up the church? Are you willing to set a slower pace, to walk with the people you serve, and to practice a humility that puts their interests and desires ahead of your own?
I’ll be honest--when a church needs a drastic change in order to survive, I want to dive in, analyze, and make plans for better health. My temptation is to forget that I’m working with real people, in some cases, people who have been members of the church for fifty years or more. If you’re anything like me, slowing down and being patient is hard. But it is the way of Jesus, to put their needs above mine, and to minister and serve.
This doesn’t mean that you forget about change. It just means that you prioritize people above change. Loving your people can mean going slow. Slow ministry, because it involves you taking the time to walk with others, represents growth and maturity on your part. And that growth in maturity will help you discern both the best ways to discuss change and the best times in which to do so.
Let me know how I can serve you.
Love First,
Jeremy
P.S. Sometimes you need someone to talk to, someone who has walked the same path ahead of you. I specialize in helping pastors who are facing transitions (whether from burnout, contemplating a job change, or looking for help with congregational issues). I’d love to talk to you and see how I can help you. Reach out to me through my contact page and let’s begin a conversation that will help you find clarity in your ministry.