People Spots
Online
Produced by James W.
Moss, Sr., and Church Consultants
Provided as a service by New Life Ministries
Characteristics of a Healthy Church
Part 3
by James W. Moss, Sr.
Back to Part 2
5. A Healthy Church Has a Simple Organization
The more complex the organizational structure a church builds, the more likely it is to fail. The more layers of decision making, the more channels required to reach a final decision, the more difficult it will be for the church to act. Complex organizations are structured for control and not action. Unfortunately, the question "Who has the power?" is often more important than "What ministry has been accomplished?" or "What was the name of the last person who confessed Jesus Christ as Lord as a result of the church's ministry?"
6. A Healthy Church Uses the Skills of the Laity
Romans 12:5-16—"So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. . . ."
This week there is 100 hours of work that really needs completed at the church. The pastor isn't going to work one hundred hours, so the choice is simple. Either the pastor does what is possible and then leaves the remainder undone, or the pastor does 50 hours of that work and finds 10 other people to work five hours each.
Mary loves to write. She enjoys putting words on paper--it is a thrill to create sentences that communicate her faith in Jesus Christ. John loves to cook. Nothing brings him more satisfaction than watching people enjoy the food he has prepared. Sue loves to work with little children. It is exciting for her to watch the spark in their eyes as they learn new things about Jesus. Harry loves to fix things with his hands; he has a toolbox in the trunk of his car. He feels a real sense of satisfaction to see something in operation that he has fixed. Gloria has a green thumb, and every plant she touches flourishes. She is all smiles when others enjoy the results of her labors. Martha loves to talk on the telephone. She finds it difficult to talk with people face to face, but put a phone in her hand and she is at home and so is the person she is talking to. Ed is a whiz with a personal computer. He would rather sit at the keyboard than eat. He can create designs and documents to rival the best. What opportunities for ministry should their churches find for them to do? Has your church helped your people understand what their individual gifts and talents are? What new ministries have been created in your church to enable your people to use their gifts?
A church that is committed to using spiritual gifts is also committed to involving laity in ministry. This is significant because a variety of skills and spiritual gifts are required for effective and meaningful ministry. The following are but four of such gifts. A dreamer or visionary, an organizer creates and sustains structure, the shepherd, and the person with the gift of hospitality. Different individuals have different combinations of gifts; therefore Christians must be encouraged to identify their spiritual gifts and real interests. Gifted leaders must be released to lead. A church must understand that many responsible people are needed for effective ministry apart from serving on a church council or teaching in a church school. This is the third time in this book that involving laity in ministry has been discussed. That is not accidental. This whole arena of ministry is frequently neglected or ignored.
7. A Healthy Church Trains People to Serve
Several kinds of training are available. Orientation is preparation given before a person begins a volunteer ministry position. On-the-job training is the learning volunteers encounter as they perform their tasks. Continuing education experiences for volunteers deepen understandings of assigned responsibilities. People can attend local conference, denominational, and inter-denominational events. There is a wide range of such workshops, seminars, classes, and reading programs. These events provide assistance to individuals and serve as teasers for what on-site training is available to local churches.
Ultimately, most training events that bring real organizational change occur on the local church scene. Years have passed in many churches since the last formal leadership training event of any kind was conducted on-site for the local members. A church may recruit but a handful of people to attend an event elsewhere. It may even be difficult to attract volunteers from the host congregation for a multi-church training event. It has not been unusual to see twenty-five to fifty from a relatively small church attend an event designed by that specific congregation. This is sufficient participation to change the organization. A church is not fair with its people when it asks them to serve without training.
General George B. McClellan was a famous Civil War General. McClellan was noted for his ability to train and condition an army. Abraham Lincoln appointed him commander of the Army of the Potomac. McClellan had a problem. He could never be convinced his army was trained enough to fight. Further training always seemed appropriate. McClellan would back away from a fight even when the enemy was seriously outnumbered. Finally, it became necessary for Lincoln to remove McClellan from command. He was a good trainer and conditioner, and The Army of the Potomac undoubtedly benefited from the training it received. However, to be trained was not the primary reason the Army of the Potomac existed. A General was then assigned who was willing to fight. Churches periodically suffer from McClellan's syndrome. Christians are educated, conditioned, and trained in ministry tasks. Outdoor bulletin boards and Sunday morning programs proudly announce that each member is a minister. Deployment in ministry seldom occurs in spite of the bold pronouncements.
Marge Simpson was deeply involved in the life of Utica church. In a moment of frustration she confessed, "I have become so involved in attending training experiences that I have no time left for ministry in my church." Each person only has so many volunteer hours to give. It is possible for Marge's experience to be repeated in today's world.
Rev. Ferris Demetry of St. Timothy's Church was asked why the church was not involved in evangelism. He responded, "We can't conduct an evangelism program because no one is trained." That sounds noble and consistent with the proclamation, "A church is not fair with its people when it asks them to serve without training." Correctly interpreted, Rev. Demetry's statement means: "No one is trained. No one is going to be trained. Without training we will not act. Therefore, we will not evangelize." Training that does not end in positive and purposeful ministry has aborted.
Continue to Part 4
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July 15, 1999. Volume 2, Issue 9. People Spots Online is prepared by James W. Moss, Sr., and Church Consultants. It is provided as a service by New Life Ministries, www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org. Articles may be duplicated and reproduced in any way. A new article is produced about every two weeks. To be added to a list to receive these messages directly by e-mail, send a request to churchconsultants@yahoo.com.