Whatever It Takes
We’re learning what that means, eh?
Yes, from the day we were told change or close up shop, we’ve all been motivated to rocket down a path of “Whatever It Takes.”
“Put the puck in the net” job description lines were always standard for me in leading church staff. What does that mean? Well, it stood for this, “Whatever your portfolio and list of duties, there is a line at the bottom that says that all staff here also agree to doing whatever it takes to put the puck in the net regardless of their typical job portfolio.” That is an ear mark of a great staff team.
This runs amuck, however, when the exception becomes the norm. Every good team member gets it that there are special circumstances where it’s all hands on deck and we have to be willing to plug in coffee urns, greet at the doors, do dishes, represent the church at a funeral or take a call from someone who wants to talk to a pastor. But when the replacement duties have completely overshaddowed the job we hired them for, then good senior leaders need to push pause.
The pandemic has done this to many of our Next Gen staff. I have nothing against old people. I are one. But it is pretty common knowledge that you should never take technical advice from anyone older than you are. So, we go to younger people to help us muddle through all-things software. That’s prudent. But we’re coming two months into Covid’s rework of church life and, without formal retrofit, many of your youth, music and children’s pastors are living a life they didn’t sign up for. So are the Lead Pastors and I get that. But maybe it’s time for a “come let’s reason together” moment.
They are trying to source online children’s programing that is desperately needed. They’re inventing youth small groups online, keeping up social connection and providing creative personal bible study options and concepts to invigorate the Next Gen rapport in your church. PLUS, they are now helping film, edit, research audio, broadcast delivery methods and solve software snags – on top of their own job that is 50% more difficult than it was two months ago.
Support staff are concerned about wage roll backs or lay off potentialities. They generally have younger and more demanding family obligations.
To Lead Pastors … you can’t add a cubit to your height or change the pandemic. But let your staff know that you are aware that this is exacerbating their stress. Make sure you are talking to them enough. This is not a typo; Make sure you are talking to them enough. Affirm your support and appreciation. Find a way to cut them some slack. Do something fun. Send some gift cards. Call their spouse and kids and say thanks. Just say thanks.
By the way, thank YOU … thank you for spear heading change and resilience like none of us ever imagined we could do. And thank you Jesus, for giving us the grace to do this. We don’t got to … We get to do this. It is so fun. I am having fun, and I’m old!
Gary led in one of our growing metro churches for 36 years, then transitioned to be our District Superintendent in 2017. His hope is that your District team will be your single most helpful resource in leading and growing your church. His goal is that 80% of our churches will be experiencing incremental growth within the next three years.