New Job Descriptions All Around!
by Mark Tidsworth
How does a church know that is has maximized the growth opportunities during volatile events? When it comes out on the other side recognizing it is different and must function differently. How does a church know it actually is functioning differently, or intends to? When everyone recognizes what is needed from leadership roles has changed. When pastors, church staff persons, lay leadership teams, and committee or ministry team chairs recognize they are or want to function differently, this is an indicator the church is adjusting to the unfolding Post-Covid environment. When transformation and growth happen, our systems need adjusting for us to integrate and continue that growth.
Conversely, when a church sees no need to adjust leadership roles after volatile experiences, this also means something. The lack of need to change leadership roles indicates one of two outcomes. One, perhaps this means this church is snapping back to church-as-usual, as if nothing ever happened. If so, this church doesn’t have the eyes to see nor the ears to hear the growth opportunities inherent in crises. Perhaps this church doesn’t have a growth mindset (See ReShape book), but sees the world through another lens. The second outcome may be that this church expects its leaders to add new ways of serving to their positions (like online book studies and live streaming) while continuing to do everything they did before. This outcome also includes many assumptions, most of which are unhelpful when it comes to mission advancement.
When we allow God to give us the eyes to see and ears to hear, resulting in a growth mindset, then we recognize our need to adjust our structure in order to maximize growth. Here is a non-Covid example. Last Saturday I was with the leaders of a numerically growing church. They anticipate more people joining them in the coming months, stretching their systems, including the ministries of pastors, staff, and lay leadership. The discussion around the role of pastor is illustrative. In a Pastoral Size church, pastors do far more “hands on” type ministry, serving as “direct service providers” so to speak. Then in Program Size churches, pastors shift their roles toward “equippers of the saints.” Rather than providing a Bible study, Program Size church pastors find and develop multiple other people to lead Bible studies. Pastors in these churches see their roles as developing leaders and disciples to serve rather than serving directly themselves. These pastors value the role of equipper.
Now that churches are moving toward the Post-Covid world, what did they gain or develop during this volatile experience that needs to continue? What did they identify which needs to go the way of all things, never to return? After answering these questions, then churches are ready to develop new job descriptions for everyone. If we avoid updating expectations of leadership we are encouraging them to abandon the growth and gains. Savvy leaders will understand they will be evaluated on the former church paradigm, not the current. Let’s give our church leadership job descriptions (expectations) which can integrate growth and transformation, affirming and rewarding missional progress.
May we integrate the transformation of the last year, updating our systems to reflect the unfolding expression of God’s Church.