advocacy
What You Might Have Missed This Past Holy Week
Every year I looked forward to Christmas and Easter. While they are by far…
One April, I came across a document that had a bold, comprehensive set of twelve New Year’s resolutions I had made that January. I laughed. I had completely forgotten about the list of goals—they had no impact on my year. While some of them weren’t realistic (especially “I will fully organize my sock drawer”), the real problem was obvious. There were too many to devote significant attention to any particular one.
Setting too many goals—and making little progress on any of them—isn’t just a problem with individuals’ New Year’s resolutions. It’s also a problem for organizations, including many churches. A quick glance at a church website often reveals commitments to a wide variety of:
- Events
- Programs
- Activities
- Multiple weekend Masses/services
- Holidays like Christmas
…that divide the time and attention of staff and volunteers, and anyone who’s ever worked for a church knows that individual silos often erode team collaboration.
The solution is simple. Set only one mission-critical goal at a time. One goal–that’s it.
When I first read this in The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni, it seemed impossible to choose only one goal. I still bristle at the idea—it seems so limiting. But my experience at the last church I worked in convinced me of the power of this simple concept.
In an energizing off-site facilitated by professional consultants, our team decided on the year’s “thematic goal”: to make the 10 am Mass excellent and dynamic. Following Lencioni’s advice, the goal was singular, simple, bold. It was specific enough that we could accomplish it but general enough that it included everyone.
Choosing this goal (and reviewing progress toward it weekly) had several noticeable effects on our team. In addition to the new energy it provided, it naturally caused us to work together more, discussing how our areas could advance the goal. As a youth minister, for example, I shared the goal with our teens and invited them to get involved in the 10 am. The team effort yielded progress in areas like communication and hospitality ministry that would have taken much longer to implement without a thematic goal.
The results spoke for themselves. The experience at Mass noticeably changed, becoming more welcoming and engaging. Attendance at the 10 am started to grow, reversing decades of decline. Some even said they came back to the church and drew closer to God through the 10 am.
Lencioni boils all this down to a simple question, one that could focus and enhance your ministry if you and your team ask it. And now I pass that same question to you:
What’s most important right now?
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Charlie Bates is a parish minister passionate about church renewal. A native of Hoboken, NJ, Charlie earned a BA from Villanova University and most recently a Master of Theological Studies from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry . He has served in two parishes in a variety of capacities, including youth ministry and adult small groups, all with an emphasis on reaching those who are disconnected and creating a path of discipleship. He begins his new role as Director of Worship at St. Norbert Parish in Paoli, PA in March 2020. Charlie loves connecting with fellow ministers and hopes to meet you soon!