In addition to youth ministry, I oversee the live stream at our parish. It was not originally a part of my job description, but it is now my responsibility for recent events. I am not alone; more and more lay ecclesial ministers take on additional responsibilities and wear multiple hats. You have youth ministers who also oversee social media. There are directors of religious education that oversee the formation of newborns to the elderly. IT Directors who manage everything with a battery. Is this the new reality? Should there be more generalist in parish ministry and less specialist?
While the simplest solution is to hire more staff, it isn’t practical. Budgets are shrinking, parish staff is losing their jobs, and the need to do more is always increasing. To turn it around will take a change in perspective and the ability to awaken the faithful that is still in your pews. If you want to reduce your anxiety and stop wearing multiple hats, then you need to:
UNDERSTAND YOUR LIMITS AND STRENGTHS AS A LEADER
Even if you have a variety of skills, it is essential to hone in on those that yield the most fruit. At the same time, we have to look at addressing the attitude, “No one can do it as quickly or effectively as ME.” Saint Paul addresses this in his letters to the Corinthians. There are different gifts and roles we need to play to function as the Body of Christ.
To change that mentality, you must start recognizing your:
- Gifts and Talens
- Strengths and Limitations
- Motivations and Stressors
The more you get to know yourself, the easier it will be to focus. There are personality or strength assessments that exist to help you discover your true self. At Marathon Youth Ministry, we take clients through MCODE ™ to help them discover their core motivation. To learn more, click HERE.
DEVELOP A MINISTRY PIPELINE
A ministry pipeline is a recruiting and onboarding process for ministers in your parish. In addition to getting parishioners involved, it also looks at their growth as a leader. Some of the key components of a pipeline are:
- Interview process to get the right people on board.
- Orientation to cover necessary paperwork and set them up for success
- Training schedule to help volunteers grow into leaders
- Levels of leadership responsibility that answer the question, “Who is the next leader in line?”
This system should impact your entire parish; however, it can also be incorporated into a specific ministry. The idea is to continuously bring people through your ministry to be equipped for the ministry’s busyness.
EMPOWER THE YOUNG AND OLD CHURCH TO WORK TOGETHER
Every member of your parish has the ability to lead and serve. Teenagers, little kids, young and old, should serve together because it creates a community mindset. Your young church will challenge and inspire older parishioners in ways that revive their leadership. Older parishioners can mentor and guide young people through difficult seasons of ministry and life. When there is a community of ministers in your parish, they share the work and the burden. The responsibilities you hold are dispersed because everyone believes they are in it together.
PASS ON THE RESPONSIBILITY INSTEAD OF WISHING IT AWAY
Letting go of pieces of your leadership is difficult because of pride, fear, and guilt. But, the best way to overcome those obstacles is to practice delegation. At first, it will be scary and make you anxious. You will see the mistakes and errors being made. People will not always do it your way, and that’s okay.
Start by giving them something small. Do your best to explain the task and your expectations. Invite them to ask questions along the process and then step back. When they complete the task or responsibility, ask them about their experience. Point out things you saw that they did well and address any major concerns. If you see something small, let it go. You want to show them (and yourself) that they are capable of leading with autonomy.
To eliminate all the hat-wearing in your ministry, you have to recognize your gifts, strengths, and limitations. If you cannot hire staff, build a team of volunteers to serve and lead. Give them responsibility and ownership. Don’t worry about failure, and remember it is a process. The more you invest in building a team of volunteers, the less you have to worry about getting it all done because you are no longer on your own.
What responsibilities or ministries do you need to start delegating towards others?
Do you need help building a team of volunteers? Check out our Course: Building A Dynamic Team of Volunteers.
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