Why New Ministry Leaders Don’t Make It Beyond Their First Year

When I started at my current parish, I had a plan and a whole lot of drive to create something amazing. I thought I knew what needed to be done and how to reach all of my goals. I knew there would be challenges, but reality reminded me that as much as people want change, it takes time (Or a global pandemic). Whether you are starting in parish ministry or starting over, it’s essential to recognize that building a healthy ministry culture takes time.

Over the last few years, we at Marathon Youth Ministry have mentored new parish ministry leaders through cohorts. Many of them come in with huge dreams and big expectations, and it is inspiring to see them take on the ministry world as a veteran; it is a reminder that there is hope and nothing is impossible with God. And while our cohorts do help with retention and have reduced turnover, we still see lay ecclesial ministers struggle in their first few years. Why?

EXPECTATIONS OUTPACE REALITY

As I mentioned before, many of the new ministry leaders we meet have big dreams and hopes for creating transformation in their community. In addition to great expectations, they have to deal with the pastor’s expectations, their coworkers, and the congregation. In your first year, people will come to you as if you are Mary Poppins with your bag of tricks, ready to change the way people engage with the church.

THE SOLUTION: Any parish that hires a new employee has to help them manage those expectations. Whether their supervisor, pastor, or parish council member, they need someone to help them create realistic goals, prioritize them, and build them out over the next three to five years. If plans do not get met in the first year, that’s okay because that time needs to get to know the mission field and build trust.

NO ONE’S GIVEN THEM A GAME PLAN

The majority of our clients tell us that on day one of the jobs, they walk into their office, and it’s almost like no one knew that they were coming. There is no computer ready for them, they don’t know their coworkers, and there is no clarity on what to do with their time. This time the expectations of what they do during their 20, 30, or 40 hours are unclear. Maybe they are told to use a particular curriculum or read a specific document, but it’s like dropping someone in the middle of the forest with no map or compass and telling them, “Good luck.”

THE SOLUTION: Parishes (with the assistance of dioceses) need to create an onboarding system. After you make the hire, you need to map out their first ninety days. You need to ensure that they are set up for success, which means getting them the right equipment, connecting them with their coworkers and essential volunteers, and accompanying them until they get comfortable.

THEY ARE LEFT ON THEIR OWN

Parish life is hectic, so slowing down to help someone adjust can feel inconvenient. I know there have been times when I think, “They’ll catch up and figure it out. After all, that’s what I did.” But, that’s not always the case. Starting in a job where you don’t know anyone can create feelings of isolation and loneliness. If new employees don’t see the team members, they’ll quickly become overwhelmed by the job that they have to accomplish.

THE SOLUTION: In addition to creating an onboarding that gets them the resources and gives them direction, make sure you include opportunities to meet with people who will support them along the way. If possible, take them out to lunch, invite others to join you, and make sure it’s clear who they can rely on to get started. If you are a supervisor, you need to make sure you check in with them, engage in big vision conversations, and make sure they feel heard. The more you invest in connecting them to the team, the more connected they will feel to your vision.

We have to reduce turnover in ministry, and while we cannot account for every challenge that comes our way, we can strengthen the profession to withstand them. So, before you hire an individual, take time to look at the expectations, onboarding, and team you will provide that person. Set them up for success in that first year so that they’ll stick around for years to come.

Did you have an excellent first year in ministry? What made it positive, and what was challenging? 

If you are a parish or a diocese looking to help your professional ministry leaders get started on the right foot, check out our cohort options at Marathon Youth Ministry. We not only provide training on how to build healthy ministries but accompany individuals so that they can discover the joy that comes with ministry. For more information, click HERE.