In two previous blogs, I shared the responses of Charity Roberson, Leadership Communities Coach on the Emerging Leaders team at the
Virginia Baptist Mission Board on the philosophy and strategy behind her
position. Her comments led me to several
observations.
First, people in most congregations know more than they are doing. We have individuals who possess not only
significant gifts and skills but also innovative points of view. If they are not doing what they do best, what’s
the problem? Perhaps the structures that
we insist on maintaining are getting in the way.
Second, people in our congregations want to be involved in decision
making but they don’t want to waste their time on minutiae. They want to help set the direction of the
church and then get down to work. They
don’t want to be micromanaged.
Third, there are many people in our churches who have both a teachable
spirit and want to share what they learn with others. As Charity said, “A learning community is one in which each participant
is not only teachable but also willing to teach others.” These folks want
to live and serve in a learning community.
Fourth, although the people in our churches have unique strengths, they
must be empowered and mobilized in order to use them. This is the work of leaders. Charity commented: “Churches
need leaders who can assess the strengths of the church and community . . . and
find a way for each church to intentionally be faithful in their own unique and
individual ways.”
Fifth, without a doubt we are stronger together than we are separately. This is called synergy. This is the genius of the Body of
Christ. Charity nailed it when she said,
“[The key] is realizing that none of us have
all of the answers and we all have to continually find new ways to grow.”
The bottom line is that in most churches, there is vast untapped ability
and potential within the members, but it takes a special kind of leader to mobilize
and release these strengths. This
requires a leader who understands that his or her primary role is to unleash
and encourage God’s people to do God’s work.
I wish Charity and others like her the best as they model this way of
doing church.
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