Don't Leave Your Garbage on the Pastor's Desk

Pastor of Everything Else
Don't Leave Your Garbage on the Senior Pastor’s Desk

As associate pastors, we need to be careful not to create messes for our senior pastors to clean up. Our pastors hope that we will advance the work of the church and relieve some of the work load. When we create messes they need to clean up, they must set aside their own tasks to smooth over hurt feelings or offended sensibilities. This creates extra work and strains relationships.

Steve was asked to speak at a regional youth event. During the Q&A following his talk, a youth asked him why older people in his church didn’t like the new music. Steve responded by saying that he shouldn’t worry about the old people since they would die in ten years anyway. By the next morning Steve’s pastor was taking calls and answering emails from upset youth leaders and parents.

Ben wanted the youth to become comfortable in the church’s worship service so he planned group games in the sanctuary. Unfortunately, a deacon walked through as the youth played beach ball volleyball over the pews. He and some parents were upset and called the pastor. Since Ben’s senior pastor didn’t know about his plans for games in the sanctuary, all he could do was promise to look into the matter. For the next several weeks they put out spot fires in the congregation over the incident, which came up again during the next Board meeting.

Its not that we intend to cause problems. Sometimes our best plans don’t work out the way we thought. Misunderstandings happen. Some good ideas aren’t. If we have enough good will stored up, we will survive the experience, but if good will is lacking people trust us less and suspect us more. If my pastor is looking over my shoulder more and giving me less responsibility, it may be because I am leaving garbage on his desk for him to clean up.

After learning a few times the hard way, I began to find people with good judgement who could help me. Or, rather, they began to suggest ways to help me and I noticed. One set of parents helped me decide whether to travel during inclement weather. If they suggested parents would be uncomfortable, I listened because I knew others felt the same way, even if I disagreed.

I have learned that it helps when I clean up my own messes. After the church furnace room was vandalized during a youth group meeting, that night I called the chairs of my Christian Ed and Property boards to report the damage. By the next morning I was able tell my pastor about the problem, why it happened, what we would do differently, and that the appropriate people were taking care of the clean-up. 

I have found that it helps to report problems sooner instead of later. When I avoid telling my pastor , I may make the problem worse, causing even more harm or loss of confidence. During a discipleship campaign, I was taking money for books and keeping it temporarily in an envelope in my desk. Following a worship service, I discovered the money was missing. I was nervous as I told our secretary first, and then the pastor. Despite the problem, it helped my pastor to know I would come to him as soon as possible with an issue.

I also discovered that when I report problems sooner that my senior pastor often has possible solutions. I was once able to recruit two additional middle school leaders because he knew that they were open to the possibility. He told me about them when I mentioned our need, and I followed up. I know that I can’t bring every little thing to him, but I have also learned not to try solving everything myself.

May 2, 2012 Rev. Troy Dennis (BA, MDiv., MA, Arrow Leadership) is Pastor of Family Ministries at Highfield Baptist Church in Moncton NB Canada. Ordained in 1995, he served in associate, solo and senior pastor positions before coming back to associate ministry in 2008.

AP Ministry is Real Ministry

Associate Ministry is Real Ministry
"So, you’re going to be a real minister now?" Someone asked me this not long after I announced my resignation to become the solo pastor of another church.

Likewise, people questioned that I was returning to associate ministry after pastoring two churches. Some still wonder why I am not pastoring on my own somewhere. They think I got burned out or perhaps lack confidence. Associate ministry is an enigma to some people.

For me it is about God’s call. Associate ministry is not a lesser calling. In fact, my current associate role is my toughest ever – I have more responsibilty here than many solo pastors in our denomination.

Associate pastoral ministry is real ministry. We know this already. But sometimes we doubt ourselves when we hear well_meaning people say things which suggest that associate ministry is not as important or significant as solo or senior ministry.

So, what do we do when we encounter the attitude that associate ministry is not "real?"

We can’t be defensive. Ever.

We need to do our ministry well so that people know we are competent.

We can’t develop a bad attitude about this. No whining.

We must be faithful to the call. This is about where God has called us. It probably won’t always be this way, but we always need to be faithful to the call God has for us, right now.

In addition, let me try to encourage us a little.

Associate ministry requires a high level of leadership ability. The larger the church, the larger the ministry groups, the broader the job description, the tighter the resources, the higher the profile in the community or denomination – the higher the level of leadership required. I know a number of associates in two-pastors churches who provide some kind of leadership or advice to more than one board, 10 or more different ministries, over 200 volunteer positions – all without paid admin help, I might add.

Associate ministry requires a broad range of abilities. It is not unusual in the run of a week to conduct youth group, lead children, teach a Bible class, formulate policy on the Board, visit "Mrs. Johnson" for tea, counsel teens and their parents, carry out strategic planning with the senior pastor, and fundraise for an international mission trip.

Associate ministry is real ministry. Not everyone can be a good and effective associate pastor. Let’s take pride in what we do, let’s do it well, and most of all, let’s do it for the glory of God.

Feb. 6, 2012. Rev. Troy Dennis (BA, MDiv., MA, Arrow Leadership) is Pastor of Family Ministries at Highfield Baptist Church in Moncton NB Canada. Ordained in 1995, he figures he has prepared about 2000 sermons and studies, conducted about 100 funerals, planned hundreds of worship services, in addiiton to serving in the community and on denominational boards. He is also a writer and musician. www.pastorofeverythingelse.blogspot.com

Overwhelmed and Understaffed

Overwhelmed and Understaffed -
Strategies for coping with feelings of being overwhelmed as Pastor of Everything Else

Its happened to me more than once – OK, a lot more than once. I wake up in the middle of the night wondering how on earth I’m supposed to do everything expected. Or, I pull up to the church on the edge of tears, thinking “Only six more days until another day off...”

“Prepare to be overwhelmed” wasn’t written into the job. I didn’t realize that’s what they meant when I read this in my ministry description: “Other duties as required by the position.”

How do we cope with the pressures and demands of being the only other pastor on staff? Here are things whuch have helped me.

Take my your day off.
Churches give us one. We need to take it or crash later. Sometimes we take great pride how long we can go without one. Its stupid. By my third week I’m toast. And eventually I get sick. Less productive in the long run. Bottom line, no one is going to take this for us. And, no one is going to look to look over our shoulders to make sure we’re resting when we should. We need to take it.

When my day off is interrupted, take alternate time
I know - sometimes unavoidable meetings happen on this day. In my first church, board meetings took two evenings a month on my day off, and there was no other day I could take as a day off which gave me a full day. It took me a long time to realize that I should not feel guilty for taking other time off in the week when this happpens.  

Find things which recharge, and not drain, my batteries - outside of church life
I love to tinker, fix things, work on the house. In the past I have joined a cycling club and I’ve been a volunteer firefighter. I love to write and enjoy a good biography. Currently I help a local high school orchestra. If there was more water here, I’d canoe more. These are some of my things. You have to find yours.

Get regular exercise
Let’s just say my disposition goes “off” unless I can get some exercise once in a while. Go for a walk, bike, canoe, run, jog, play floor hockey, basketball. Something. I joined a gym recently. I can’t believe how much better I feel. And I do this during the day as a way to make up my scheduled time off. 

Plan to schedule
Take some time at the beginning of the week to create a “To Do” list. Its tempting just to dive into the week, but take this time, and keep the list on paper or electronically. What things have to be done this week? Look ahead - 1 month, 2, 3, 4, 6 months... What is coming up? Who needs to be seen this week? What things can be handed off? What can be put off?  Make sure the important things get done. This is a little bit of a moving target, so add to it as required, but make sure to readjust. OH - don't forget to look ahead and plan for special events like family birthdays or anniversaries. Take my word for it - don't forget your wife's birthday.

Involve more people
This takes planning and prioritizing, and won’t happen overnight. But it lightens the load.

Use Spiritual Disciplines
This is not about adding to the "To Do" list. Prayer and reading the Bible are about a relationship with God. This is why we went into ministry in the first place. I find it better when I remember this.

What has helped you?

Troy Dennis - 2012 - Troy is the Pastor of Family Ministries at Highfield Baptist Church in Moncton NB Canada.