“I’m just a lay person! I’m not qualified to make church decisions because I am not a minister.”
As I travel among the churches, I hear again and again from elders who feel unprepared and under-skilled to exercise significant leadership in the various governing bodies of the church. When elders lack the confidence to speak up in presbytery meetings or let ministers dominate committees, the church misses out on the perspective and gifts they bring.
The Presbyterian system values the wisdom of both ministers and elders in the discernment of God’s will. This shared ministry extends to the whole church. The Book of Order says, “This church shall be governed by presbyters (elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament, traditionally called ruling and teaching elders) (G-4.0301). At their ordination, elders make a commitment to the role of presbyter when they are asked, “Will you share in the government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?” (W.4.4003 i.(1)
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) needs all church officers to exercise their ministries. Non-ordained church leaders can contribute abilities, experiences, and insights unique to each one.
Elders, deacons, and other church members are involved with their communities on a day-to-day basis, so when they participate in church meetings, they bring experience and wisdom that ministers do not have. They are best able to lead ministry on Main Street because they are there. They also bring experience, talents, and views that the wider church needs. A deacon with social work experience, for example, provides excellent leadership to the board of a Presbyterian home for seniors. A city planner helps guide a new church development strategy. A medical technician finds an exciting ministry with an international health ministry.
Over the last two decades while the number of ministers has increased, the number of elders in active service has declined1.# Also, as the church has used a rotation system, terms of service have been decreased. This has blessed churches with fresh ideas, but it also has led to squandering that expertise that accumulates over years of service. Churches need both the enthusiasm, and fresh insights of those newly chosen elders and deacons, and the wisdom and experience of veteran church leaders.
Those who serve over the years need to be encouraged to stay active and involved. Some elders “take a turn” at going to presbytery meetings, but don’t really take on the role of presbyter. Elders who participate only occasionally do not have the opportunity to know the people, the culture, and the business of the presbytery well enough to participate with confidence.
New presbyters need equipping through intentional processes of orientation and mentoring; the presbytery or committee is enriched by their contributions. This process of inclusion is so important in everything we do. Most influential church leaders can point to people who included and coached them, who invited them to extend their ministry in new roles beyond their own congregation.
While some leadership models from business and other secular pursuits may help understand leadership development in the ministry realm, other practices are vital and unique to church leadership.
Church leaders must practice the spiritual disciplines and exemplify Christian characteristics such as humility and an open spirit. Self-consumed know-it-alls may have charisma that catches attention, but their influence wears thin. As Christians, we follow a leader who intentionally chose to ride a donkey and to wash feet.
Church leaders are valued and influential for their connection to God. They drink often from the deep well of Christian faith. It provides resilience in times of challenge, criticism, and personal crisis. The church and the world look to Christian leaders for hope. The hope comes from our faith in Jesus Christ.
For a church leader, it is even more important to cultivate one’s personal devotional life than to know Robert’s Rules of Order and the Book of Order. Elders may consider participating in the Order of Elders2 as part of their commitment to spiritual disciplines. Business should be interspersed with Bible study and prayer. Spiritual discernment takes practice. Church officers promise to be guided by our confessions, so need to be familiar with them and understand them in relation to life in our times.
Respected church leaders also learn to listen. They spend time listening to stories, learning the history of their church, their presbytery, and the denomination. They learn from the faith journeys of others. Effective leaders listen to those who have experiences different from their own, those who come from other cultures, other contexts, and other theological perspectives.
Effective Presbyterian church leaders do familiarize themselves with our polity and parliamentary procedure. Good ideas get lost because someone did not know how to implement an idea through the systems by which we Presbyterians order our life together.
Beyond officer training, a great deal of leadership development occurs in wider church settings. Presbytery leadership days, synod schools, seminary seminars, national organizations such as the Administrative Personnel Association or the Association of Church Educators, and national conferences such as the National Elders Conference (part of the June 11-13, 2009 Big Tent Event) offer wonderful education. Such gatherings also provide opportunities for personal connections to be made and relationships to grow. An elder in a small church in Seattle can share a meal with an elder from a small church in Chicago and they can learn from one another. Church leaders can talk “virtually” on the Internet. Effective leaders are networkers who constantly add to their resource capital, collecting good ideas and connecting with good resource people.
In the busyness of our days and the overabundance of information, it is tempting to rely on bullet points or sound bites about church concerns. It is important for church leaders to seek out information about the ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Information is available through the web and printed media from a variety of sources. Wise leaders do not rely on information filtered by one individual or source. They gather information from diverse perspectives, reading even from sources with which they usually disagree. They weigh the information prayerfully, check facts, ask questions, and then decide.
While we may have fewer elders in active service on sessions, we have gifted leaders who are available for other ministries. Church officers are entrusted with a sacred calling to serve Christ in the whole church. Equipped and informed, they have energy, intelligence, imagination, and love to lead the PC(USA). Don’t ever say, “I’m just a (deacon) (elder).” God calls you to exercise your ministry!
Marcia Clark Myers is director of the Office of Vocation, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, Ky.
1 1987: 122,104 active elders 2007: 95,112 active elders (provided by PCUSA Office of Research Services)
2 see www.pcusa.org/pastorselders/
