Discouraged? Welcome to the Club?

Pastoral leadership in the 21st Century will be forever marked by the advent of Corona Virus, COVID-19. The virus is gradually revealing its secrets and hopefully its vulnerabilities. It certainly is revealing our vulnerabilities!  

It occurs to me that much of what I’ve written up to this point is based in the pastoral leadership of the common model of a local church. There’s a building, a pastor, a staff, and a small group of stakeholders. There are weekly worship services, Christian education and social programs, and committee meetings. None of that is happening right now – at least not like we remember it. 

Pastors are trying to keep those things going, albeit online and over the phone, with verying degrees of success. Gradually, either because of financial strains due to the virus or because of “out of sight, out of mind” apathy, giving is declining. All of this is frightening to the pastor since his family’s well-being depends upon a steady paycheck and because his self-worth is tied up with the impact of his leadership and preaching. The pastor desires to see lives changed because of his inspiration and churches grow because of his leadership. Therefore, a COVID-19 related depression is looming. 

The heart of the matter seems to be the matter of impact. When pastors have no building, no people in the pews, and decreasing giving, they start feeling very lonely and discouraged. This is the time to return to scripture and re-read the stories of the early church. Look at the journys of Paul. Consider his prison letters and recall that he was doing the same things we are doing now. His message was the one thing that never changed and he never stopped sharing it; no matter where he was or what the format. He was, first and foremost a witness. 

Perhaps this new paradigm will cause many social club churches to re-think there existance and imagine a new vision and mission. Perhaps, they will die. What will pastor’s do when there aren’t so many common local churches to serve? What will they inspire and grow, if not a building and programs? Can you imagine leading a flock of believers outside the building?

More to come . . .  

Give Him Your Heart

“What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a Shepherd, I would give a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. What can I give him? Give him my heart.” – In the Bleak Mid Winter

Verse four of this Christmas hymn came to mind this morning as I tried to imagine what to write. Certainly, it is not midwinter, in fact it is springtime. It is the beginning of the winter of COVID-19 in which I'm finding myself asking, “What can I give him?“

After 8 weeks of self quarantining and running church from my basement I have found it difficult to prepare for what comes next because we can only guess about that. What comes next? I've done my homework and listened to some of the best speculations out there. I have striven to lead my congregation’s leaders, and staff toward effective outreach, mission, and evangelism. All without a building.

If you've read anything I've posted here previously then you know I'm not all that broken up about losing a lot of excess building. However, it's a little hard to figure out how to maintain that building without the people who value it.. 

Since I have found more time to pray, I have frequently asked the Lord what He would have me do to secure the future of the building, grounds, and the body of people who worship there. In many ways it seems the Lord has been silent. So today I'm thinking, “What can I give him?” The answer is in there verse 4 of that hymn, “Give him my heart. “ 

As always, this blog is about leadership. Today's best leadership advice? Don't even be in charge of your heart. Don't be the leader of anything before you stand humbly, before your God and offer him yourself. Eventually, when it pleases Him to do so, God will direct your life. And you will continue to employee as His Shepherd. You will walk ahead of your flock toward secret pastures known only by the Lord of the flocks. There, you will rest while they feed and drink from the still waters.