Leading from Below?  How does an Associate Pastor or a Church Educator or other staff member exercise leadership?  
 

"I'm just an Associate Pastor - there's not much I can do to really shape things."  "The Senior Pastor treats me like a kid."  "I have ideas, but they never seem to be heard by the Board - they treat the Senior Pastor like God."

How can you provide important leadership in the church you're serving if you aren't the Head of Staff?  Or can you?

I have known a number of Associate Pastors and Church Educators (and Choir Directors/ Musicians and Secretaries) who have been key leaders in their churches - and others who haven't. What makes the difference?

Ben and Roz Zander, in their excellent book The Art of Possibility, promote "leading from any chair."  Ben Zander, director of the Boston Philharmonic, a top level volunteer orchestra, tells about how the 11th chair cellist of the orchestra suggested a different interpretation of the symphony they were rehearsing.  He considered and then adopted her suggestion.  The result was that critics were really enthused.  They tell of the violist in the Boston String Quartet who is in reality the leader of that group, not the first violinist.    

Their observation is that leadership can come from anywhere in an organization provided that the official leader encourages other leadership and that people step forward and offer it.  I think of a woman who was probably the most capable Church Educator I ever worked with; she exerted wonderful leadership.  But when a new pastor came, he didn't encourage her and use her gifts.  She got frustrated and moved to another church.
 
So, first ask yourself if you have any self-limiting notions.  Are you telling yourself that you can't do anything because you're only ... (fill in the blank).
 
Next, I'd like you to listen and learn.  Reflect on where you are in your call to ministry and what you need to learn.  If you are fairly new to the ministry, what might you learn from the Head of Staff?  What might you learn from key lay leaders.  I'll never forget the Chair of the Mission Committee in my first church out of seminary.  I was the number 4 associate on the staff - clearly without too much power.  This chair was an executive vice-president of a big bank and knew how to lead.  He always wrapped up a meeting by checking each person's commitments to action.  I learned.

What do you observe in the church's system?  Where is anxiety expressed?  What is the trust level?  Are there parking lot meetings after official meetings?  Do people criticize the Head of Staff to you?  How do people try to drag you into conflicts?  How do you handle your emotions?   
 
How do you contribute to building a strong leadership team?  I think of an Associate Pastor who was somewhat concerned about the closeness of the church's team, so this pastor proposed to the Head of Staff that I do a staff team building workshop.  It's really important for the Head of Staff to have confidence in your character and your competence.  So you need to meet with him/her frequently.  And if you are fairly new to the ministry, you can always ask that person to be a mentor for you.  Seek feedback and suggestions for improvement.

As you observe, what questions might you ask in a curious manner, i.e. wondering about something, not challenging it.  For example, if your mainline church has the sermon at the conclusion of the service instead of in the center, you might ask the head of staff to help you understand the rationale for that.  Be curious.
 
Find ways to reframe difficult conversations too.  Rather than immediately offering a solution to a problem you might lead with questions in order to find the question or issue behind the presenting issue.  So, for example, if someone is complaining about a particularly difficult person, you might ask "have you ever had anyone like him before and if so, how did you handle that?"  Or "is there anything going on in her life that she is taking out on the church?" 
 
So, can you lead from below?  Absolutely!  Most senior pastors appreciate a supportive, creative, strong associate.  Strong staff members strengthen the whole congregation - including the Head of Staff.
 
If you are a staff member and would like coaching on how to be more effective and grow in your leadership, I'd love to talk with you.  Call or email me.  We can set up a demonstration coaching session.

Carol Howard Merritt - Reframing Hope - Vital Ministry in a New Generation
 
This is an important book for boomers and (older) leaders trying to figure out how to lead in a culture that fills Sunday mornings with soccer, gymnastics, Starbucks, and a myriad of competing commitments.

Ms. Merritt, Associate Pastor of Western Presbyterian (in the George Washington University area of D.C.) explores how Gen-xers and younger adults are seeking deep spiritual relationships and using high tech tools (Facebook, texting, tweeting, podcasts of sermons, etc.) to maintain and deepen these relationships.  
 
She notes that "frustrated by institutions and weary from individualism, a new generation thinks in terms of creative, breathing, open networks.  We are reframing leadership and community, moving from competition to sharing, from the pyramid to the network, from creeds to conversations." (p 45)
 
Narrative is especially important because story telling - from scripture to one's personal story - can communicate on so many levels.  Noting that "In this digital age, we are still reminded that we need one another, physically and spiritually."  "Why are our congregations known more for fighting over ordination standards than for being places where we can learn to open ourselves to the still, small voice of God?  In our churches, why are our members more likely to learn how to put together a meeting agenda than they are to learn how to sense the Holy Spirit's movement?"
(p 115)

She suggests spiritual practices consistent with the work of Diana Butler Bass and other church renewal leaders - prayer, intuition, seeking spiritual direction, and coming to a new understanding of the meaning of money, seeking both spirituality and social justice.   
 
The Rev. Howard Merritt prods all of us who are a bit older to open our eyes to new possibilities of doing ministry in discouraging times.  She presses church leaders to change.  If we don't we don't, we'll resemble General Eric Shinseki's wisdom.  "If you don't like change, you'll like irrelevance even less!"

What books or resources have you found

• On Not Shooting Yourself in the Foot
• The Mistrust Tax 
   
• Links to back issues are available - email me if you'd like more information