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Greetings!
As we live into this typically hectic month, it is essential to be able to stay focused on our larger goals and objectives. This way we can avoid the trap of getting tangled up in those many tasks that seem so urgent while forgetting to tend to those things that are really important. So this month we will consider keeping perspective.
Enjoy!
~ Sharon
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Keeping Perspective
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 When we are fully immersed in the intensity of church ministry for an on-going period of time, our perspective can easily become skewed. It is not unusual to become overly invested in issues that actually have little consequence. This is generally what is happening when people are beginning to experience that everything they are doing is extremely urgent and of utmost importance. For the most part, that simply is not true. No matter what we are in the midst of... whether it is an on-going 'worship wars' conversation, choosing the color of the sanctuary carpet, or defining the strategic plan for the next 5 years, it can be extremely helpful for church leaders to find ways to maintain healthy perspective. Keeping perspective means the ability to see decisions and circumstances as they stand in relationship to larger, more lasting realities. It does not mean abandoning the current activity or conversation, but it does mean only giving it the attention it warrants. Though keeping perspective is important, it is no easy task. Here are a few questions that may help you and your church leaders regain a sense of Christ centeredness in their ministry.
- What would happen if the present conversation/decision was set aside for a month?
- If the energy the congregation is putting into the issue at hand was expended in another way, how might the life of the church change?
- Is the issue a matter of faith?
- How might you assist your congregation (team/committee/task force) to take the nonessentials less seriously and see the big picture?
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| Query for the Coach | |
 Dear Sharon,
I am tired of feeling like I am banging my head up against a wall! Back in May we decided to look at hiring a Children and Youth Ministry Director in the fall. I was excited that my church was finally making an effort to minister to the young people. But, we had a Leadership Team meeting early in September and we hardly talked about it at all. They just decided that we don't have the money for anything new and then we moved onto the next agenda item (which, was the stupid flea market that they have had every year since the beginning of time!) I left feeling disappointed but prayed about it a lot and decided to address it in my sermons and make sure that it was really an agenda item for October. At last week's meeting it happened again! This time someone told me I was irresponsible for even thinking that we could consider adding to our budget. I am furious because I don't think they were ever serious about the young people's ministry at all. And, obviously my leadership is not being taken seriously. I have been here for 8 years and I think I may have brought them as far as I can. I guess it is time to start the search process for another church. What do you think?
For Sharon's response go to Query for the Coach
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