Here are some important words from R. Paul Stevens that I return to every couple of months because I need this reminder:
Equipping is not delegating. Pastors think they are equipping the laity when they delegate certain parts of their ministry to laypersons. For example, a pastor my not personally enjoy doing premarital counseling, so he may train several couples in his church to gain competence and confidence in spending five or six counseling evenings with a couple before marriage. In so “equipping” lay counseling couples, the pastor may feel he has delegated some of his ministry to laypersons and has helped himself immensely. Such training would be a good thing to do. But there is a better reason to do it than the fact that every church has more ministry than one person can perform: This ministry is not the pastor’s to give away but theirs by right.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Agreed. Seems like I read that somewhere, maybe around 1 Cor. 12? The leader?s responsibility is to bring out the best in others, period. He has many avenues to do this but that is what a true leader does. Great quote.
Oh, I like this! I really like this.
I like that Wade. I really appreciate that. I think sometimes I blur that line between delgating and equipping.
The converse is also true: delegating is not equipping. Equipping must be intentional. Equipping must include “training to gain competence and confidence”.
As I travel and work with other churches children’s ministry leaders I’ve seen and heard quite often, “I’d rather just do such and so myself. When I try to “equip” others, it doesn?t turn our right, go smoothly, meet my expectations, etc…” In fact, all these people have done is delegate tasks w/o the proper training and support necessary to see their ministry servants complete their work.
Truly equipped servants on the other hand become your partners in ministry and only multiply your efforts to create a more dynamic ministry for all involved.
Robert, now you are stepping on my toes.