Why the church must decide if they will advertise their vaccination statuses

I’ve got my first COVID vaccination and will get my second jab in a few weeks time.

When I got jabbed I wasn’t required to for my current job but, as a precaution, I got the shot in order to ensure that I could undertake my final teaching prac (which hopefully will include some face-to-face teaching).

If I still worked for the church nothing would change - I still would be vaccinated.

For me, backing up what I wrote on Tiny Bible Bits at the start of July, getting the shot is an act of goodwill and compliance for my family, neighbours, community and government.

If you want to label me a sheeple, knock yourself out.

But, as things reopen in Sydney and around the globe, will vaccination status become a church selling point?

Will churches advertise that every member of staff, or each volunteer leader within a ministry, has been double-jabbed?

Will this be something that people will look out for?

I imagine, for the vulnerable - the elderly or those with youngsters - the vaccination status of those in leadership will be a matter of concern.

But, what do you do if there is a holdout?

What If a staff member doesn’t get the shot?

What if a leader won’t get the shot?

Do they get stood down?

Frankly, I have no idea and, thankfully, it won’t be a problem I’ll need to juggle.

But, it is an impending situation that is arriving at the doorstep of every church and ministry. 

I genuinely hope that the institutional church will bring down mandates “from above,” otherwise, a lot of churches, ministries, ministers and leaders will be greatly out of their depth in navigating the situation - without a denominational safety net.

How expanding your strengths can shift a drifting church

There’s an old saying that says if you’re not moving forward then you’re going backward.

It’s probably one of those “quotes” by Waldo Emerson that are in Quote-A-Day Calendars.

Nonetheless, if this quote is accurate, I wonder how many churches are, by default, going backwards.

The pessimist inside me thinks that there a lot of - at minimal - drifting churches.

But, when it comes to looking for ways to advance, there are two avenues which churches usually explore.

Old and New.

Do the familiar or try something new.

Either can work.

Either can flop.

But, I suspect that the former option is looked down upon.

Who wants to do the old thing?

But, if the other option is decision paralysis because the options are too daunting, then why not double down on what you know? 

Why not investigate your strengths and seek to expand them?

Do them better.

Share your knowledge.

Join with others.

Your strength can be a new shoot of growth elsewhere.

If the other option is to do nothing... stay stagnant... go backwards... then why not use what you already have/already know/already do to remain active?

Who knows, when you link your strengths with others, then they may reveal areas where you yourselves could grow in fresh ways...

Summer goal learnings

First of all... learnings is not a real world. I know. Someone should inform 2020. Learnings were everywhere...

Anyway... I may not be the greatest mathematician in the world, but even I know that 2 out of 7 is a fail.

This was the outcome of my summer goals.

2 Successes. 5 Fails.

But, in reality, there’s more to it.

Sure, I failed in my weight goal, but lockdown made going to the gym difficult.

I read a book and a half, which is short of my goal, but it’s more than I would have done otherwise and was directly influenced by the toll the Tiny Bible Bit audit took.

I did do a few medical tasks, but again... COVID didn’t help.

So, what did I learn?

Well, to start, I did still completely fail two goals. Such is life. These goals remain.

More importantly, I did make progress on a few very pressing tasks which I’d been meaning to do for quite a while.

Vitally, I did more that I would have done - no matter to what degree - than if I hadn’t made my summer goals.

Really, this is the point. 

Having something to aim at - even if you only achieve a few of them and make progress on a few more - makes a difference. It starts with enough personal reflection to make goals and keeps these goals before you.

Thus concludeth the learnings.

Why everything must keep touching on the corona

I’m sick of hearing about the ‘rona.

Maybe you are also.

I’m sick of writing about the ‘rona.

Yet, here I am doing it again.

For weeks, every Tiny Bible Bit has been linked to the virus or connected to lockdown.

Frankly, for me, my world hasn’t changed that much.

Sure, my eldest isn’t at school, but my ex is at home from work and, for the last fortnight, Hanna would have been on school holidays anyway.

Work wise, I’m busier than normal, being given additional work/tasks. In this way I’m very fortunate.

My study, which has always been done via distance, has only had a workload increased because I’m now doing a full-time study schedule.

While it’s inconvenient that my gym is shut, it’s not that bad and my church/small group interactions have now moved online.

So, why am I continually stuck in this coronavirus content loop?

Because this is the context the world is in. And, like it or not, this is the world that faith is currently being lived out.

It would be inappropriate and insensitive to ignore it.
It would be foolish to not learn the lessons from it.
It would be silly to produce nothing, depriving yourself of the reminiscing of, what is, a historical time.

While it seems that everything we produce at the moment, even incidentally, will connect with the pandemic, we must remain mindful that for some - many even - wading through our unprecedented predicament is a weight they need help bearing.

Everyone is not as fortunate as me.

And, frankly, not doing vocational ministry at this moment isn’t something I’m regretting.

The paid person must be the face of the controversy

Way back in 2010 I wrote a post explaining some of the advantages a ministry receives when it is headed up by a paid employee. 

One important thing I didn’t include was PROTECTION.

Alongside identity and accountability, when navigating decisions which may stir up controversy, the leader must be prepared to provide protection.

Because, with controversy comes confusion and/or pain.

And, if you’re prepared to accept money from a church to lead a ministry then you must be prepared to own the decisions of that ministry.

Even if they aren’t popular with everyone.
Especially if they are decided in partnership with volunteers.

A true leader will be prepared to wear the fallout of a controversial decision they were a part of or they indirectly oversaw. Better yet, they will stand in the place of those who are volunteers so they don’t need to face any blame or criticism.

No matter if it is within a church or community organisation, any body which runs on a base of volunteers, these unpaid people should feel valued enough by the employee (who is in a privileged position) to be protected by them.

For, with the pay check comes the heat of any controversy. 

They should be the face.
They should make the announcement.
They should answer questions.
They should be shouted at online.
They should stare down criticism.
They should hear and acknowledge any pain.

In part, this is why they are paid.

You must have a plan for the orphans

Change happens.
It is inevitable.
If you’re in leadership then you need to make decisions which effect others.

Any time you decide to change something, the consequences will create orphans.

Some won’t want to adapt to the change.
Others won’t be able to, completely beyond their control, transition to the new paradigm.

However they are made, some will become orphans since they will be left out.

These leftovers of a decision to change - be it a philosophical, geographical or chronological change - must still be catered to.

Why?

Because the orphans of any decision still matter.

Chances are, to some extent, they had buy-in to the activity they were involved in. They had a history. They probably envisaged a future.

Change, even a well-thought-out positive change, rocks the world of the orphans it creates.

And, if there is no plan for those adversely effected, then the message communicated to them is either... 

You don’t matter. 
Or...
There were winners and losers. You’re the later.

So, how is this avoided?

The answer is simple.

Have a plan for the orphans.

Even if that plan is to simply sit down with each person and explain why you reached the decision you did. 

This is far better than just an announcement.

Better yet, actually have an alternative for those orphaned by your change.
This shows that they still matter and there are no losers.

The powerful message of pronounciation

Earlier this week I wrote the following about the above video on Tiny Bible Bits...

John 10:3 - The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

The video below is from the broardcasters of the World Cup and has been making its way around social media in Australia.

In short it is about the importance of names, the significance of correct pronunciation and the effort required to get it right.

The hosts acknowledge, in a multicultural society, the honour that is shown when you ensure that you pronounce someone’s name correctly. 

Why? Because our names, and the people behind them, matter.

Jesus tells us that The Father knows your name.
He is familiar with it.
He calls it out.

Because the Good Shepherd not only knows the name of His sheep, but each member of His flock personally.

As someone who worked in a very multicultural denomination who’s churches regularly house multiple congregations spanning two cultural groups, I’ve seen a few people apply the message of this video to ministry.

The importance we put in learning and using someone’s name matters because it displays the importance they have, to us personally, within the church and as someone made in God’s image.

For our efforts to correctly pronounce a name sends a message - you matter.

This is true within the church.

This is true within the classroom.

This is true within sport.

There should be a guarantee to sit in the chair for 18 months

Leadership positions within a church transition.

Senior ministers.
Assistant minister.
Youth ministers.
Children's ministry workers.
Family ministers.
Pastoral care workers.
Secretaries.
Head elder/Chair of Church Council.
Treasurer.
Cleaner/Propert warden.

For any number of reasons there's a turnover of people. It's unavoidable.

But the timing isn't always unavoidable.

Ideally, for two vital lay-positions, their occupancy should go unchanged 18 months either side of an important change...

The chairperson of the leadership team/church council/elders and the treasurer should be established and committed while a church gets a new senior minister.

Why?

Because the new minister will need these two for a variety of information about the (true) state of the church and the culture of the congregation, putting aside any pastoral support these people can provide.

With these two offices assured, the new minister is spared the stress of advertising for a role, and potentially fielding questions, about a role they're somewhat unfamiliar with in that specific context. 

Furthermore, this reduces the workload and stress from a new minister if these offices are unoccupied for a period of time.

If nothing else, this assures any potential minister that a prospective church is adequately prepared for an incoming minister and that the key people in place between ministers will stick around in the immediate future.

Is your ministries' spouse your future killer?

Michael Frost has just done a series of blog posts about The death of suburbia and how this trend away from the traditional "American Dream" lifestyle might affect a church institution so attached to the idea of suburbia.

But I wonder how many ministries are married to something which, if not currently, then inevitably, will hobble or kill it?

How many ministries are so deeply invested in their traditions or structures that they won't be able to change, even if society dictates that it should?

How many churches would never shift their leadership structures or church service order no matter how backwards or outdated they might seem?

How many ministries won't embrace technology in order to communicate their message better or reach a wider audience?

How many ministries won't change the structures or activities which "worked in the past" or "got them to come for the first time?"

Inevitably, every denomination, church, ministry and activity has a set of values and identifying markers. 

The hard question is, are these cherished things the anchors which will eventually drag us down because we couldn't let them go once society demands that we have to move in a fresh direction?

Exit interview questions

People change churches. 
People leave ministries.

It happens.
At every church.
Big and small.
Time and again.

Some churches deal with it better than others.

Those who deal with it in the most mature and productive manner will have a system in place to speak with those who are leaving. Most often, this is done through a type of exit interview.

For those heading through the exit door, these are the questions I'd want to ask...

Now, these questions work best with a few ground rules.
First, the church needs to accept that the person is moving on. The aim isn't to try and "win the person back."
Second, all parties should want this to be an opportunity for learning and growth, not a moment for finger-pointing.

1. What's your first memory of xyz church?
2. What's your favourite memory of xyz church?
3. What are you going to miss most about xyz church?
4. When did you come to the decision to leave xyz church?
5. What, if anything, changed/caused you to come to this decision?
6. Are you going to a new church?
7. What drew you to that church?
8. What could we at xyz church do better?
9. What are your feelings about xyz church?
10. How could we, at xyz church, bless you at this time?
11. Would you feel comfortable if we kept in touch, and if so, what degree would you like that to be and how's the best way of staying in touch?

Does outreach or liturgy win?

Liturgy has a place in church services, especially if you want to connect with those who love ritual worship. 

But, I wonder how many, especially amongst ministers, value liturgy above outreach?

Sure, it might not be spoken aloud, but how many churches wouldn't shift their church service structure in order to cater to those outside their churches walls?

How many would move their church service time?
How many would ensure a baptism happens in the first third of a service?
How many would change their music style or song selections?
How many would change the furniture in the church building?

Or, does tradition win over outreach?
Does "proper" liturgy triumph over relevance?
Does form trump function?

The second generation challenge

I'm not, culturally, second generation.

But, in many ways, I am liturgically.

In my denomination, I'm the first of a generation free from foundational denominational allegiances.
I've been the first to jump from the established youth/young adult focused evening service to the more traditional morning service.
I've been the first to try and break into young adult and family ministry circles.

And, liturgically, these present many of the similar challenges which face those of a cultural second generation.

How do you move forward when you're entering something already established?
How do you make changes in the face of longstanding tradition?
How do you plot the next step when it doesn't look like the one that is treasured, yet unsatisfying?

These are the challenges that await those who are on the cusp of the next liturgical transition and must be kept in mind by those who minister to young adults and those who are the ministers and elders of a church which the emerging generation are breaking into.

The Nike approach

Just Do It.

This is what Nike has been telling people to do since 1988.

But, it applies to far more than just shoes.

It can also apply to...
Exercise.
Healthy eating.
Bible reading.
Using a prayer journal.
Using a budget.

Really, it applies to anything which you know will be for your benefit.

Why?

Because, while you're somewhat willing, you haven't yet mustered up the gumption to incorporate this discipline into your life.

Trust me, I'm a master at both procrastination and excuses.
You're too busy...
You're too tired...
You're too... whatever...

Really, all you need to be told, especially from someone you trust, is to... Just. Do. It.

Starting today.

Going beyond the Jesus example

Traditionally, in church, the answer is always Jesus.
Or the bible.

If one of these is not the correct answer then you've misheard the question or the person posing the query is greatly confused...

But, having Jesus as your sole example in a sermon may not be as helpful as we assume.

Why?

Because Jesus was faultiness and those listening have never personally seen Him nor are able to follow him around for a few hours.

Don't get me wrong, Jesus is a phenomenal God-man. Perfect even. I'm not bagging out Jesus in any way...

But, when giving an example of holiness, sacrifice, integrity, holy discontent, compassion, ect... if the ONLY example we present others is Jesus then, at times, the example might feel out of reach.

Because, let's face it, who can measure up to Jesus?

I know I can't.

And, if He's the only example you give me to emulate, then a part of me wonders why I should bother... (I'm fully prepared to admit that this is only me, but I suspect it's not)

A better plan would be, in addition to using Jesus, pointing to someone known personally by the congregation.

I feel, if they're able to associate your point with someone they're familiar with - having had a conversation with them, knowing their life-journey personally and being able to observe your point lived out - then the goal or holiness, sacrifice, integrity, whatever... seems far more attainable to those in the pews.

Do we let the worst chapter close the book?

As I mentioned as the seventeenth random thing about me, since I worked for the same place where I started going to church, I still have the sign in sheet from my first ever week at youth group.

My first week, I assume, was uneventful.
I didn't light a fire...
I didn't turn up drunk...
I didn't get into a fight...
I didn't swear at any of the leaders...
I didn't even openly heckle the "Jesus" thing they were going on about.

As a teen, I was a relatively unobtrusive kid.

But, this isn't always the case.

For some, they push the boundaries on the first week...
Or the first month...
Or once they turn 15...
Or when they start hanging with that "new crowd."

I know, for some, their faith journey starts pretty rough...
Or involves a pretty rocky chapter...
Or a few.

The longer that you're at a church, the more chapters in life you have the privilege to witness play out.

But I wonder, do we give up on some kids because they have a tough start?
Do we miss the redemptive story because we're not willing to stick out the rebellious spurts?
Do we rob ourselves, and potentially the young person, of the beautiful (and sometimes hilarious) story that unfolds and is joyously told years into the future?

Refining or shrinking

Gideon was a failure as a leader.

His numbers went from 22,000, to 10,000 down to 300.

But his army was not shrinking; instead it was being refined down to a number which God could use and be seen through.

In ministry, sometimes things fail and shrink. But not always.

Sometimes, God refines the numbers of a group down so a He can undeniably move anew.

The challenge is trying to discern between the two...

The Levels of Leaving

As I've written plenty of times before, longevity matters in ministry.

But, it's unrealistic to believe that you'll be at a church forever.

Every church worker is, ultimately, inly ever an interim minister.

No matter the precise timetable, there are progressive levels of leaving.

Open. Available. Looking. Legacy.

Open - You're not ready to leave, but you've achieved enough things that you'd look back with pride. Now, if you're dream job found you, you'd be open to exploring the option and possibly jump at it. Ideally, I wouldn't imagine someone would be at this point during the first four or five years of their placement.

Available - Now you've available to move on, but are more than content to stay. By now you've established a culture you're happy with and have an increasing awareness of any opportunities which may be on the horizon. Now, if a fantastic opportunity arises, they don't have to knock on your door, you'll give it a sniff. Ideally, I wouldn't imagine that you'd get to this point until you're seven or eight years in.

Looking - Once you've been in a place a decade, having cycled through a few generations, you might move towards to next stage in leaving - Actively looking. Now, while you'd loved to stay, if a healthy succession plan is in place, you can move to the next step freely.

Legacy - You don't leave cleanly, but - again, with a healthy succession plan in place - transition into another complementary ministry at the same church/denomination.

The hidden trident of anger

Those in ministry people get angry.
Within leadership, teams people get angry.
Within churches, people get angry.
At times of change, people get angry.

Over the last few days I've been thinking about anger and, importantly, the underlying elements within.

Usually, the core elements of anger are fear, guilt and blame.

Fear... Due to loss of control.
Guilt... Due to unmet expectations focussed within.
Blame... Due to unmet expectations by someone else.

When someone is angry, it's common that one of these three things will be bubbling under the surface. It's when this is discovered and discussed, then the anger can be dealt with far more productively.

Time doesn't heal all wounds

Get healthy... Stop looking at porn... Mend a friendship... Save a marriage... Find a job... Quit smoking... Transform a youth group... Reverse the downward trend of a church...

If you want things to get better, you have three options.

1 - Do nothing.
2 - Keep doing what you've been doing.
3 - Get active and do something different.

It's rare that number one, by itself will work. Time, alone, doesn't heal most wounds.

It's unusual that number two, if not already heading in a helpful direction, will solve the problem. As the old saying goes, the definition if insanity is to do the same things, but expect different results.

The answer to lots of life's problems lies within number three.
Generally, things don't get better unless you DO THINGS which enable them to get better.

Getting someone to the watering-hole

I finally get it.

I'm no longer 20 years old.
I'm not even 25.

I've just finished my study.
I've been married for eight years, having been with my wife for eleven and we have a toddler.

I have regular car payments to keep track of, rent to be paid and all my large bills are now paid by the month.

I'm old.

I'm now the guy who gives advice because I can remember "back in those days" when I "did those kinds of things" and can now reflect back on them.

But I can't make anyone follow my advice.

I, now, understand that also.

In fact, more often then not, I lay out options and warn about the obstacles which will need to be negotiated.

I provide resources which can make wise decisions easier.

But I can't, and many times shouldn't, force someone to make a decision.

For, the old adage is true... You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.

My job, especially when dealing with young adults, is to make sure that they sense the value in the water and ensure that access to the watering-hole is as easy as it can be.