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What role will the lead pastor play?
By elaineb | September 2, 2008
Obviously, only Ed can answer this question, but I think our discussion of what Ed “should” do, in our opinions, is a valuable discussion. We should also expand this discussion to the responsibilities and expectations of the elders and ministry team leaders. Here are some questions to consider:
Will the pastor lead the small group ministry himself or delegate? If delegation, how much?
Will the pastor/elder/MTL personally lead a group?
Will the pastor/elder/MTL participate in a group? If so, will the pastor’s family also participate?
Will the pastor/elder/MTL not participate in a small group at all?
We don’t need to be prescribing Ed’s actions, but it is helpful to consider what our expectations are in this area. Also, it’s important to define our expectations for elders and ministry team leaders (MTL). For example, I believe that Ed should have some involvement in the small group system: either through leading a group or simply participating in one, or by his family participating in a group. However, I think it would also be appropriate for Ed to delegate the ministry of small groups to the Relational elder and ministry team leader (as is the case currently). I believe that all the elders should either be leading a group or actively mentoring new leaders. I believe that MTL’s should be preparing to lead their own groups and/or actively mentoring new leaders. What do you all think? What kind of leadership should be exercised? What kind of involvement by Ed fits into the culture and community of Evergreen? Are standards different for elders than for Ed or for ministry team leaders? Should standards be different based on the level of leadership? And finally, are the names of Sarah Palin’s children really relevant to the current election?
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September 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Well now - we all know Chelsea and Amy, Ronald Jr and brother Billy! I think it’s about as relevant as if they inhaled or stained a dress for that matter! [Elaine, please note, THAT's how you include a controversial comment - LOL.]
So, about involvement in small groups: practice what you preach, baby! That’s really all I have to say.
IN MY OPINION: Ed and the elders have to be involved in some sort of journey group! I would never prescribe to include their families (that’s their personal choice). For that matter, I just choked saying elders HAVE to ANYTHING!! THis is *Evergreen* - you folks tell me I have to ANYTHING, I’m outta here, so I take it back - if they were over burdened, etc etc and really felt it was not for them then ok. But, really, if we are encouraging people to do it - perhaps we ought to practise what we preach.
No, MTLs don’t HAVE to be involved — there is a major schism in responsibilities and expectations afforded MTLs (now, I don’t see how you would become a MTL if you weren’t plug into a journey group, covanent groups, prayer groups, or something). But again - who’s making the rules here??
As far as I know, Moses didn’t come down the mountain with a stone tablet that said thou shall be in a journey, covenant or prayer group - lol …xoxoxoxo
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:03 am
Hmm… Beth you may want to read the story of Moses again. Read it closely and you will find there were actually 20 commandments but Moses could only carry 2 tablets at a time. Of course, when he got to the bottom of the mountain he got so angry he forgot the other 2 tablets
I have many thoughts about some of these topics that i am too tired to work out right now. I will try to come back later.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:06 am
Oh yes, the forgotten minor 10 commandments. They included statements like: Thou Shalt be a Pacifist, Thou Shalt Ordain Women, and, of course, Thou Shalt Eat Chocolate for Dessert Daily.
Beth, I tend to agree with you about the involvement of the leaders. But there are options to consider. For example, I think you could easily argue that the Elders are already in a small group: the small group of Elders. They meet regularly, they eat together, they vision cast for the church. So if we were a church WITH small groups, that would easily count as the elders’ involvement in a group. If we are a church OF small groups (ie, everyone is in a journey group), then the elders might need to find a more defined journey group, or make sure their meetings include all elements of the Pathways. (See last week’s post about OF and WITH).
It’s funny, because I disagree with your statement that family members don’t need to be in small groups. I think it might be more important for family members: it’s a way for them to connect with the community and maybe even build their own friendships outside of leadership. For example, I was friends with Vanessa prior to being an MTL because of the prayer group she leads. And through that prayer group she gets to know other people who aren’t in leadership. So I would say that spouses and children would benefit a lot from being in small groups, possibly even more than the MTL, elder, or pastor.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Oh I agree they would benefit - for the same reasons everyone benefits from a small group. I’m just against saying they HAVE to - heehee …xoxoxo
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Ok, I don’t have any strong feelings on this either - other than what Beth said in that there is some element of practicing what we preach. Not many people will listen to what we ourselves won’t do. I do think there are options way beyond what we now have - three people serving bread to the poor each week and sharing their hurts and pains with each other is a powerful relational group.
However, more importantly for me, it is really nice to be in a church where people, and especially leadership, still have a sense of humor (See Beth, Elaine and Neal above). I am very blessed to be in a church with leaders like this who are not all about themselves and who still know when to laugh in the midst of all. Thanks guys.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
A year ago, I would have agreed with Elaine’s suggestion that the elders (and families) “should” be involved in a small group at Evergreen. However, now I’m not so sure. For example, there are times when I need to talk through something that deals with issues with the leadership team or a matter of a sensitive/confidential nature. My journey group is not a good place to do that. My covenant group includes the wife of one elder and a ministry team leader…so there might be times when that’s not really appropriate either.
I tend not to distiguish between elders and pastors. As a result, I’m not sure I agree that only Ed can answer what the role of the lead pastor should be. I think maybe that needs to come from the elders in general.
Or maybe I’m wrong. That happens a lot.
Do we need to be building into people at ECC? Absolutely. Do we need to be transparent with people at ECC? To a point, yes. But, there might be a point in leadership when that needs to take place outside the community you’re leading.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
That’s weird. My 3rd and 4th paragraphs got switched when I posted. See, I AM wrong a lot!