Why I don't Train Leaders in Malinta, Ohio
October 1, 1996
At this year's clergy workshop, a denominational staff person hailed the
virtues of lay ministry. He attempted to shock us with statements such as,
"We are in a post-Christian, post-Constantinian era when Christianity is
relegated to the sidelines of mainstream society and culture." Furthermore,
"If we clergy don't unleash the laity to do ministry, as the early church
did, then we will die as a denomination!"
Wake-up calls were quickly followed by descriptions of the cell-group model
of developing lay leaders. Clergy are supposed to select about a half dozen
strong lay persons to train as pastoral caregivers, outreach persons, etc.
What still echoes in my mind is the suggestion that if I don't do this, then
my small church of 80 worshipers on Sunday will die!
Of course, such leadership workshops are accompanied by great collegial
fellowship. We celebrated Holy Communion together.
Finally, we heard more about the growth potential of a ministry in which
clergy equip and empower laity to do daily pastoral care (and the pastor
remains available for crises).
After the final hymn of our two-day retreat, I drove home to the town of
250 people where I serve as pastor in the Lutheran church. It's nothing like
the environment I've just left. The lingering retreat aroma of fresh pine
trees is abruptly interrupted by the smell of a dead skunk in the middle
of the state route into town.
Still, I can't contain the excitement of what could happen when we implement
lay ministry in our church of about thirty families. So I stop to share all
my newly acquired information with the lady at the post office. A strong
supporter of my ministry, she is also my council's evangelism person. Upon
hearing the fiery excitement ...
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