Caught in the Middle
How can staff members be true to themselves and follow a leader with whom they disagree?
Wayne L. Jacobsen
April 1, 1980
| have known:
-the helplessness of having something to share with the congregation and no opportunity to do so until the passing of time dulls the excitement.
-the anxiety of watching decisions being made that I don't agree with, seeing how others may be hurt by them.
-the anguish of self-pity that tells me my contributions are going unnoticed as I see people giving all their appreciation to the pastor.
-the frustration of hearing from a secretary that a decision I made two days ago has been reversed.
And I'm not alone. Anyone who has ever served as a staff member of a church has known the same feelings. The staff member fills a unique position.
He leads without being the leader; he pastors without being the pastor.
While I was responsible for the administration of the church staff, a conflict that apparently had been brewing for months between two secretaries came to my attention. I sat down with them to talk through their differences. Over a half hour period each of them expressed the suspicions, fears, and dissatisfaction they felt toward each other's behavior and attitude. When they finished, I laid out a course of direction to resolve the conflict.
One secretary didn't like my solution and appealed to the pastor. After hearing only her side of the story, he implemented his own solution without consulting me. I felt shot down. Why had I even bothered with it? How could I supervise effectively when my plan was so easily overridden, and my contribution wasn't even considered?
Experiences like this happen regularly. I'm constantly aware that many of the people I counsel would rather see the pastor. Even though I try to do my homework, many of my suggestions are tossed aside with little consideration. The ideas I'd like to develop ...
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