The blessing and challenge of leading the whole
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:15 pm
Like Tim, I find it a greater challenge to “think flock� than to care for individual sheep. When tending particular sheep, I can easily take a responsive stance: listening and addressing whatever agenda presents itself. Although these personal conversations require me to give leadership to some extent, it is with the flock as a whole that I need to exercise the most initiative, creativity and vision. This is what stretches me and keeps me growing as a leader.
My congregation’s spiritual leadership team is responsible for the overall direction and health of the church as well as pastoral care for individuals and families. Especially in the first years of my pastorate, we routinely spent the bulk of our meeting times responding to pastoral care needs that presented themselves to us. To be fair, we did face a number of critical situations that required sustained attention - and which had a bearing on the overall health of the church. It was necessary for us to respond with our best wisdom and care - but in the process, we neglected our leadership to the church as whole. For a few years now, we have been more deliberate in giving first priority to flock questions: discerning and clarifying vision, experimenting with new ministry initiatives, calling and equipping leaders. We still give time to the specific care needs of individuals and families - but meetings seem more energizing and productive when we keep the larger picture in mind.
My congregation’s spiritual leadership team is responsible for the overall direction and health of the church as well as pastoral care for individuals and families. Especially in the first years of my pastorate, we routinely spent the bulk of our meeting times responding to pastoral care needs that presented themselves to us. To be fair, we did face a number of critical situations that required sustained attention - and which had a bearing on the overall health of the church. It was necessary for us to respond with our best wisdom and care - but in the process, we neglected our leadership to the church as whole. For a few years now, we have been more deliberate in giving first priority to flock questions: discerning and clarifying vision, experimenting with new ministry initiatives, calling and equipping leaders. We still give time to the specific care needs of individuals and families - but meetings seem more energizing and productive when we keep the larger picture in mind.