Myth #1 -Why a New Youth Pastor isn't the Answer
Every week or so I talk to another church looking for a youth pastor. As I talk to the church's representative, generally a Senior Pastor or a "lay-person" leading the search, I have come to expect several things that are almost always true. "Almost" may be misleading though. Every church I have talked to so far has believed this myth and lived into it's subsequent behavior pattern! I say "almost" because I haven't personally spoken to all the churches in North America and I'm leaving the door open that churches don't always believe this myth.
Myth #1
If we just get the right youth pastor, that individual will lead us to a healthy youth ministry. The formula for this myth would be something like this:
Just the Right Youth Pastor = Success
The evil twin for this myth is: If we find the right youth pastor and he/she brings us the right program/vision then we will have a healthy youth ministry. That forumla might look like this:
Just the Right Youth Pastor + Just the right Program = Success
Of course success can be defined in a lot of ways. Because most churches are not very good at articulating what "success" actually is, it will lead to problems down the road. But that's another topic.
If things go wrong (maybe I should say when because something always goes wrong on some level) churches who believe this myth can only point to one reason. The youth pastor or the program/vision that the youth pastor brought us. (which still points to the youth pastor.) The formula for this?
Failure = The Wrong youth pastor
How might a church make this right? They get rid of the problem. And hire who they percieve will be the solution.
Of course by now the problem is a bit more complex. Aside from being simplistic it's goes a bit against what the church actually believes about faith and development. Maybe I'll find some time to unpack this sometime too.
The youth pastor, is rarely the answer to problems your congregation is having. don't get me wrong, I think that youth pastors cause plenty of problems for churches. Whether it be because they are immature, or undisciplined or they just do something stupid. But the real issue is generally not the youth pastor. (The church hired that particular immature, undisciplined youth pastor after all)
Rules of Systems Thinking being broken:
1.) There is no blame. Not in systems thinking. You can never point the finger at someone within a community without owning a part of the blame yourself. It's my experience that a vast majority of youth pastors are viewed on some level as outsiders to the congregation. I haven't thought much on why this is, but I'd be willing to bet that one of the reasons churches keep youth pastors at arms length (in almost every case subliminally) from being "one of us" is because leverage for influence changes dramatically when a church staff person becomes a percieved part of the community, rather than simply a staff person who loves the church. I will say that most youth pastors do actually want to be considered to be a peer to others in the community. Many (usually inexperienced youth pastors) believe they are "one of the congregation" and if the relationship changes to "staff person" it might accompany a great deal of pain for that individual rooted in feelings of betrayal.
The cure for this rule, lies within the churches relationship, and understanding of the youth pastor and more specifically, the individual you have hired. A book could be written on this one. So, I'll move on.
2.)Cutting a teenager in half does not make two teenagers. The integrity of decision making in your church is rooted in being able to see the whole of the interactions the church is making. This myth is rooted in the fact that most churches don't allow for many people to see the whole picture. They generally only see their part. Not seeing how everyone in the church is effected/affected by the youth pastor position and youth ministry leads to either reductionistic thinking (ie. A youth pastor will solve all our problems) or sectarian thinking (ie. The youth pastor will make the changes I want him/her to make)
3.) It gets better before it gets worse. That is to say, Often hiring a youth pastor actually works and seems to solve the problems the congregation has. Generally though, at some point in the future it will get worse than it is today. This is a particularly difficult point. The reason most churches believe the Myth that finding "Just the right youth pastor = Success" is because often in the short term it actually seems to work! A new youth pastor shows up and some of the success indicators for the church light up! Numbers may go up. Kids may be happy. Parent's don't complain as they get a feel for the newbie.
4.) All of these things within the local church are also influenced by (and also informs) the greater North American Church and culture.
What do you think? Have you seen this? Do you think I'm being overly dramatic?
Myth #1
If we just get the right youth pastor, that individual will lead us to a healthy youth ministry. The formula for this myth would be something like this:
Just the Right Youth Pastor = Success
The evil twin for this myth is: If we find the right youth pastor and he/she brings us the right program/vision then we will have a healthy youth ministry. That forumla might look like this:
Just the Right Youth Pastor + Just the right Program = Success
Of course success can be defined in a lot of ways. Because most churches are not very good at articulating what "success" actually is, it will lead to problems down the road. But that's another topic.
If things go wrong (maybe I should say when because something always goes wrong on some level) churches who believe this myth can only point to one reason. The youth pastor or the program/vision that the youth pastor brought us. (which still points to the youth pastor.) The formula for this?
Failure = The Wrong youth pastor
How might a church make this right? They get rid of the problem. And hire who they percieve will be the solution.
Of course by now the problem is a bit more complex. Aside from being simplistic it's goes a bit against what the church actually believes about faith and development. Maybe I'll find some time to unpack this sometime too.
The youth pastor, is rarely the answer to problems your congregation is having. don't get me wrong, I think that youth pastors cause plenty of problems for churches. Whether it be because they are immature, or undisciplined or they just do something stupid. But the real issue is generally not the youth pastor. (The church hired that particular immature, undisciplined youth pastor after all)
Rules of Systems Thinking being broken:
1.) There is no blame. Not in systems thinking. You can never point the finger at someone within a community without owning a part of the blame yourself. It's my experience that a vast majority of youth pastors are viewed on some level as outsiders to the congregation. I haven't thought much on why this is, but I'd be willing to bet that one of the reasons churches keep youth pastors at arms length (in almost every case subliminally) from being "one of us" is because leverage for influence changes dramatically when a church staff person becomes a percieved part of the community, rather than simply a staff person who loves the church. I will say that most youth pastors do actually want to be considered to be a peer to others in the community. Many (usually inexperienced youth pastors) believe they are "one of the congregation" and if the relationship changes to "staff person" it might accompany a great deal of pain for that individual rooted in feelings of betrayal.
The cure for this rule, lies within the churches relationship, and understanding of the youth pastor and more specifically, the individual you have hired. A book could be written on this one. So, I'll move on.
2.)Cutting a teenager in half does not make two teenagers. The integrity of decision making in your church is rooted in being able to see the whole of the interactions the church is making. This myth is rooted in the fact that most churches don't allow for many people to see the whole picture. They generally only see their part. Not seeing how everyone in the church is effected/affected by the youth pastor position and youth ministry leads to either reductionistic thinking (ie. A youth pastor will solve all our problems) or sectarian thinking (ie. The youth pastor will make the changes I want him/her to make)
3.) It gets better before it gets worse. That is to say, Often hiring a youth pastor actually works and seems to solve the problems the congregation has. Generally though, at some point in the future it will get worse than it is today. This is a particularly difficult point. The reason most churches believe the Myth that finding "Just the right youth pastor = Success" is because often in the short term it actually seems to work! A new youth pastor shows up and some of the success indicators for the church light up! Numbers may go up. Kids may be happy. Parent's don't complain as they get a feel for the newbie.
4.) All of these things within the local church are also influenced by (and also informs) the greater North American Church and culture.
What do you think? Have you seen this? Do you think I'm being overly dramatic?
Labels: Riddle Group, Systems Thinking
posted by mark at
2:30 PM
3 Comments:
Mark, you are so right on! I completely agree with you on how we put too much weight on the "right youth pastor" and not enough reflection on how we are causing the problem! Have i told you my story? I mean what you are discribing is exactly what i went through in my last church. Wow! I'll be home for Christmas maybe we can find some time to hook up.
BTW, I am using this entry in a paper right now! You are being quoted for a seminary assignment, how do you feel about that?!
Hey Becky!
I have not heard your story, but I'd like to.
Let me know how the assignment turns out.
Every church I have served has had elements of this to some degree. I don't really place the blame for this on individuals. Parents will always have their expectations and I see it as my job to help them understand the rest of the equation. That goes for staff as well. I DO hold my supervisor/pastor responsible for confronting unhealth like this though. Just like it is my job to do it, the pastor needs to be willing to correct expectations as well.
I have been thinking a lot about being a part of the community of a church lately. I don't think I have ever felt like that at a church I was on staff at. My wife gets very frustrated with me when we leave a church. She feels like I don't fight for my job. I think the reason I usually don't is because I don't feel like a part of the community of the church. I think on it more.
Love the series so far.
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