youth LEADERs
Most churches talk a good game when it comes to LEADERSHIP. There is a lot of talk about hiring LEADERS. There is a lot of talk about training LEADERS. Often churches talk about hiring youth LEADERS. or rather they want to hire a youth pastor who is a LEADER.
But they don't really want a LEADER. They want a manager.
(they generally don't want a pastor either, but that's another post)
A few reason churches don't really want youth LEADERS:
1. youth LEADERS cause too many problems for the average church. They want to change things. There is no status quo for a leader except they consistently bring the future to the present.
2. youth LEADERS are disruptive.
3. youth LEADERS have ideas and dreams and they are motivating people to take action.
4. youth LEADERS don't just manage a department and put out the fires for which their job description detail. These youth LEADERS actually create problems and start fires, even fires outside their department.
5. youth LEADERS are dangerous and represent a threat to those who "lead" the church, or at least they are perceived that way by some "leaders".
6. Great youth LEADERS are extremely loyal and humble folks, however they tend to create problems by thinking of loyalty to God without understanding the ramifications for their supervisors.
7. youth LEADERS are relentless, dogmatic, and will settle for nothing less that the best case scenario. While some look at folks like Mother Teresa and see someone who is meek, mild, and a peacemaker, the youth LEADER sees as a role model for uncompromising, unremitting single minded vision.
Not everyone in vocational youth ministry is a LEADER. Most aren't. Some are just jerks in the name of LEADERship.
Churches value leadership until it costs them something.
I understand that there are good and bad things that come with hiring a LEADER. I know plenty of LEADERS who have messed up big time. I'm fully aware that here in the USA we have a very unhealthy, almost cultic obsession with LEADERS.
I'm just suggesting that churches stop talking about hiring leaders unless they are ready to accept what they are going to get.
But they don't really want a LEADER. They want a manager.
(they generally don't want a pastor either, but that's another post)
A few reason churches don't really want youth LEADERS:
1. youth LEADERS cause too many problems for the average church. They want to change things. There is no status quo for a leader except they consistently bring the future to the present.
2. youth LEADERS are disruptive.
3. youth LEADERS have ideas and dreams and they are motivating people to take action.
4. youth LEADERS don't just manage a department and put out the fires for which their job description detail. These youth LEADERS actually create problems and start fires, even fires outside their department.
5. youth LEADERS are dangerous and represent a threat to those who "lead" the church, or at least they are perceived that way by some "leaders".
6. Great youth LEADERS are extremely loyal and humble folks, however they tend to create problems by thinking of loyalty to God without understanding the ramifications for their supervisors.
7. youth LEADERS are relentless, dogmatic, and will settle for nothing less that the best case scenario. While some look at folks like Mother Teresa and see someone who is meek, mild, and a peacemaker, the youth LEADER sees as a role model for uncompromising, unremitting single minded vision.
Not everyone in vocational youth ministry is a LEADER. Most aren't. Some are just jerks in the name of LEADERship.
Churches value leadership until it costs them something.
I understand that there are good and bad things that come with hiring a LEADER. I know plenty of LEADERS who have messed up big time. I'm fully aware that here in the USA we have a very unhealthy, almost cultic obsession with LEADERS.
I'm just suggesting that churches stop talking about hiring leaders unless they are ready to accept what they are going to get.
Labels: youth ministry
posted by mark at
12:20 PM
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