God Bless the Ministers of AllTheThings

Few pastors are carrying out their same position in the ways they did in February 2020. But most associate pastors and ministers of particular demographics or specialized areas aren’t doing their same job, period. At some point during Covid, Ministers of Youth became Ministers of YouthAndChildren. Ministers of Music morphed into Ministers of MusicAndSeniorAdults. Ministers of Missions transformed into Ministers of MissionsAndFacilitiesAndWeekdaySchool. You get the idea.

There are several reasons this melding of roles happened. The pandemic prompted or hastened staff transitions. Congregations’ pre-existing financial anxieties ramped up when there was no in-person worship during which the plate could be passed. (Those worries increased even more when members failed to show back up as the sanctuary doors reopened.) And when Covid turned out to be more state of suspended animation than blip, it was hard for churches to shift into a forward-moving gear. All of this translated into congregations’ desire to operate with what they knew, and what they knew was that they had capable, committed people on staff.

And these capable, committed people said yes to whatever was handed to them. Maybe they said yes because they wanted to do all they could to minister to their people during a tough time. Maybe it was because they wanted to stretch themselves. Maybe it was because they were already steeped in macro and micro cultures of workaholism. Maybe it was because they felt like they had no room to say no, because they were not in charge.

Now, though, many of these Ministers of AllTheThings are wrung out. This is a problem, because some of them are in their first call and wondering if congregational work will be like this always and everywhere. Some of them don’t have the emotional and financial support they need, whether in the congregation or beyond it, to build more sustainable patterns. Some of them are asking themselves whether their position(s) will survive the next budget cut anyway, and as a result they are actively searching job postings.

Solo or senior pastors, for all the struggles they have endured during Covid (and these are legion), have had some degree of what many associate and specialized ministers have not - agency. Simply feeling like you have a modicum of control over your circumstances makes a big difference emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. So let’s think about how heads of staff and lay leaders can offer more say to the programmatic pack mules of the pandemic.

Actively support the creation of a pastoral relations committee. A PRC is a group of people that actively supports - and at times even advocates for - the minister. It is different from a personnel committee, which is often involved in performance reviews and budgeting and serves as an intermediary between the congregation and all staff members. When they function optimally, PRCs are the groups within churches to which a minister is able to bring both professional and personal celebrations and concerns.

Set the minister up with co-journeyers beyond the congregation. Even big churches are small worlds, and ministers need someone beyond those realms for accompaniment. Mentors can give advice. Coaches can help ministers strategize around challenges and goals. Therapists can guide ministers in addressing wounds in their lives. Spiritual directors can assist ministers with staying grounded in a relationship with God. Any of these kinds of companions could be helpful to a minister who feels overburdened.

Re-examine every piece of the minister’s compensation package. If a minister is doing more work, then more compensation is due. This is not just cash salary, it’s time away and professional development funds as well. Simply recognizing and rewarding a minister with more money and benefits can go a long way in helping a hardworking minister feel valued and empowered.

Communicate, then communicate some more. Disrupted lines of communication and connection have made everyone’s lives harder during Covid. Imagine that stress on top of exponentially more work. Prioritize regular check-ins with associate ministers as well as other staff. Ask them what they need instead of waiting for them to come to you. Share what you’re doing and even how you’re feeling. This can be a moment not just for helping second-chair ministers not feel so lonely but also deepening mutually-supportive relationships.

Get your minister some hands-on help. It’s time to stop staffing out of scarcity. Think about what God is inviting your church to do, and staff for that. In the meantime (and when the church is fully staffed once again), encourage lay people with bandwidth to offer their time and talents and grow as disciples in the process.

Bless you, Ministers of AllTheThings. You have done so much to keep your church going. Sometimes you might feel invisible, but rest assured that you are invaluable.

Photo by Ferenc Horvath on Unsplash.