There are many different ways to “do” ministry. The most tempting, though dangerous, is to go it alone. The hardest, but most important, is “to give the ministry away.”
In one congregation I served in my early twenties, the number one rule on staff was “don’t steal ministry from the members.”
As a staff person, there was nothing worse than getting caught doing something a member of the congregation could do instead. Our job was to do what only we could do. In doing so, we honoured the gifts and talents of the members and we conserved the congregation’s resources by dedicating our time to those things where we could most make the greatest difference.
When we’re functioning at our best, the work of our congregation is carried out by our members, who take up ministry in the choir and as ushers, on the coffee hour crew and on the board, teaching religious education for our children and working to pave pathways for refugees coming to Canada. In this way, our ministry is blessedly bigger than my work or the work of the staff. Our ministry is what we, together, take up and take on.
So, take coffee hour, for example. This time following worship each Sunday is an extension of the service, a time when the congregation engages one another in conversation, when we build relationships, when we strengthen the fabric of our community. Having coffee and tea available during this time is much appreciated by many. Yet, we struggle to find enough people to routinely help prepare these warm beverages and clean up afterwards. While many of us enjoy a cup of tea or coffee after the service, a small group bears this burden on the congregation’s behalf. To more equitably share this responsibility, we are asking everyone who attends coffee hour to take at least one shift a year in service to our community. You can find more information about doing so here.
Of course, coffee is the least of it. For VanU to thrive, each of us needs to help it become all that it can be. So, if you’re not already volunteering, I invite you to start thinking about your ministry—and of how you can to give it away by sharing the work with others.
In faith and love,
Shawn