I met with a young leader recently who works for a large corporation. He is sharp, energized, and a hard worker. If he were in a field I needed, I would hire him in without question. He’s looking for a new job.
He’s frustrated that his corporation isn’t moving forward. They aren’t thinking progressively and suggestions he offers for his department are quickly dismissed. He feels undervalued and underutilized. He realizes now he doesn’t want to waste much more of his career with this company.
While this is a secular example, I hear from young pastors every day in similar environments in their churches. They have ideas, energy, passions, and talent that are never realized to its potential, because of the structure or leadership of the church. It seems to be a waste of resources to me.
If an organization wants to be successful these days, it must learn to allow others opportunities to grow, learn, explore, and succeed. The pool of young leaders today will demand it!
What do you think? Have you been there? Are you there now?
So now I don’t serve anywhere, I have a secular job and am viewed as some kind of "Christian with a grudge" because I left a church with integrity…
My point I guess is that there is a real need for open communication between young leaders and older ones so that we recognise each other's positions and work together towards combining the good ideas to make a real difference
Didn't see this one until I responded to the other. I totally agree about the need for open communication.
Ron this is one of the reason I'm no longer in ministry. I understand the issues with youthful passion and ideas needing to be weighed against experience and I totally agree. For me, I’d been serving and working in a church since I was 19 and at the age of 29 I was still struggling to have my voice heard. I understood the ins and outs of this church and its ministries, what got me was that I was hired to do a specific job that was my skill set and then when I outlined the changes needed, based on hard evidence and my experience I was told that my ideas didnt count because I wasn’t on the 'leadership team'.
So I left because I couldn’t in good conscience serve under a leadership I didnt support because they failed (IMO) to truly trust God and serve him in faith.
Eddy, I'm sorry to hear this, but I understand. If you experienced a call to ministry, I hope you are still finding ways to express that, even as a volunteer. I'd love you to read my posts under the category of "Call to Ministry". I am working on a future ministry for people like you, who once were in ministry, but for some reason got frustrated, injured, etc. There are healthy churches and church leaders out there. Praying for you.
Well said! I'm in a similar place as a young leader now..
I hope you are still able to follow your dreams and develop as a leader. Thanks
Of course there's always two sides to that coin. I agree that too many times churches or companies can get too stuck in the past or not be willing to progress down a logical path because of old habits or structures. In those situations one needs to try and make changes and if that's not possible, then to move on. The flip side of that is that many times the exuberance and passion is coming from someone who hasn't been around long enough to appreciate the nuances of running a church or company. It's not that the idea or passion is wrong, but when tempered with experience the ideas and passions may be more valuable; and that takes time.
My company does a good job of being creative, yet at the same time can't get out of an old rut when it comes to compensating quality workers when they do quality work.
Absolutely. Good point Jon…as always.