The Downside of Lay Ministry -- Control Issues

One of the big motivations that drove me to theological seminary in 1976 resulted from my frustration with the ministry “glass ceiling.” It was my experience that in many congregations, freedom for ministry had little to do with one’s call from God, little to do one’s passion for the needs of the world, and little to do with one’s abilities, skills or “spiritual gifts.” Instead, freedom for ministry was enormously limited by those in control, apparently only to maintain control – to avoid congregational messiness.

So I imagined how one might become a sort of ministry “Trojan Horse.” I imagined sneaking into the ordination process in the middle of the night, so that once inside the gates and walls, I could open the gates while the institution slept, and let my friends in to take over the city, winning the struggle for freedom for lay ministry.

That motivation stayed with me over the years. So perhaps it is not a surprise that my work with and observation of congregations -- both Episcopal and evangelical – still convinces me there is an inverse relationship between control by rectors and senior pastors and ministry participation by both staff and members. Micromanagement not only fails to enhance and encourage the imaginative, expanding ministries, especially lay ministries, it freezes it out, limits it, dampens it, suffocates it

Over the years I’ve talked with many ministry leaders, lay and ordained, who came to ask how our congregations were inspired to create some really amazing ministries. “What did you do,” they ask, to make this happen?” My answer: “Nothing. I have no idea how to create or inspire imaginative ministries. I just refuse to quench the Spirit by controlling them.”

Believe, me, the Spirit will capture the imaginations of individuals, and things will happen – if you just won’t give into the temptation to micromanage.

Hilariously, their next question often is, "but how do we control what happens?" My answer is, "I just told you… you DON’T! You have to choose between controlling things and letting things happen. You can’t have both."

They then ask, "but won't people sometimes do the wrong ministries… or not do it right? What if people complain that a ministry springs up to focus on Need X while nobody is focusing on Need Y?”

My response is two fold: “First, if the Spirit let that group to focus on Need X, that’s the Spirit’s initiative, not mine. Go as God, not me! And second, if you’re aware of Need Y, while that other group is focusing on Need X – could it possibly be that the Spirit is calling YOU to do something about Need Y? Instead of complaining about that other group is NOT doing, why not applaud what they ARE doing, and follow their example by focusing on a need that YOU see?”

The Lord be with you!