Leading Through the Chaos
For some in our community, it might appear that our church is in a somewhat vulnerable and chaotic state. Due to some life circumstances, our senior pastor is more or less on a leave of absence. He has hopes of getting back into more of a “normal” routine in the near future. But, in the meantime, our church needs to continue to push forward.
As an associate pastor, there is a fine line between leading the church through this time and stepping on the toes of the senior leader. Decisions have to be made and we need to continue planning for the future. However, we also need to be sensitive to the needs of our pastor. So, how does one continue leading and helping the church move forward during a somewhat chaotic time?
That’s a question I’m learning to answer day by day. First and foremost, I believe my role is to provide some consistency and stability. Having a familiar face and a voice to lead through the absence of a leader is essential. If we were to have different people leading us through each week people would maybe have the impression that we’re simply trying to keep the ship together as it sinks to the bottom. So, I have done my best to fill the gaps and be as present as I can be.
I also believe part of my role is to keep our leaders informed, motivated, and encouraged during this time. So many of us feel like we really don’t know what’s going on when times are good. During a season such as this, many leaders may feel even further out of the loop. Getting our leaders together for some honest dialogue has proven to be good for business. Reminding our leaders about the mission and vision of the church helps motivate and encourage them to lead their ministry areas forward. The church needs to continue being the church…no matter who is leading.
Now, when it comes to the area of worship and advanced planning for teaching series, I get a little nervous that I might step on toes. I believe that our congregation needs to know what they can expect and look forward to in the weeks and months to come. I recently put a series together that will begin after Easter. It’s something that I believe God has laid on my heart as the next steps after celebrating the risen Lord. In putting together a four-week series, I might be getting into the senior pastors territory. I believe that he needs to be able to step in at any moment. Will he feel comfortable doing that in the midst of a series that he didn’t plan? Is this going too far? I’m not sure…In a time of so much uncertainty,I do feel that the congregation needs to have some concrete direction for where we’re heading. But, I also want to be sensitive to our pastor…making him feel welcome, able, and comfortable to jump back in whenever he feels led.
So, how does one actually lead through the chaos without over-stepping his/her boundaries?