Over the last couple of days here at TCC, I've met a couple of ministers who've had a hard time with their churches and/or their leadership teams. The good news is: both of them are still Christian, still married, and still in ministry - although they've been scarred by their experiences.
In this public context I can't say too much about them. One of them had good initiatives and ideas for growing and developing the church, and the youth ministry in particular - but kept being blocked by their leadership team. The other one was victimised by a few very vocal members of their congregation. Both left the difficult ministry contexts, but are now in different ministries with a lot more potential.
This just illustrates how dependent ministry is - dependent on other people's goodwill. Unlike a secular work context, a minister can't "make" anyone do anything. We're dependent on people doing things voluntarily - just because they want to. And of course people could want to be involved in ministry for all kinds in bad reasons - personal security, pride, feeling sorry for the minister... whatever. So the challenge for all of us is to get people motivated - by the gospel. We want people compelled by Christ, because they are convinced that one died for all, and therefore they live for him. (2 Cor 5:14-15)
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Hi Kamal,
Having been a member of a deeply divided Parish Council for a couple of years, I totally agree with your observations re the necessity of a good leadership team is assisting the work of the Minister.
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