June 24, 2020

4 Leadership Reminders for Pastors as Church Re-Openings Begin

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A few emerging people-dynamics play more like a familiar tune than an indie sensation

“I can’t believe you’d put your need to reopen ahead of the safety of your congregation. Is this just a money grab?”

“I can’t believe you’d let the government tell you how to run our church. Where’s your faith?”

These and sentiments like them keep a lot of highly relational, keep-the-peace church staffers up at night. And if you’ve got a little people-pleasing in your nature, they’ll give you nightmares.

While some churches have already opened, most are knee-deep in, wading through the quagmire of what the pathway to reopening looks like. And now, many of us find ourselves stuck between the rock of figuring out what COVID-19 corporate worship looks like—and the hard place of communicating with our more vocal and sensitive people.

In other words: 

Ministry as usual, right?

As much as we like to say these are “unprecedented” times (and they are), there are a few dynamics emerging that play more like a familiar tune than an indie sensation—none more familiar, perhaps, than navigating the more opinionated and louder voices in the seats (6 feet apart, of course).

Here are some good reminders as we lead our people back out of their homes and into our churches—

1. Be Quick to Listen and Slow to Speak

When the verbal arrows fly your way, it’s easy to let those “fight or flight” instincts take over. And let’s face it: We’re all running a little low on patience these days—so fighting back might seem like a better option than withdrawing. But doing so will only escalate things. You’ve been here before.

So get ready to listen, and listen some more, and then do some more listening. People haven’t had an outlet for, what… 2 months? Their spouses and kids are sick of hearing it. And with the steady diet of media streaming into everyone’s consciousness while they’ve been cooped up at home behind screens, the flood gates are about to burst.

Just listen. And then after you’ve listened, say what needs to be said. 

And then get ready to listen some more.

Just listen. And then after you’ve listened, say what needs to be said. And then get ready to listen some more. Click To Tweet

2. Turn the Other Cheek

Ah, that pesky verse. Too bad it’s in red letters, am I right? If it were in black, maybe we could rationalize it away. Even better if it was closer to the front of the Bible than the back. But there it is—straight from Jesus’ lips.

While it might sound extreme, it’s true: If Jesus endured the cross for me while I was still against him, we can endure some criticism, misrepresentation, slander, and everything else that might (will?) come our way… can’t we?

And, sure: We’re more than just pastoral punching bags. But we should be able to take a few shots and hang in the ring with our people. We should model what it’s like to be men and women of character and grace under fire. We should see the critical days ahead as opportunities to show our people some of the more dazzling, divine, and beautiful parts of Jesus’ heart.

We should see every arrow as a chance to show our churches what it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus.

We should see every arrow as a chance to show our churches what it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus. Click To Tweet

3. Be Strong and Courageous

While this is a good reminder for all of us, it’s especially so for the more relational church staff and leaders. You’re often the first to take a step forward and greet, welcome, connect, and embrace (again, from 6 feet apart) friend and stranger alike when they walk through the doors. 

But just as often you’re also the first to dodge a tough conversation when it comes your way. 

When the relationship is put under some strain—or when you’re afraid of what someone else might think of you if you were to say what probably needs to be said—you’ll hide under polite, surface-level connection until the lay of the land feels a bit safer.

Do that in this season, and you’ll be exchanging short-term peace for long-term lack of health. 

Be strong and courageous. We’re human beings; we all reach breaking points and say stupid things, or say the right things in stupid ways. That’s why the body of Christ exists—and why leaders exist. When you see sin creep into someone’s heart and out through their words or actions, you have a responsibility as a leader, shepherd, and fellow Jesus-follower to lovingly but confidently call them out.

Choose to want spiritual health for someone over approval from someone. Be strong and courageous.

Choose to want spiritual health for someone over approval from someone. Be strong and courageous. Click To Tweet

Finally: 

4. Speak the Truth in Love—with Gentleness and Respect

Paul lived long enough to see some stuff, didn’t he? All those churches he planted… I bet he saw it all. A close second might be Peter, who by the end of his life embodied the challenge Jesus gave him post-resurrection to “feed my sheep.”

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul casts a vision for how he’s seen the church start to be built up —and conversely, what keeps a church stuck. In Chapter 4, it’s speaking the truth in love  as an antidote for being “blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

Seems to be a lot of that going around in these COVID-19 days, isn’t there?

But you have to speak the truth in love. Say what needs to be said—but say it from a place of truly, genuinely, sacrificially loving the people to whom you are saying. Want something for them, not from them. Not because you want to win, but because you want them to win. 

And then… let the chips fall where they may. 

Say what needs to be said—but say it from a place of truly, genuinely, sacrificially loving the people to whom you are saying. Click To Tweet

That’s how people grow up. It’s how health takes root. Pretty soon, you won’t be the “voice in the wilderness.” You’ll be one of a chorus of leaders helping the whole church back on the path to the new normal.

Likewise, Peter encourages his people to respond to those who cause them to suffer for doing good with gentleness and respect. Gentleness and respect.

Gentleness and respect.

Maybe I’m repeating that a third time for my own sake. But I’m guessing that more than a few of us are getting to the point where we just want to vent like everyone else gets to vent.

Peter says: respond. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be frightened. Be prepared to give an answer. Jesus is Lord; he’s still on the throne. But do so with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that…

Those same people might be ashamed of their arrow-flinging, come to their senses, make amends, and get back to what we were doing before these last two months sent us into our homes:

Getting back into the same room, worshiping God, and sharing with the watching world what he’s done for us in Jesus.

Jesse Tink

Jesse is the Pastor of Campus Development at Prairie Lakes Church, which currently spans across six campuses in northeastern and central Iowa. He’s served in various roles including college, music, production, teaching, and senior leadership. Jesse has led teams in urban, suburban, and rural locations, from campuses of 50 to 1500. Married to Erin, they have their son, Jude, and their daughter, Ellie. He’s outside in the colder months hunting deer and turkey at their family-owned ground, and roots for the Iowa Hawkeyes and New York Yankees.

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