During the original Jethro conversation, found in Exodus 18, Moses was confronted because of his unhealthy approach to ministry. He was feeling the burden and weight of growing responsibilities. Not only was he overwhelmed, but the people were going home unsatisfied. Jethro told Moses to build a leadership system with godly men to distribute the care for all the people through other leaders. He asked Moses to stop doing ministry and prepare others to do ministry.
My God-ordained Jethro conversation resulted in the realization that, essentially, I left the ministry when I became a pastor. In my identity as a follower of Jesus, I must always be a servant—never being above setting up chairs. But in my role as pastor, I am called to prepare others for ministry. And preparing others for ministry means preparing believers in the body to minister to each other, not outsourcing the ministry to relieve pressure.
Often I hear bemoaning from staff teams about the lack of volunteer engagement in their churches. Just as often, I have discovered that the problem isn’t with the people in the church but a faulty staffing theology. Hiring staff from a reactionary posture perpetuates an unhealthy dependence on clergy and fosters low levels of volunteerism.
Staffing Theology
The typical approach to ministry in many churches looks like this:
(Pastors) >> Minister >> (People).
Typically pastors or staff persons are hired to minister to people. The number of children increases, so the solution is another staff person. The number of sick people is on the rise; therefore, someone is hired to visit the hospitals. The number of counseling appointments increases; so another part-time staff member is added.
Sadly, the typical approach hampers spiritual growth. People who are gifted by God and called to serve Him are put on the bench as they watch the professional ministers or the newest staff member make the ministry happen. They miss the joy of experiencing Christ serving others through them. And instead of fostering a serving posture among believers, the typical approach to ministry helps develop consumers and moochers rather than participants and contributors. The typical approach hampers the movement of the church. The effectiveness of a local church is greatly slowed as people are taught that the majority of ministry occurs through the “professionals.” The scope of the ministry therefore is limited to the time and abilities of a few people. The typical view is illogical; worse, it is unbiblical.
The biblical approach is found in Ephesians 4:11-12: “And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ.” The biblical approach looks like this:
(Pastors) >> Prepare >> (People) >> Minister >> (Each Other)
Pastors with a biblical theology of staffing possess a deep-seeded biblical conviction that all believers are gifted for ministry, not just the “professionals.” Thus they invite all believers to engage in ministry and view themselves as equippers of the ministers within the church.
The implication for reactive versus proactive staffing is simple, yet profound. A church leader who views staff as an opportunity to equip believers in the church will proactively and strategically hire leaders who can build networks, equip others and mobilize volunteers. A church leader who views staff as people who “do ministry” will reactively seek to hire leaders when needs urgently or chaotically bubble to the surface.
