The Next Step: Staff

I am starting my fourth year as the pastor of Salem. In many ways it feels like a fresh start. We are past the chaos and destruction of the flood three years ago. We have landed in our new location. We have not only stabilized we are growing. We have a Study Committee doing the foundational research for a future building project. This is an exciting time. 

Over the last three years, we have moved forward simply by taking the next step. Now our next step is to form up the church staff. A church staff is a group of people working together to lead the congregation. Three places in the New Testament Paul refers to a “co-worker” in ministry (Romans 16:9; Philippians 2:25; 1 Thessalonians 3:2). The Greek word that’s used is “sunergos,” which means working together. This is where we get our English word, “synergy.” Synergy means the combined activities of a group is greater than the sum of the individual parts. As Ecclesiastes 4:9 says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil” (NRSV). Of course, Jesus showed us the importance of working together by calling a team of disciples to follow him and sending them out in pairs. 

Before the flood, Salem had several staff persons. We have been operating the last three years, however, with minimal staff, and we have not been meeting together regularly. We have paid staff for the office (Administrative Assistant), for traditional music (Organist/Choir Director), and for our facility (Building Superintendent). 

We need staff persons overseeing ministry and people in other areas such as contemporary music, discipleship, care ministries, outreach, and witness. While our giving has increased and our finances have improved greatly, we do not yet have money to pay new staff. Therefore, at least to begin with, our new staff persons will be unpaid. 

It will take some time to hire staff in all these areas. I have spoken to a couple of people already. Still, it is important to hire the right people rather than simply fill a position. Bringing together an effective staff team will create synergy, helping Salem accomplish much more together than we could on our own. 

Salem participates in the Healthy Church Initiative. In one of the books we are reading there is a good summary about the pastor, staff, and Staff-Parish Relations Committee/Leadership Board. The Leadership Board “no longer manages the ministries of the congregation or attempts to lead it. The board governs. The pastor is the leader who is responsible for the overall ministry and effectiveness of the congregation. The staff members, who are hired, terminated, and work for the pastor, manage their particular areas of ministry. And the people of God (laity) are equipped by the staff members to do the work of ministry…[The SPRC/LB] hold the pastor and staff members generally accountable” (Direct Hit: Aiming Real Leaders at the Mission Field by Paul D. Borden [Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006] p. 114). 

Please note that church staff are not more exceptional Christians. Paid or unpaid, they will not do anyone else’s ministry. Leaders are meant to equip the people of God to do their ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Bishop Will Willimon says every great reformation of the church has included the restoration of the legitimate baptismal ministry of the laity. Leaders help the laity to live up to the promises of their baptism. 

I invite you to pray with me for God to raise up staff leaders for Salem in all these areas.