While not a traditional leadership site, Simply Youth Ministry offers the occasional leadership article within the framework of youth ministry. This article by Vince Beresford highlights three myths most youth leaders have about the purpose of their leadership. I have brought this article into our discussion because I think these principles can be applied to all forms of ministry leadership:
1) Youth leadership is about trying to have all of the answers rather than training to ask the right questions, in the right context at the right time.
I would take this a step further and say that this “answers versus questions” principle is one that can be a part of one’s philosophy of ministry, how one does and thinks about ministry. We cannot expect success or sustainability in leadership without a clear philosophy and vision.
2) Youth leadership is about trying to complete goals rather than training to be a cultural and environmental architect.
This principle speaks to realizing one’s priorities and actual role. He’s calling out youth leaders who are missing the point.
3) Youth ministry is about trying to create a place where students fellowship and are discipled rather than creating a place where students can belong before they believe.
Beresford is discussing a change in culture (postmodern culture in the church is a switch from the dynamic of believe-behave-belong, to belong-behave-believe). Effective leadership requires being aware of your surroundings and the culture of your settings.
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ReplyDeleteAmy, this quote is brilliant. “Postmodern culture in the church is a switch from the dynamic of believe-behave-belong, to belong-behave-believe.” Of course this isn’t something specific to the church but likely could be said across many disciplines of today’s culture. This is less the central point, so consider on your own if you agree or not.
ReplyDeleteI think that this piece of the post provides a new light by which the church can begin to understand several aspects central to the church; church growth, and the spiritual growth of individuals and the congregational church happen in the same way.
Whether or not belief comes after behavior changes, I’m not yet certain. It seems to me clear that belonging is certainly a first step, if for no other reason than it is a deep longing of the soul to belong. The same can’t be said about behaving, in fact the opposite is more likely true. And I’m not sure that people long to believe in something, I think they simply do believe. Belief is something that can be completely internal, though belonging is dependent on others at least as much as oneself.