Developing Lay Leadership: ~

Any volunteer position that does a job from within the church is a lay leadership position.  All positions of lay leadership in the church are vital and important to the overall life of our church.  Why then are people often reluctant to accept a leadership role?  Our study group believes that some of the reasons may be

1. Fear of responsibility
2. Emphasis on what the committee doesn’t do rather than what they actually do
3. Unclear job descriptions
4. Some feel worked to death 

The following are recommendations that our group feels will benefit our church in the development of lay leadership.

1. Update  committee job descriptions - ensuring that they are clearly defined and understandable using plain language, and including the normally scheduled meeting dates of each committee if that is known. 
   
   Develop leader position job descriptions with regular duties and expectations.  This could be a general description for all leaders with any common duties or it could be specific to a committee or team and could be a part of a committee job description.  This task could be accomplished through the Teaching/Discipleship Ministry Team.


2. Communication – Go the extra mile in keeping the church informed of events and opportunities of service and ministry.  This could be accomplished through currently used methods such as the church website, email, newsletter and bulletin as well as through Sunday School classes. Placing announcements of important events including business meeting agendas could be distributed throughout the church in Sunday School boxes. On major issues or issues that may be controversial, representatives from the appropriate committees could visit each Sunday School class for explanations and the answering of questions.  We as church members should also commit ourselves to being in attendance at business meetings and other regular meetings of the church. 
    
3. All decisions should be committed to prayer – Whatever we do as a church, including the nomination of persons for leadership positions, should be bathed in prayer by the church.  When we, as a church depend more on God’s guidance and leadership, we will develop positive attitudes and build trust.  We will persevere in troubled times with the knowledge that God is in control and will carry us through according to His will.
   
   
4. Annual church Job Fair – The Job Fair is an event that should be continued and used as a tool for placing people in positions of leadership and service.  Committee members should participate in these events as a group, demonstrating their cohesiveness and positive attitudes about their opportunities of service.  The fair should be held at a time when the church is together on a Sunday.  It should be held throughout the morning so everyone has an opportunity to participate, possibly even during the Sunday School hour.  The Job Fair is a most important event for our church. Every effort should be made to promote this event.  The utilization of our lighted sign, e-mail, bulletin, website, newsletter, printed announcements for Sunday School  classes, personal visits to Sunday School classes all well in advance will enhance the opportunity for a successful event.
   
   
5. Matching gifts with place of service – Utilizing personal conversations or Spiritual gift surveys, every effort should be made to match a person’s gifts with the leadership position.  Having current information such as an information packet to provide the latest information about service and ministry opportunities should regularly be made available to all members of our church.
   
   
6. Mentoring – Those members with experience should be willing to share their knowledge and experience with someone unfamiliar or less experienced in a particular position of service.  Through this, a potential leader can see more clearly where his/her place of service might lie.  At the same time, he/she is being prepared to take a greater leadership role in the future. 
   
   
7. Fellowship – Fellowship should be part of every committee.  A committee works hard at the ministry in which they are responsible.  Setting aside a time of fellowship would encourage, uplift, and strengthen the bond among the committee or ministry team members.                                                         
   
   Hosting a new members banquet on a quarterly or semi-annual basis would also build relationships and encourage new members to join in a leadership position.  New members would meet groups including, but not limited to Deacons, Nominating Committee, Church Council, etc.  The new members could be given a list of ministry opportunities along with clear job descriptions as a means of information and encouragement to participate.  
   
   
8. Reduce the number of committees – By combining some committees whose duties may overlap or by eliminating those deemed no longer necessary, the church could operate more efficiently and create more clarity in ministry opportunities.
   
   
9. Education – The church should plan one or two specific training events each year for leaders, potential leaders and Sunday School teachers.  Specifically, a leadership training session through the State Convention would be used as an initial training course or as a refresher.  Scheduling a new members class on a regular basis would be used to teach basic Baptist beliefs and church organization to those who have recently united with our church.  This class would serve as an introduction to how our church is structured and how we do ministry and discipleship.  A new members handbook or packet including a current pictorial directory would be extremely valuable for new members as they come to know the church and as they consider areas of leadership service that matches their spiritual gifts.
   
   
10. Accountability – Romans 14:12 says “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”  Any church with a desire to be successful in developing lay leadership must have a sense of accountability.  Every individual and every committee or ministry team as a whole must accept responsibility for the ministry in which they have agreed to participate.  Our church has the right to hold us accountable for what we are charged to do.  So does God. 

These suggestions will be successful if we, as a church approach them through prayer, genuine Christian spirit, and common sense.  We contend that leadership and service should not be a burden rather it should be a joy.  When we see service as a joy, we will demonstrate that to others, creating a desire in them to join in leadership ministry.