Church Leadership: Is it a Position or a Role Assignment?

I once heard about a lady who was given the ministry opportunity to direct the choir in her local church. She was obviously one of the most talented singers in the church and she knew it. She had experience directing choirs in college and she had taken formal training in conducting. She really knew her stuff and the Nominating Committee and the pastor were certain that they had the right person for the position.

It was clear after the first choir rehearsal however, that problems were on the horizon. Several people quit the choir after the first 15 minutes. The director had announced that anyone who could not read music should not be in the choir. After they left the room, she told the choir that she expected them to never miss a practice unless it was for a vacation (she expected two-week’s notice), an illness or a death in the family. She expected some of the sopranos to sing alto for the good of the choir and then made some unkind comments about their limited vocal range when they tried singing the new part. She pointed out several men in the bass section were slouching and rebuked some of the tenors for being a little flat on the high notes.

When Sunday came around, she was shocked to find that she only had three choir members left to lead in Sunday morning worship! She told the pastor after the service that the choir had let her down and she was appalled that people were not more committed to the Lord’s work. She was certain that he had been pastoring a bunch of carnal Christians and if he had preached more “hard sermons” on commitment and dedication, people would not be so weak in their walk with God and she would still have a choir. Then she promptly resigned her position.

Many people are under the delusion that in the church, we minister from a “position of authority” rather than from a role assignment that we have been entrusted with by God and others. Someone who sees their ministry as a position has certain expectations. He expects people to follow because of his position. If he is ever challenged, he points others to his position and informs them that if they do not submit to his leadership, they must have a spiritual issue.

When we realize that God has called us to be servant-leaders rather than positional leaders, we begin to see ourselves in a role assignment rather than as an authority figure. We see others as equals, and we become more sensitive and understanding of their needs, feelings and even criticisms. We seek to build relationships with the people we lead and seek to understand what makes them tick.

As you serve your class in the role-assignment of a Sunday School teacher, seek to build strong bonds with the people to whom you minister. It is a special privilege to share the Word of God with people on a weekly basis, don’t take it lightly. They volunteer to show up every week to experience your teaching. Let me encourage you to express your gratefulness to them on a regular basis. They follow your example in service and ministry to the Lord. Be sure to communicate your love for them. The best Sunday School teachers know that it is their love for the people that they lead that motivates them to follow and keep wanting to attend. It keeps the people of your class eager to participate in the work of the Sunday School.