The book is cut in two sections, the first concerns how to go about hiring a person for youth ministry. There is some good solid advice here for churches thinking of hiring (or replacing) a paid youth worker. There are dangers for churches who do this; primary among them is the temptation to simply hand off the youth ministry to the church's staff. He's quick to point out that the youth director/pastor is called to lead the leaders of the youth ministry... the youth ministry should be able to exist without its youth pastor. If not, something is off balance.
I wonder how long our church's youth ministry would survive without paid staff in these vital positions? How long should it survive without staff attention?
The second section offers guidance to head pastors as they seek to develop a healthy relationship and ministry partnership with the youth pastor. Again, good solid advice. It recognizes the particular vulnerabilities and passions a youth pastor might have, especially one who is younger and newer to youth work. Senior pastors would do well to consider the advice in this second section, and ponder how their own supervision and ministry to their youth staff could be improved.*
And this is why I picked up this book. I've been thinking about what I might have to add to this particular discussion about developing young staff people. What needs to be said, that hasn't yet been said with clarity, about how to create a ministry partnership that is mutually affirming, healthy, and discipleship oriented? I have ideas... but you'll just have to wait for the book.
*As an aside, I suppose it's possible to read criticism of my senior pastor into this paragraph. Let me simply say that my relationship with my last senior pastor was a gift to me and my ongoing development as a pastor. I am thankful for the years of time we had together before he recently took another position.
No comments:
Post a Comment