The fable of the Tortoise and the Hare is centuries old… most of us have heard it (one version or another) and know the moral of the story…
Slow and steady wins the race.
There are a number of more specific applications, but the one that has been on my mind lately is the choice that church leaders often have to make between the committed person and the talented person.
You hear all sorts of ideological rationalizations one way or the other, but the choice does have true, natural consequences… real pro vs. con discussion points exist…
When I was a student minister (back in the Willowcreek heyday), I worked for a pastor who had such an intense commitment to excellence (as he defined it) that the commitment of potential volunteers was never a question… Consequently, we had to reschedule our worship team practice because our drummer got sentenced to community service on our regular rehearsal night… Some drug-related charge.
He was a really good drummer…
He did not, however, have any moral convictions regarding his sexual behavior or chemical addictions…
If we were a rock band, I can see where that’s none of the “front man’s” business, but we were a worship team… It bothered me then and it bothers me still…
But there are more subtle leadership shortcomings that get enabled in the church.
I recently heard about a musician that I know who is being elevated to a place of leadership in his church. Other members of that team are concerned because he has a history of being late, skipping practice and skipping Sundays that he is scheduled to play. No one can remember the last time he came to church when he wasn’t playing in the band. Nonetheless, the leadership is giving him more responsibility…
Because he can really rock.
This is the kind of leadership decision that has the potential to fail on its own merit, leaving the church looking around one Sunday morning for someone to lead worship. But the worst problem is the message that it sends to rest of the team…
I’d like to see this leader hold his team accountable for being at rehearsal…
The most likely failure of this leader will be the inability to really lead. Most leadership experts agree that leadership has more to do with a person’s commitment than his talent… This is particularly true of creative types…
But we see this in a LOT in church and in Christian marketing:
I see that you play guitar… why don’t you write a devotional book…
I noticed your beautiful voice… why don’t you take over our youth group…
You have a great gift for design… would you like to be an elder in our church…
I might be exaggerating a bit, but I’ve observed that this is a fairly common practice… especially when a church wants to secure the considerable talent of a marginally committed person…
I’ve known a few that stepped up at became good leaders…
But only a few.
What’s your experience and observation on this issue?
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