Rick Warren: Pastors Who Lead the Way
“Delegating is more than just passing off work; you need to understand what the task is about and what the person is good at, and then get them together.”
At Saddleback, they use the acronym SHAPE. You can read more about this in The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren. When you know the person’s shape you can place them in the places of ministry where it allows workers the freedom to accomplish their goals.
The fifth principle is “Time to lead.” Rick Warren states in this article, “One of the best reasons to delegate comes straight from any book on time management.” “We can’t try to be and do everything.”
He reminds the reader that as pastor that is our highest calling. Our responsibility as a pastor is to provide for the spiritual health and growth of the people of our congregation. Recruit people to do the printing of the bulletin and setting up the nursery. Delegating helps you in these areas.
He gives three keys that helped him delegate effectively:
1. Break Down Major Goals into Smaller Tasks.
2. Develop Clear Job Descriptions.
3. Match the Right Person with the Right Task.
“Delegating is more than just passing off work; you need to understand what the task is about and what the person is good at, and then get them together.” At Saddleback they have practiced this and it has been effective for them. The last principle is “A Leader’s Measure of Success.” He says that in “our ministry we have identified five purposes that God gives to the Church:
1. Membership
2. Maturity
3. Ministry
4. Missions
5. Magnification (worship)
Our measure of success can be measured as pastors, as leaders if these five purposes are in balance. Rick shares, “I have said it before, but it bears repeating: no one leader can give his all to all five purposes. It is our responsibility as pastor/shepherd to discern our gift and then select gifted believers (laypeople or staff) to fill those purposes.”
This article is a good reminder of the principles and practices that we most likely already know. In the burden of carrying out our responsibilities we can become so busy that we forget or neglect to use God’s people to help us in the work of the ministry.
Reviewed by Carl Halquist
Read the full article: http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200401/200401_20_pastors.cfm [available as of July 28, 2014]
Category: Ministry, Summer 2004
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