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January 16, 2009
Pastor is shepherd and organizational manager
The more time I spend the pastors the more apparent it becomes that many do not seperate their role as shepherd from their role as an organizational manager. In fact, most wouldn't even think to consider themselves an organizational manager.
In Business Before Pleasure, Jason points out that it's important to balance the process and the results. In Jason's world, fundraising professionals are trained to connect people with organizations and causes. Before a donor becomes a donor, he/she must identify with the organization you represent. It's easy to build relationships but never connect the person with your organization or cause. And thus, never ask for a commitment in time, talent or treasure.
"With a donor I find that sometimes we lean so heavily on making a personal connection that we lose the opportunity to connect them to our nonprofit. It is vitally important that we take enough time to know what passions our donors have are i.e., kids, family, jobs. I often find this is where the best prospect research happens. But don't forget to find ways to connect the donor personally to your organization. Have stories, quotes, or bring them on a tour, just make sure that they are connecting to more than just you."
The pastor must remember that while he is called to function in the traditional roles of priest and prophet, he is also the leader for a complex (complexity and size are not necessarily related) organization that he must lead in such a way that people are inspired to make commitments of time, talent and treasures. An organizational manager is focused on making connections with people, driving programs and activities that inspire and embody the values of the organization and ultimately ensuring fully funded budgets and long term sustainable ministry.
Sound overwhelming? Well it is. Though often ignored, it's a vital aspect of what it means to pastor a church. And that's the conversation we're having. So if you know someone who might benefit from this conversation too, please invite them to participate. We are all working toward the same goal: to build up the ministry of the local church to ensure the leadership and funds exist to sustain that ministry until Christ comes again.
Posted by bstroup at January 16, 2009 10:25 AM
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