Ecclesiastes 3
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
I had a question this week about a church tradition that no longer receives the attention it once did. While there are examples of annual church events that regularly occur with limited planning, organization or promotion my experience is this, if the event is truly valued by the church such chaos will be corrected the next year. Often some team of volunteers who run an event like a well-oiled machine pass on their leadership to another team. The results of such a hand-off are usually uneven with gaps and uncertainty and confusion. The next year is the tell-tale sign of where this annual event is going. One of three things will happen; 1) the new team will find their legs, the church will adjust to the new approach, the gaps will be filled, the confusion will end, and new life will come to the event or 2) some combination of the former team and new team will evolve and a hybrid of old and new will emerge that will rescue the event and a sigh of relief will come to the church who value this annual program or 3) the event itself no longer holds the attention and affection of the church and the reason for its ongoing existence has less to do with its original purpose and now is a creature of pure nostalgia and pride.
As a church staff member I can inject a lot of energy to the execution of an annual church event, I can help recruit volunteers, promote the event, make sure the organization is running smoothly by “checking in” with the leadership, in short I have the face time with the church to make something a priority. I use this resource with intent and try never to overdo the privilege. If I did overdo it the risk is people will stop listening, all calls for immediate action will be heard the same, in a world where everything is a priority nothing is a priority. If my analysis of the annual event is that we are dealing with 1) or 2) as described above I will move heaven and earth to keep this valued event afloat and alive so that an evolving leadership can “right the ship” and offer said event in the way people in the church are so eager to engage. BUT if we are dealing with 3) (see above) I see it as a palliative experience and I offer only the necessary care so those involve feel supported and the event itself can die a dignified death.
There is truly a season for everything and some events that are highly valued in one season live out their usefulness in another season. Part of the job for a church leader is to affirm this seasonal understanding and explain that letting some things go is not failure or somehow failing our ancestors. Previous generations of church leader also let things go and started new ventures. As long as there is energy for new events letting go of the old is not a worry. Again, as a church staff member with face time with the congregation my goal is to share a narrative that new life is still present in this new event or that one so that the church is aware that what we experience as God’s presence is not static or museum-like but rather blowing like a life-giving wind through our season and giving vision and energy to our existing mission.
My leadership approach is one focused on vision. I am relational and gifted in forming, maintaining and affirming healthy and growing sisterhood and brotherhood within the church. I try to understand the value of tradition and nostalgia, with limited success and less and less effort. And I am rarely emotive or driven by emotion. The relational aspect to my work is important but not as important as the overall vision and mission of what we do together. Thus annual events for me need a “reason to be” or they will slowly, or quickly, unravel and die. I am always on the lookout, discerning, the Spirit at work in existing and long-standing events and the emergence of new ones.
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted…