Rev. Joel Fitzgerald
I am good at noting my flaws. When I get done preaching, I can list all the things I did not say well and the points I left out. This is particularly acute for pastors. Pastors’ jobs involve multiple different tasks: public speaking, fiscal management, organizational administration, staff supervision. No matter how well we do at any of these, chances are there is at least one job function we fall short.
In August, the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan partnered with Lake Louise Christian Community’s Clergy Family Camp to offer a Gallup Strengths seminar. Gallup Strengths involves taking a test that measures thirty-four different areas. Those who participated learned what our top five strengths are, and how we can lead and live out of our strengths.
The point of Gallup Strengths is that none of us can do everything perfectly. It recognizes that we all have strengths and that it is easier to work out of our strengths than our weaknesses.
Dr. Colleen Stano, our facilitator, had a great analogy for strengths. Our top five strengths are the ones we carry with us; they are tools we use easily and without thinking. The rest of our top ten are strengths we keep in a drawer: we can use them regularly and well, but they are not always with us. The rest of our strengths are in a box in the garage. We have access to them, but it might take a little effort to get them out. The point is that we all have strengths, and we all can use every strength. Some might just come easier than others.
Gallup Strengths also illustrates the importance of teams. If I am working out of my strengths, there are some tasks I might need to partner with someone on. I may be good at making plans but may need help executing them. Or I may have been great at connecting with other people but need help making final decisions.
Strengths help us as leaders understand that we need not be all things to all people. We need to be able to know what we are excellent at and then partner with people and organizations that can fill in where we have less strengths.
The United Methodist Foundation of Michigan is committed to helping pastors and church leaders lead with strength and courage. Click here to see where we can help you lead well.
What I am Reading Now: Bivocational Ministry: Field Notes for Congregations & Ministers by Kristen Plinke Bentley. Bentley provides the results of research she did on bivocational ministry. While she focuses on Disciples of Christ, her insights and recommendations are applicable to many United Methodist Churches. As many churches grapple with paying for pastoral support, the use of bivocational ministry will increase, and Betley’s book provides a helpful framework for the various issues at play.