When the People are Strong
“Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people!” I remember learning that rhyme and its accompanying hand motions as a child. Maybe you do, too! Perhaps you even practiced them as you read those words. Underneath the motions and the adorable rhyme, lies an important truth about the church—the church IS the people. Church exists for the benefit of and through the work of God’s people, bringing to life our sacred stories and naming God’s work in the world. Liturgy, after all, is the work of the people.
In my own ministry, I’ve pondered questions about people in every place I served. How many people are enough? Who is willing to step into leadership? How many positions are left to fill? When people roll off committees or desire to step away, are there any capable and gifted people to fill those roles? It’s likely that you’re pondering these questions too, either in your work at the local church level, or when working with multiple congregations. When the Good Friday Collaborative created our assessments for congregations and judicatory (regional) leaders, we held these questions in our minds. There is no church without God’s people.
Here are a few signs your congregation may be strong in the People category:
You can consider giftedness and calling when choosing leaders. The Apostle Paul reminds us that all people are gifted and all of our gifts are different and necessary. This doesn’t mean that every gift is best used in every role. You have the ability to discern whose gifts are best for this time, in this place. You can choose professional and volunteer leaders who are gifted and called to serve, rather than just filling a hole with someone whose gifts don’t align with the task.
People of all ages and generations serve in the church. You have a mix of people in your congregation: children, youth, young adults, middle aged people, and older adults. Churches strong in age diversity have unique opportunities to allow for faithful transmission of the gospel, the building of strong relationships across generational differences, and the ability to mentor, share stories, and learn from one another.
You make succession plans for leadership. Successful ministry transitions require succession planning. People are able to rotate out of their current roles, knowing that others are prepared to take their place. Current leaders are actively mentoring and preparing the leaders of tomorrow to lead according to their gifts. You have concrete plans to continue functioning when people need or want to step away. This applies to both clergy and lay roles, as well as professional and volunteer ones.
You have enough volunteers for ministries to function. You never have to look too hard for someone willing to say “yes” when the opportunity to serve comes their way. You find yourself with people who are excited about opportunities to serve, rather than searching for people to fill volunteer slots to continue an event or ministry. Your volunteers see their service as a way of serving God, not just filling a slot. Ministries are supported by more than one individual. Volunteers do not regularly overfunction in order for ministries to happen.
People are excited about your mission. Your people understand the mission, and they are excited about it and willing to share it with others. The church is a place where they would invite their family and friends to come and meet God.
If your congregation is strong in the People category, there are a number of faithful options available to you as you consider where God is calling you in the future. Depending on your results in the other assessment areas of Building, Finances, and Spiritual/Emotional strength, faithful options could include revitalized ministry, relocation, redevelopment, merging, yoking, and faithful completion. If your congregation struggles in this area, exploring these faithful options may provide new life for those already serving in the church by freeing them for ministry in new and exciting ways.
“Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people!” I’m struck by that last line: “See all the people.” In all my years of knowing that rhyme, I’ve only ever considered it to mean the numbers inside. However, I think it means something much more important. It’s a reminder that the people are the church. People who are free to serve according to their gifts are people empowered to do the work of ministry, whatever form it takes. They do this work not for the sake of the church alone, but for the whole world. If you finish the rhyme and its accompanying hand gestures, it makes it real.
“Close the doors and hear them pray. Open the doors, they all walk away.” As the people walk out of the building and into the world, they carry with them their faith and passions. Formed in their work and worship together, God sends them into the world to serve freely and faithfully, according to the gifts given them. Strength in this area of assessment requires us “seeing all the people,” not just the number of bodies in a building, but in the beautiful diversity and unique giftedness that allows the church to live into its mission.
Would you like to see your congregation’s People Strengths compared to your Spiritual/Emotional, Building, and Financial resources? Download our Congregational Self-Assessment or—if you are a regional leader—the Judicatory Leaders’ Assessment.
