Missionaries are commodities?

[Anonymous]

Old-Timer wrote:

Ironically, it was Pres. Packer who said explicitly that members are not meant to staff the Church but the Church was meant to serve the members. Unfortunately, in the heat of trying to run an organization, that isn’t easy to remember.

I think BKP has it only partly right. You need to be concerned with BOTH — serving the organization, and serving the members. Here are my suggestions, which I can say with authority, have worked for me in the past in achieving this kind of vision.

a) Co-missioning. When a member moves into the Ward, and wants to serve, take time to learn their passions, their skills, and what makes them feel fulfilled at church. Then, match callings to those passions wherever possible. Some of the fulfilment is calling-independent — it’s based on appreciation, achievement, etcetera in just about any context. Some of it is relationship based — working alongside people and enjoying the experience. It is individualized passion, and leaders who ignore it lead in the dark.

b) Kindness. You would be surprised the number of times leaders have been demanding and unkind — particularly to people in priesthood leadership positions. I have experienced it many times. Far too many times.

c) Reasonable expectations. Be reasonable in what you can expect from the members.

d) Investment. Invest in mentoring, and sharing your vision for what congregants can become — not just as “gods” or in the amiguous long term, but as individuals, leaders, or in character soon.

e) Empowerment. Err on the side of empowerment rather than control. Especially in a volunteer organization. And this may mean “interpreting the handbook” liberally.

f) Balance — be constantly judging the capacity of the people you lead, and what you think they can handle. Be reasonable in your requests.

As Max Dupree said in “The Art of Leadership” – when you ask someone to do something, make sure you wait for an answer. Didn’t we lose 1/3 of the hosts of heaven over this very issue?

[Author]

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