In one episode of “Thomas the Tank Engine” a new character called Duck arrives on the Island of Sodor. He’s a highly efficient 57xx class pannier tank engine in bright green Great Western Railway livery. Duck quickly becomes recognised as a really useful engine and is rewarded with a branch line of his own. Although respected by the other engines he always retains a certain aloofness, and is well-known for his slogan “There are only two ways of doing things – the Great Western way and the wrong way”
That slogan, with all its overtones of arrogance and superiority, is one that I refer to frequently. First and foremost it reminds me strongly of myself. We might also recognise echoes of it in many of us who are involved in the life of the Church in various capacities. That mindset ultimately serves to belittle, to undermine, and to disempower our fellow Christians who we might feel are incapable of fulfilling their lay ministry as well as we can.
The very first funeral that I conducted as a raw probationer Minister was at Wheatley Hill Methodist Chapel. The bereaved family had invited me to their house to pray immediately before the funeral, and I had left the preparation of the Chapel in the hands of stewards Hannah and Joyce. Walking down the aisle in front of the coffin I was overcome with horror as I realised that the trestles were not in place in front of the altar, and out of the corner of my eye I could spot them still neatly stacked at the side of the pulpit.
I vowed then that I would never again accept an invitation to travel with the bereaved family to the service. My policy, of which I was proud, was to be in Chapel at least 45 minutes prior to the service to ensure that every detail was perfect. Hannah and Joyce would prepare everything, but with me casting an eye over it all, quietly checking that they’d done it correctly. At the time I thought I was behaving in a most proper and conscientious way, now I am deeply ashamed of my lack of trust in those two dedicated stewards, and how my constant nit-picking and checking must have cruelly undermined their ministry.
The Duck mentality can be quite common in our Church communities, wherever people feel unable to delegate, trust, or include others, because of genuinely – held views that our way of doing things is the only correct way. Such a mentality can arise from the very best of motives, even among people who give an enormous amount of time and energy. But what a surprise we might get if only we invited others to share that ministry. Of course we need to provide the necessary resources and formation, and be prepared to patiently encourage and guide when things may go awry. Many people are just waiting to be asked to be included.
In 1995 the Bishop’s Conference published a report on collaborative ministry called “The Sign we Give.” They spoke of collaborative ministry beginning with “a fundamental desire to work together because we are called by the Lord to be a company of disciples, not isolated individuals.” If we want to see a wonderful pattern of collaboration we could look at Mark 6 vv 7-13, where our Lord sends out his company of twelve disciples in pairs to preach the gospel. Doubtless they couldn’t do it with the charisma and authority of our Lord himself. Indeed he even expected that the disciples’ success would be tempered with incidences of rejection and disappointment. However, our Lord empowered them, advised them, and put his trust in them, and he didn’t follow behind watching what they were doing and nit-picking!
The Adult Formation team are here, working with your Parish Priest, to offer any resources and practical help that you might need to empower others to share in your lay ministry, whatever it may be. We also promise to try not to act as if there are only two ways of doing things – ours and the wrong way – but to accommodate and respect the diverse formation needs of individuals and parish communities and groups, as we strive together in the mission of Christ’s church.
Jane Cook February 2007
“Delegation and Collaboration” Catholic Voice February 2007
In one episode of “Thomas the Tank Engine” a new character called Duck arrives on the Island of Sodor. He’s a highly efficient 57xx class pannier tank engine in bright green Great Western Railway livery. Duck quickly becomes recognised as a really useful engine and is rewarded with a branch line of his own. Although respected by the other engines he always retains a certain aloofness, and is well-known for his slogan “There are only two ways of doing things – the Great Western way and the wrong way”
That slogan, with all its overtones of arrogance and superiority, is one that I refer to frequently. First and foremost it reminds me strongly of myself. We might also recognise echoes of it in many of us who are involved in the life of the Church in various capacities. That mindset ultimately serves to belittle, to undermine, and to disempower our fellow Christians who we might feel are incapable of fulfilling their lay ministry as well as we can.
The very first funeral that I conducted as a raw probationer Minister was at Wheatley Hill Methodist Chapel. The bereaved family had invited me to their house to pray immediately before the funeral, and I had left the preparation of the Chapel in the hands of stewards Hannah and Joyce. Walking down the aisle in front of the coffin I was overcome with horror as I realised that the trestles were not in place in front of the altar, and out of the corner of my eye I could spot them still neatly stacked at the side of the pulpit.
I vowed then that I would never again accept an invitation to travel with the bereaved family to the service. My policy, of which I was proud, was to be in Chapel at least 45 minutes prior to the service to ensure that every detail was perfect. Hannah and Joyce would prepare everything, but with me casting an eye over it all, quietly checking that they’d done it correctly. At the time I thought I was behaving in a most proper and conscientious way, now I am deeply ashamed of my lack of trust in those two dedicated stewards, and how my constant nit-picking and checking must have cruelly undermined their ministry.
The Duck mentality can be quite common in our Church communities, wherever people feel unable to delegate, trust, or include others, because of genuinely – held views that our way of doing things is the only correct way. Such a mentality can arise from the very best of motives, even among people who give an enormous amount of time and energy. But what a surprise we might get if only we invited others to share that ministry. Of course we need to provide the necessary resources and formation, and be prepared to patiently encourage and guide when things may go awry. Many people are just waiting to be asked to be included.
In 1995 the Bishop’s Conference published a report on collaborative ministry called “The Sign we Give.” They spoke of collaborative ministry beginning with “a fundamental desire to work together because we are called by the Lord to be a company of disciples, not isolated individuals.” If we want to see a wonderful pattern of collaboration we could look at Mark 6 vv 7-13, where our Lord sends out his company of twelve disciples in pairs to preach the gospel. Doubtless they couldn’t do it with the charisma and authority of our Lord himself. Indeed he even expected that the disciples’ success would be tempered with incidences of rejection and disappointment. However, our Lord empowered them, advised them, and put his trust in them, and he didn’t follow behind watching what they were doing and nit-picking!
The Adult Formation team are here, working with your Parish Priest, to offer any resources and practical help that you might need to empower others to share in your lay ministry, whatever it may be. We also promise to try not to act as if there are only two ways of doing things – ours and the wrong way – but to accommodate and respect the diverse formation needs of individuals and parish communities and groups, as we strive together in the mission of Christ’s church.
Jane Cook February 2007