I had lunch with a few of my West Ridge teammates a couple of days ago in a no-name restaurant. It was quite the surreal experience. Everything about the restaurant screamed 1970s…including the waitresses. One of them reprimanded me for trying to pour tea for someone else. (I’ll never do that again.) Oddly enough, they were playing Madonna music over the sound system. Like I said, it was very surreal.
As we were walking out, we noticed this display of business cards:
There have to be over 50 business cards on that shelf. Everyone is vying for the attention of the restaurant patrons. You can buy a house, get your hair cut and catch a taxi among other things. I guess we could call Sheila’s Beauty Salon to see how effective this advertising is for her business. Looks like she got the prime real estate on the front row.
I guess we can’t fault these businesses for taking advantage of some free advertising. And, honestly, I guess we can’t fault ministries in our churches for doing the same thing. At some point, though, someone in leadership probably needs to ask the question: what’s the priority message?
Here’s the reality though, it’s just easier to say “yes” to everyone. It’s easier to treat everyone the same. Only problem is that when you try to make everyone equal and attempt to treat everyone fairly, you end up with this cluttered display of business cards.
Regrettably, this crowded shelf of business cards is reminiscent of what I see in too many churches. In an attempt to be fair, churches are willing to be less effective.
- When we promote every ministry equally, nothing gets prioritized.
- When every ministry is treated the same, it creates confusion for people trying to figure out their next step.
- When we give everyone the same platform, it’s difficult for any of the messages to be heard.
The only answer to this is for leaders to be unfair. You have to determine your priorities, and give those ministries the focus in your messaging. You have to be willing to say “no” to many requests for platform time and bulletin space and email blasts. You have to keep the important stuff important.
It’s one thing when you’re in a 70s restaurant in northern Georgia and someone is trying to get you to find a new beautician. It’s a completely different deal when you’re trying to help people take their next steps in their spiritual journey. If your objective is to help people become more like Jesus…
Stop trying to be fair.
Good stuff Tony. I totally agree. Many churches are most active group in their communities but they’re the least effective. It’s all because we try to do everything at the expense of doing what is most important. Leaders have to figure out what to prioritize. Then beat the drum for those programs, ministries, initiatives, etc. The other stuff doesn’t have to be cut, but it doesn’t have to consume as much time & energy.
Love it.
Part of that prioritization is return on ministry. if you cannot measure the results you cannot tell if its working.
Fair is where you go and ride rides and eat cotton candy.
I cannot scream “AMEN” loud enough!
haha, Blankenship kills, as usual…
Bet there was big hair there, to go with the pulled pork BBQ. Hopefully, not on the same plate.
This is a prefect example of lack of focus- with too many choices, many people shut down and choose nothing. Or, any single message is lost in the clutter and noise of all the competing messages.
Love this post
Great thoughts here, Tony. last I checked the concept of fairness you’re writing about – giving everyone equal platform – isn’t in the Bible. One of the hardest lessons people in the church have to learn is that we all have unique giftings and just because we want to do something doesn’t mean we should.
My only caveat is that when we deal with people on these issues, we need to do so in love. As pastors and leaders in the church, we can really blow good people out of the water by not tempering our leadership with love.
right on. and lose those ridiculous card tables with a vase and sign-up sheet
Working through an organizational restructure in preparation for 2010 budgeting…this blog post could not have been any more ON TIME for me. Thanks T.
And cmon..you can name the restaurant!?
[...] Stop Trying to be Fair! by Tony Morgan “You have to determine your priorities, and give those ministries the focus in your messaging.” [...]
Brilliant!!
did you leave your card?
I dig that Tony! I have attended churches and worked for churches that had the buckshot approach to communication. They (and I will add myself since I work at such a church) believe that since we are 3,000+ in weekend attendance that we can offer a buffet style of ministry offering.
Can’t we just follow the manual in Less Clutter, Less Noise?
It is a major paradigm shift for large churches though…and I think it’s the busyness factor. The old adage that “if you aren’t doing something then you aren’t growing” is a thing of the past.
People don’t even want the plethora of offerings from their churches. I believe they want to know what are the top four or five things this church is doing and they recommend I do with my life.
[...] This from Tony Morgan was right on [...]
Tony–
Teach us then how to tactfully share with people their ministry isn’t as important or as high on the priority change as another?
Chad