Communications and Ministry

[Joseph Green]

I'm somewhat new to ministry and I have a question about communications.

I'm finding in the body I serve in, that other leaders just don't communicate unless you are talking with them face to face or you call them (and they answer) their phone. Occasionally they will return voicemail. If I send an email or send a text message, I might as well flip a coin as to if I'll get a response.

Is this normal?

Out in the "real world" this kind of communications would never fly, but it seems to be somewhat standard practice in the leadership body I'm involved in.

I'm trying to figure out where I need to set my expectations so I don't get overly frustrated (which has happened) for something that is just the norm.

Thank you,

JG

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Is this normal?

I think so. (Being 'normal'(average, common) doesn't make it right; no , not at all right)
Similar to what some of us/ many of us/ learned decades ago -- that a small number of people in a congregation does all the work and most of the people do nothing,
and this is so common for so long , they act like this is the way it is supposed to be .
(no, that's not how a living body actually works or lives or abides in Y'SHUA )

 

[tdidymas]

I'm somewhat new to ministry and I have a question about communications.

I'm finding in the body I serve in, that other leaders just don't communicate unless you are talking with them face to face or you call them (and they answer) their phone. Occasionally they will return voicemail. If I send an email or send a text message, I might as well flip a coin as to if I'll get a response.

Is this normal?

Out in the "real world" this kind of communications would never fly, but it seems to be somewhat standard practice in the leadership body I'm involved in.

I'm trying to figure out where I need to set my expectations so I don't get overly frustrated (which has happened) for something that is just the norm.

Thank you,

JG

Just what "real world" are you in?? I was an engineer for many years, and 50% of email communications were never answered!! Follow-up on telephone and then in person was absolutely necessary if you needed cooperation with others in the corporation. It depends on the individual. Some people are email people, whereas others ignore email and communicate via phone, but some don't communicate at all unless you are face to face with them. It is a personal preference of individuals, and you have to tolerate it by learning the communication style of each person, and accommodate their style. That is, if you want their cooperation.

Love your neighbor. Don't get frustrated that your leadership doesn't accommodate your style of communication. Be the godly example by doing for them what you want them to do for you. Accommodate to their style of communication. Learn how they work, and adjust yourself to it.

Hope this helps.
TD

 

[Ken Behrens]

As someone who has founded many ministries and helped in many others, I think the OP is absolutely right. Some people cannot survive in the real world, so they become leaders in a church, where they can kind of buy their way in. Also, there's a lot of people who simply buy themselves a ministry, without any call from God at all.

If they want to work with you they will answer. That is the rule. TDidymas is right of course, there are different styles, and you must adjust in each case. My rule is if you don't answer after my third or fourth attempt (the number varies with prayer each time), I will go offer my talents elsewhere. (And in point of fact, my wife and I are so busy in full time volunteer ministry, we must keep cutting back, and I am still working professionally in music ministry as well.)

Administratively, let's remember, church attendance has dropped from 50+% in the 1950's to 16% in America now, and less than 2% in many parts of Europe. The people have already made their choice and expressed what they think of the establishment and how it communicates the Gospel.

 

[Joseph Green]

I think so. (Being 'normal'(average, common) doesn't make it right; no , not at all right)
Similar to what some of us/ many of us/ learned decades ago -- that a small number of people in a congregation does all the work and most of the people do nothing,
and this is so common for so long , they act like this is the way it is supposed to be .
(no, that's not how a living body actually works or lives or abides in Y'SHUA )

I wasn't referring to the 80% that we all serve. I'm referring to the 20% who are doing the serving. Is it normal to expect very little communications if you are serving in that 20%?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I wasn't referring to the 80% that we all serve. I'm referring to the 20% who are doing the serving. Is it normal to expect very little communications if you are serving in that 20%?

Yes. At least it is common.
Prayer will improve this, and always helps.

 

[Paidiske]

I find it very common for communication in churches to be "behind" where it is in the corporate world. I suspect it's partly because in the church, we tend to pander to the one hold out person who refuses to get an email account (or whatever), whereas in an employment situation you can simply insist that everyone use whatever the preferred method is, so creating change is easier. Also, in churches, senior leadership tend to be mature aged people who are comfortable doing what they've always done and not keen to embrace change they don't see as necessary.

I do find it frustrating but I just have to learn what people do respond to and use that, even if I find it inefficient to have to call or send things by post (etc) instead of email or other methods for everything.

 

[tdidymas]

I wasn't referring to the 80% that we all serve. I'm referring to the 20% who are doing the serving. Is it normal to expect very little communications if you are serving in that 20%?

A couple of other things I have experienced:
1. Some years ago my pastor had been doing a Bible study in his house for men, and I went a couple of times when it was cancelled, but I got no communication of that, so they were wasted trips for me. He said he had an email distribution for that meeting, so I attempted for months to get my email on that distribution, but it never happened. I eventually got something else scheduled for that evening and quit going long before he stopped doing that meeting. Coincidence?
2. I go to a small group in which the host sends communication via phone text. But I don't use a mobile phone. I use a voip phone because I can't afford a mobile. Therefore I don't get their communications, although they do attempt to call me since they know I don't use texting. Pastors are much too busy to remember things like this.

I share your feeling of frustration. Lack of communication drives people away from church sometimes, as it also sometimes divides marriages.
TD