Recently at a YOU Lead women’s leadership training, we had a panel of leaders answering questions submitted by attendees. Several past and upcoming posts address those and try to help answer them.
Today’s question is: "We have an existing "leader" that has no passion to be the leader of the WMU/WM group and it shows. but she filled the spot when there wasn’t another to do so-we are a small church and this "leader" has been there and takes everything personally. But she’s a precious lady…now for the question. How can we correctly and in a godly way get our out and new fresh passionate leader in? Again, small church and takes personally…HELP!
Wow, that is truly a tough one. Of course, we know the place we must start without question is on our knees!!! We want the best for her and for the ministry and only God knows what that is and how bring it about so that it’s all redemptive and glorifying to him. Pray with those concerned as well as personally until you see clearly the next step. Include this “leader” in the prayer time as well, at least part of the time so that she can sense your desires to see God’s best for the women in your church.
As you pray together, pray that God will tweak or restructure as He needs to so that His will is accomplished through this team of leaders. If she doesn’t see she needs to step down, here is what one of our YOU Lead trainers shared: Ask her, “What is your passion, and are you serving in the area where you are passionate? If not, perhaps you will want to remove yourself from the group while you find your ministry of passion.” If she considers herself the leader it may be difficult to raise the question “what is your passion?” And actually this is a great question for each team member to ask herself as well and in that way you aren’t just singling her out. You might even want to ask her ahead of time if she thinks all the team members are serving out of obligation or out of their passions and callings. (See blog posts for January 6 and 9 for more on “calling”.)
Another trainer who was at this YOU Lead recommends talking with the pastor or whoever the staff member is over Women’s Ministry (or Woman’s Missionary Union, missions group, etc) and receive their wise counsel. That person may have insight about this leader that the other women are not aware of. HeShe may also be a better person to talk to this leader about the ministry, her passion and position as the other women pray.
Obviously this is not an easy situation nor is there an easy solution. This is one of those times when leadership is just tough! But perhaps God has you in this place to be a catalyst for change and growth of ministry to and with women.
Resources:
Is God Calling Me, Jeff Iorg
The Power of the Call, Henry T. Blackaby & Henry Brandt
Beautifully Gifted: Equipping Today’s Women for the High Calling of God, Angela Bisignano
Women Reaching Women, Chris Adams
