Dr. Chuck Lawless wrote another great article on ThomRainer.com that I know you will want to read. Take a few minutes to read 12 Reasons Church Leaders Don’t Delegate. Now, let’s relate this to women’s ministry.
1. We base our worth on results.
If we are invested in a ministry that we have a passion for, we want it to succeed in accomplishing its purpose. Therefore, we might place personal worth on how well our ministry is functioning. To make sure it does well, we might hesitate to let go of responsibilities that really do need to be delegated. But how else can we train up other women to serve and lead?
2. We don’t really believe the body of Christ imagery in 1 Corinthians 12.
Have you ever tried to do it all? I know I have, thinking that was my responsibility. Or maybe it was pride. But when we function as the body of Christ, every single woman has a place to serve and use her gifts. If I do it myself, where will she find a place to serve?
3. We have never seen good delegation modeled.
I was blessed with leaders who saw potential in me that I didn’t see. They encouraged and even shoved me out on a limb occasionally so I could learn to lead. If you haven’t had this kind of leadership investment, perhaps you do not know how to delegate. Ask God to show you how to give away the ministry to women in your church.
4. We suffer from “idolatry of the self.”
Self-idolatry is ugly and we don’t like to admit it. But let’s be honest. When we think we can do it better than anyone else, then that is the label we must give it!
5. We don’t have time or energy to train others.
If you have children, then you know it’s much easier to make the bed or set the table yourself. The same issue applies to women in leadership. Sometimes it’s just easier to do it ourselves. But delegating a task or responsibility to another woman shows that you trust another person and it helps her learn even if she makes mistakes along the way. What better way to learn?
6. We like control.
Yes, really. When we can control the outcome, we feel more secure. Let’s keep in mind that God controls the outcome, not us. And if it’s His ministry (and it is!) then we must trust Him when we give away ministry to others.
7. We have had a bad experience with delegation.
Perhaps you tried to give away ministry responsibilities and you ended up having to do it yourself at the last minute because the woman you delegated to didn’t come through. Don’t let one bad experience keep you from trusting other women. Even consider giving the woman who failed another change to get it right.
8. We have no system in place to help believers determine their giftedness.
Many of us have coordinated spiritual gifts and strength assessments from time to time with women, but how many of us have followed up with a discussion on the findings and where God might want to plug them in according to how He has gifted and created them? Let’s go beyond discovery to development and use of those gifts.
9. Our churches don’t always see the need.
If you are expecting paid staff only to get the ministry job done, then you don’t really see the church as it was when it first began. In the early church, everyone contributed, grew, benefited and had relationships that went deep as they served together. Every woman is to serve somewhere not just those who get a salary to serve.
10. We fear others will do better (and perhaps get the glory).
If they do it better than we do, we must ask ourselves whether or not we fear they will get the recognition. As a women’s leader, can we agree to allow and encourage others to get recognition? Remember, it is not about us! It’s about equipping women and about Him getting the ultimate glory for anything accomplished in His name.
11. We do not see the vast needs of the world.
We live in a world filled with people in need. There is no way we can meet those needs alone. We must cooperate and serve together. We must invest in others so they in turn invest in others and ministry grows exponentially through multiplying service. There’s just too much to do before Jesus returns for just you.
12. We don’t pray enough for laborers.
We know that we are to pray for workers for the harvest (Luke 10:2) but that takes time and patience. God knows who should serve where. He is always busy preparing women to step up. How often do we jump the gun and ask someone to serve by default rather than by calling and passion? I’ve done it and I must say that the most effective leaders are serving where God has called and equipped them. Spend as much time praying as you do preparing!
Would you add any other reasons for why we don’t delegate?
Chris Adams is senior lead women’s ministry specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn. Learn more about Chris here.