Book Review/Empowering Ministry
Book Review/Empowering Ministry by Donald P. Smith
Mr. Smith's book was a compilation and interpretation of surveys he created and distributed to hundreds of pastors and lay leaders throughout the country. He strove to show that empowering ministers - those who concentrate their attention on empowering others - are more effective than other pastors in almost every form of ministry. He accomplishes the goal with the book, which promotes empowering ministry in a very concrete way. Mr. Smith sets the book up as a series of anecdotes, examples and exercises. He takes the reader through the example, breaking down the points of the story to illustrate effective empowering ministry techniques. Citing the responses from his survey, his arguments are well made, and their substantiation through examples is thorough.
In an anecdotal style, Mr. Smith makes many good points. Among them are; "Who a pastor is makes a greater impact on the congregation than what a pastor does. Pastors are themselves the most important tools for ministry. Who they are makes possible what they do." Mr. Smith declares that the hallmark of a successful empowering pastor is one who delegates. It is an example of being a servant first as Jesus did, and also allows more to be done for the church. Other important traits contained in an empowering pastor's style include: leading by example, not being afraid to "lose credit" for good works. He explains that the goal of empowering should "respond(s) to the needs of the people with God's resources. Sensitivity to the needs of the congregation and training them to be participating in the success of the true mission of the church."
I agree with this statement wholeheartedly, although it is not always easy to accomplish this lofty goal, due to several reasons, not the least of which is a preacher's ego getting in the way, or the politics within the church, both at a local and conference level. I also agree with Mr. Smith when he states "True leadership enhances all relationships within the church community. It gives meaning to people's lives - their spirits are being encouraged and fed by participation." This is the kind of pastor I strive to be. I aim to be a strong leader who helps to empower the congregation, as Mr. Smith so aptly puts it in Chapter 2; when it "answers their search for meaning with a gospel that speaks clearly to issues they confront in their everyday lives."
Many people attending church today do so with the best of intentions, yet do so without maximum benefit. These are the people who attend but don't participate, who don't see how the church applies in their daily lives. They have come from many different backgrounds and life experiences where they might have been chastised for speaking up in an attempt to contribute, or, once having contributed been given message that their contribution is worthless. These are the people who need to attend a church where the atmosphere is one of encouragement in spiritual growth, a climate of loving support.
A successful empowering pastor will strive to create this atmosphere within the church community where all that attend believe that their contributions are not only encouraged, but are necessary, valuable and lovingly accepted. The author suggests that the successful empowering pastor will apply Tillich's method of correlation; "start by listening to the people because you begin with God's love for them in their concrete daily reality." Only a strong pastor can accomplish the creation of this type of environment. And he cannot do it alone. Mr. Smith suggests the pastor should put him or herself in an "integrating role" with in the church community.
Sociologist Sam Blizzard defines a minister's "integrating role" as a minister's "goal orientation or frame of reference to his work…it is the end toward which he is working in his professional relationships with parishioners, church associations, community groups and the general public. It is what he is trying to accomplish with people. " This approach ties together all the traits of an empowering ministry that Mr. Smith describes throughout the book. The pastor needs the contribution of many members of the church family.
Mr. Smith also addresses the three major sources of sustaining power in pastor's lives: an assurance of God's call, cultivation of spiritual resources and support received from others. An effective empowering pastor recognizes that to empower individuals or institutions is to ENHANCE their power, not diminish his or her own. He needs to love the people he serves, preach them the gospel and challenge them to service. The focus of a successful empowering minister's mission is always people. I thought that Mr. Smith's use of anecdotes to exemplify these themes throughout his book was quite successful
