What is Your Title?—Language Matters!!

When I began my official work on staff at my church, I was given the title: Director of Lay Ministries. I had (and still have) two problems with that title. The word Director—not a Biblical word nor concept. The concept of a Servant Leader…or a Host…or a Shepherd comes closer to what I think we really want in staff members in our faith communities—and mirrors Scriptural views. As soon as we say “Lead” “Senior” “Director” and the like, not only are we importing “boss” language from the corporate realm, we are stating (not simply implying) that the person holding the title Directs all things…is in charge of all things…is master of all things…makes all things happen (whether or not we truly mean that). Unfortunately, we also hire people who believe that their primary responsibility is to Direct/be in charge/master everything—in short, be the answer to all questions relating to that ministry effort. As a result, ministry only expands and grows at the rate that that single person can “manage”—instead of exponentially as Jesus intended.

As church staff/ministry leaders, we are told in Scripture that our job as leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds/pastors, teachers) is “to equip” God’s people “for works of service” with the goal of being a healthy Body of Christ/church and seeing individual transformation to maturity in Christ:

Ephesians 4:11-13 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the [shepherds] pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Jesus Himself gives the directive to Peter relative to the church: “care for” and “feed My sheep” (John 21:15-23). He never says “Peter you are now the Director of all things church. It’s all on you.”

If we are trying to send the message that whatever we do is grounded in total reliance on Jesus, empowerment and guidance by the Holy Spirit, not done in human strength or wisdom but with God’s discernment, then a more humble set of titles should be in vogue in all of our churches (and, dare I say, seminaries and denominational institutions). What about Catalyst for Equipping? Liaison to Families? Coordinator for…? Shepherd to…?

My second complaint about the title Director of Lay Ministries is that the “Lay” portion of that phrase is defined in the negative: the primary definition of “lay” or “laity” is “not clergy”. Whenever is it an effective strategy to define someone’s role as a “not”? Additionally, the title means ministry to the “laity” who are also “not clergy”. What in the world? WE ALL TOGETHER are the interconnected, interdependent Body of Christ, the church. WE ALL matter. WE ALL have gifts. WE ALL have purpose and calling from God. There is no hierarchy of “important” and “less important” (spend some time in 1 Corinthians 12-14 where Paul is literally tirading against elevating any role/title/gift/person over another!!). My other protest against “Lay Ministries” is that to most church people and certainly all or most outsiders, the words are uncommonly confusing. The number of times I had to define and/or defend that title are literally countless. If we are trying as faith communities to be more inviting and accessible, our organizational structure and titles must be inviting and accessible, too.

Over the past 24-plus years in this position, my titles have morphed from Director of Lay Ministries to Director of Equip-Connect-Serve Ministry to Director of Equipping Ministries and now to Catalyst for Equipping. My role and ministry mission are much the same—equipping staff to become equippers and the congregation to engage in meaningful service as part of their discipleship and growth to maturity in Christ. The title “Catalyst for Equipping” gets the better kind of attention—sometimes needing to be explained, but the explanation is much more life-giving and accessible and inspiring. It challenges those who still carry the title of “Director” to rethink. It provides needed confrontation to entrenched leadership many of whom still believe in a hierarchy of importance with a Senior Pastor at the top. Interestingly, Jesus never put Himself at the top…nor at the front of the line…nor at the Head of the table. He preached humility, servant-leadership, foot-washing, self-sacrifice. The last shall be first and the first last. Surrender. Reliance on God the Father.

We should do no less.

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for over 35 years. She currently serves as Equipping Ministries Director at her church.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.

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