More on Gifts that Tend to be “Looked Down Upon”—Pushing Against Gifts Hierarchy 2--Spiritual Gifts FAQs
[Note: This is part of an ongoing conversation with a thoughtful leader in a client church who participated in the two-part Your Unique Design spiritual gifts classes with other leaders.]
His follow-up question:
I think many church contexts would affirm that indeed, no gift is "lesser" than another gift: Helps, Administration, Hospitality < Teaching, Leadership, Apostleship for example. But in your broader experience talking and working with multiple churches and contexts, do you have any practical, more "on the ground" tips and strategies and concrete practices for that statement to be visibly lived out? I think the extent that I've seen this "lived out" is limited to, perhaps, one or several "shoutouts" from the pulpit lauding a particular person for their dedication and effort. Or in the sabbatical / departure announcement for a church member highly gifted in Helps/Administration, to throw a single "thank you/good bye" party with a few words and perhaps a bouquet of flowers, and a gift card. But my opinion is that those, while well-intentioned, are too infrequent to really shift the wider church culture of truly seeing the gifts as equal. Pastors are usually seen as less replaceable than administrators, for example. Leadership is visible on a weekly Sunday basis while Helps is acknowledged every once a quarter or year by way of verbal affirmation.
My response:
The churches that have visibly lived out the “no gift is lesser than another” practice, in my experience, are doing so more in individual ministry areas which is helping the theology and behavior take root in the broader organization. They usually have an expressed commitment to egalitarian ministry for starters (women and men of equal value), so that there is some stated push-back for relegating women to only “support” roles. However, I have also found that many of these churches/denominations continue to struggle with leaders who are “egalitarian” in word but “complementarian” in deed and belief. That leaves women with Leadership, Prophecy, Discernment, Wisdom, Apostleship in the awkward position of having to continually bring up issues of being sidelined—and, as a result, being viewed as strident or complaining.
Churches that have made a commitment to learn about and practice “gifts-based ministry” are making progress too. I’ve worked with churches with a diversity of denominational connections, and when they invite their people to take the assessment, they discover that there are people who have been underutilized and undervalued. It tees up the conversation about how this might be rectified…which is healthy and good but requires wise guidance.
You are so right in that people up front are constantly visible and the once-in-a-while up-front thank-you to a less-visible person doing good work is not enough. Overlay that with the wrestling match that can ensue when discussing what belongs in worship and what doesn’t…and it’s not a simple fix. One church I know had a regular “newsletter” (originally in print; now online) that highlighted people doing important ministry and told a longer story about their gifting, their “why”, their impact, their faith. This church also showed videos every Sunday for a season, interviewing these people to highlight the work being done that was often outside the walls of the building.
Other churches have inserted this value into their staff performance appraisals. Each employee is asked to report on how they are equipping others to do meaningful ministry and whom they are equipping. Each supervisor is also to report on each person supervised as to how much ministry they are “giving away” and how they are honoring and exhorting these servant-disciples. This process sets this as a value for the organization. I know employee reviews are fraught with issues, but this has helped.
I have had many conversations with those with the gift of Helps (or Hospitality or Administration) who truly do not desire nor seem to need public thanks. That said, I have also experienced many of them being grateful for being thanked—especially if it is personal and specific.
Perhaps part of your calling is to hold this issue up to the light for your leadership—and to be the one who always asks the question “are we seeing certain people as irreplaceable while devaluing others who are less seen?”
No wonder Paul says we have to make a huge, concerted effort to over-correct the under-honoring of some and to stop the worship of those who are more often in the spotlight.
Important resources:
· Take this free spiritual gifts assessment or this free Spanish language spiritual gifts assessment.
· Purchase the six-week workbook in English or Spanish:
· God. Gifts. You.: Your Unique Calling and Design
· DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition)
Downloadable Resources--See Sample List of Interest Areas; Your Spiritual Gifts—A Study Guide; Knowing Your Unique Calling and Purpose Study Guide; Whole-Life Ministry: A Form of Worship, Grace-Giving, and Living into Your Calling.
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, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.
Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.
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