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Pastors Mentoring the Next Generation and the SBC pt 1
By jason | January 7, 2008
Even if you haven’t seen my links recently to yet more research of the decline of younger leaders involvement in the SBC you’re probably not surprised. Even our anecdotal recollections tell us younger leaders are exiting major denominations at a staggering clip (some would contend they’re being forced out). In SBC-life one need only consider the offspring of a few major spokesmen of the previous generation who have chosen to lead churches outside of SBC-life.
In this conversation it is not surprising that frequent suggestions have been made about the role older leaders can have in the lives of those who come after them through mentoring and coaching. And I couldn’t agree more with this suggestion, as a younger leader.
In my estimation our impact in culture will be exponentially increased as we invest our lives in others. This is true no matter what generation we find ourselves. But the unique thing that older leaders bring to the table in these turbulent days is the profound opportunity to invest in the next generation, if they only will.
My personal experience, however, has been this isn’t happening. Surely this is more anecdotal fodder but isn’t that what a blog is for? In my experience as a young church planter in a major metropolitan area is that older leaders aren’t coming out of the woodwork to invest time and energy in my life. I’ve discovered unless I seek this out it won’t happen.
This is something I (naively) thought would take place. This isn’t the first time I made this mistaken assumption, the same happened upon entry into collegiate ministry. And the question I have continually asked is, Why don’t older leaders want to invest time and energy? Is it something about me personally? Or is it something more systemic? (Or more likely some combo of the two?)
And over the years I have discovered that no matter how many people talk about investing in the next generation very few actually do so. There are very few pastoral lights on the horizon in this regard and that’s a sad reality.
I don’t know what exactly needs to happen to turn the tide but there is such an opportunity to multiply our impact for the kingdom if we’d only begin the investment.
So over the next several days I want to throw out a few observations and suggestions into the mix. Nothing that you haven’t probably already considered. But my great hope and prayer is that the church of Jesus will become a disciplemaking/mentoring culture for the gospel’s sake.
Next Time: developing leaders not manufacturing clones.
Topics: Leadership |