Not “I will” but “can you?”
Delegating what isn’t uniquely mine to do as pastor has been one of my goals in the past year or so. I never realized just how much I quietly took care of non-pastoral issues, stacking up my to do list with another thing and another thing and another thing, too often being the in between person. When I realized I was doing this I decided it needed to stop. It was taking too much of my energy (or as my wise clergy coach taught me, too many tabs were open in my brain:). It took time and teaching, but my people are starting to learn what needs my input and what can be done without it. Just last week I noticed the fruits of my labor. I stopped by the church building to refill my home communion kit before making some pastoral visits. A member was there. She said when she arrived for quilting earlier that morning the refrigerator wasn’t working. She had called the council president (instead of me) who made a phone call to the company who services it (instead of me). They were set to arrive in 5 minutes (without me needing to be the one in the building to let them in). No one called me and I was relieved. I had pastoring to do after all. I left for my pastor visits feeling like my intentional delegating and redirecting had been worth it. Now, I will say, I’m still learning. Earlier today, I stopped by to check in with the quilting ladies. One of them asked me what the plan was for a particular property project that is at a standstill at the church. I should have directed her to contact our council president directly to ask this question, but I said I would follow up. So, I did, got the info that I needed to answer the question and began to type a text in return: “Thanks for the info. I will let so and so know.” Then I stopped myself. I backspaced and instead texted and sent: “Thanks for the info. Can you please follow up with so and so to let her know?” I’m learning to delegate one text at a time. You should too and just see what energy you free up to use elsewhere for the work you have been called to do.
