During the time I have been here with you, we have talked a bit about shared ministry. Perhaps you have heard me say I operate from a shared ministry model? From some of you in the congregation, I have heard that you want a shared ministry with me and the next minister. Like other conversations we might have here or elsewhere in our lives, maybe we need to check in and make sure we are talking about the same thing.

Here is how I understand shared ministry. Ministry, whether we like this word or not, is all that we do in the congregation- caring for each other, hospitality, education, music, and social justice are all examples of ministries of this congregation. When we look at ministry as the work of the congregation, we can easily move into an understanding of shared ministry. Shared ministry is all the work we do together. Ministry does not belong exclusively to the minister just as being welcoming and inclusive is not only the job of the membership committee or just as addressing racial justice issues is not the sole purview of the racial justice committee, just as education is the work (ministry!) of the whole congregation and not just Ashley's or the volunteer teachers.
Shared ministry means we all work together for the mission and vision of the congregation. Shared ministry means our work is not mutually exclusive but collaborative. Shared ministry means we work together for the common good. Shared ministry means communication, curiosity, an openness to new ideas, letting go of doing it the way we have always done it, a willingness to talk out differences, to sit in some discomfort. 

Shared ministry is not a power play. It is not about being right or wrong. It is not hierarchical. It does not mean congregants can ignore, direct, or sabotage ideas and initiatives of the staff. 
Shared ministry enables the staff to manage or improve all the “background things” (such as the order of service, membership forms, announcements, committee structure, etc) that support the ministry you as a congregation do. 

Thoroughly confused? Let’s talk. I will be talking about shared ministry in all of the various committees and groups in the next few months as well as at the Board and Program Council. And I am almost always available to chat- just send me an email or text.