Redeem Church Scutwork: The Problem

December 28, 2008

The problem I discerned to elicit support for my research became a more interesting and complex problem as the study progressed. Here is the “presenting issue.”

Pastoral leadership in Christian congregations for the twenty-first century will require “religious professionals” both to exercise creative, theological imaginations and mastery of the disciplined ability to get things done-administrative effectiveness. Moreover, the pastoral work of shaping communities has consistently demanded both vision and follow-through. Many insightful teachers and scores of excellent written resources focus on the former, the pastoral vision or pastoral imagination. Few concentrate on the myriad routine, repetitive, and “lowly” tasks of ministry-the “pastoral scutwork” (It is an inelegant and derogatory term, but an apt phrase to describe administrative details, the necessary work preparing and bringing to constructive fruition meetings, mission, and clarity of focus in ministry). This sometimes menial “follow through” that is indispensable for effective leadership most pastors and educators have come to call “administration,” though it might equally be termed “maintenance,” “management,” or “organizational detail.”

Few analysts indeed give a theological framework for this acumen and style, this practice. To the contrary, most deprecate church administration and management, especially the maintenance of the structures of congregations, and contrast management with pastoral leadership and imaginative, prophetic ministry. Yet pastors and priests report that they spend a significant portion of their time engaged in administration. According to George Barna, at least 25% and frequently as much a 40% of a pastor’s or priest’s time is employed in administration, as distinguished from preaching, teaching, pastoral counseling, and other work of ministry. (Today’s Pastor, p. 115 ff)

I have listened intently as many pastors and others in church administration speak negatively of their work in administration, how frustrating much of it is, how analogs from business do not fit as they attempt to use the methods and processes many advocate, and especially how it “takes them away from ministry.” It is as though church administration and pastoral ministry comprise a “zero sum game,” in which the more church administration required, the less work of ministry can be enjoyed. Many if not most seem to consider this “scutwork” done only to “pay the rent” for the higher work of preaching and representing the church in the public square and marketplace.

Recently ordained pastors and priests complain the most. They also contend (properly, for the most part) that seminaries do not prepare them in the areas most consuming their time and energy. In my opinion, professorial condescension in this area frequently contributes to the problem, though seminaries can also rightly contend pastors may learn the administration in the work itself. Needed is an integrated perspective valuing the work and casting it honestly within pastoral care of persons and groups, increasingly their measure of health and growth in the Christian faith.

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