Delegation and Engagement

Ephesians 4 speaks not only of the unique calling of each person and their spiritual gifts but also the reasons why:
+ To equip the saints for the work of ministry.
+ To build them up until the whole church reflects the nature of Christ

Sounds like we still have a way to go. Perhaps we have not been focussed enough on these objectives or for that matter even understanding our calling and using spiritual gifts with the power of God moving through us. Well no time to start like now. After all, you are busy, and while you can pour yourself into the work at hand, there are others with spiritual gifts, calling and even skills that your simply don't posses.

The business world calls it delegation. The new testament church and apostles struggled with the burden of ministry too and though it took a town hall meeting to hear the complaints that started mounting up against the apostles they figured it out together and with God's help people in the faith community stepped forward and became engaged using their own gifts and calling (Acts 6:1-7).

Scott Couchenour recently wrote, "delegation is more than simply giving someone what you don't want to do and abdicating responsibility. Successful delegation takes into account the other person and the task being delegated." He provided another resource that shows 5-levels of delegation and a phrase associated with each:
LEVEL ONE: The Report. "Report all the facts to me, then I'll decide what to do."
LEVEL TWO: The Recommendation. "Identify possible actions including the pros and cons of each, and recommend one for my approval."
LEVEL THREE: The Action Plan. "Let me know what you intend to do, but don't take action until I approve the plan."
LEVEL FOUR: Make the Decision. "Decide what to do, take action, and then let me know how it all works out."
LEVEL FIVE: Full Delegation. "I trust your judgement and I know your decisions will match our visions, values, and strategy. No further contact with me on this issue is required. But remember: 'No Surprises'."
Perhaps descension and divisiveness has not yet filled the halls of your church, I pray not. Perhaps you feel as though you can take on more or don't want to bother the members of your church. Perhaps you feel, in your commitment to excellence, that the failure of others would look bad on you or drive away other (potential) members.

We must not get in the way of others participating with God in the regeneration and reconciliation of the world. I pray, like we see in the life of Jesus, that the power of our ministry comes from God, not from within ourselves. These gifts and the calling that we have talked about thus far are keys to our spiritual and congregational vitality.

Questions for consideration and study:
+ Which model of engagement are you most accustomed to using? Why? Do you feel you could use another?
+ How does taking/delegating responsibility differ from encouraging people to respond to their calling and using their spiritual gifts in a life of ministry?
+ What calling and spiritual gifts do you see in the people you know? Are they engaging in a life of ministry accordingly? Why or why not?
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Acts 6:1-7 http://www.youversion.com/bible/niv/acts/6/1-7
Ephesians 4:1-16 http://www.youversion.com/bible/niv/eph/4/1-16
Scott Couchenauer: http://twitter.com/ServingStrong
Jana Matthews Group: 5-levels of delegation, http://ow.ly/1g5Y7

This was originally written by Greg Troxell for The Diocesan Center for Spiritual Leadership. An Episcopal Ministry of teaching to build up the saints and breath vitality into the Church.
http://faithandfamily.orgsync.com/org/dcsl

Created about 2 years ago