bethwayland

Ministry leaders or pastors, I’d strongly caution you against making loyalty to you or to your organization a core value. It promotes a sick environment in a myriad of ways. A few: Employees feel like they need to agree with us when actually our idea is not a good idea. Employees whom God is directing elsewhere feel tremendous dread in leaving because we will likely receive it as disloyalty instead of what it really is: a disciple of Jesus doing exactly what a disciple is supposed to do. Why, after all, would we want an employee to stay whom God has called to leave?? Our place is to bless them in their going as well as in their coming. From time to time I see leaders talk about people who started with them not staying with them as if they owed them that. They don’t. It’s not disloyalty. It’s true discipleship. We want our people to follow Jesus. People and organizations where loyalty to leader is a core value also fear burning the bridge when they leave because we are too immature and insecure to not be offended and wounded (or angered!) by their departure. Lastly and perhaps most chilling of all, loyalty to a leader or organization fosters secret-keeping. (“We can’t let that go public because it will destroy the church! Think of the church!” The ultimate spiritual manipulation. No, what will destroy the church is keeping a sick secret.) Nothing will infect and implode a whole organization like a culture of secret-keeping. Sure, we hope employees have integrity to not gossip about things we as their employers or leaders share in earnest from our private lives. I talk openly with my coworkers just as they do about personal challenges and experiences and needs for prayer. But there’s a big difference between hoping for privacy and demanding secrecy. What I hope for and try to encourage in my employees is loyalty to Jesus. I know myself too well. I know my frailties, flaws and faults too intimately. I’ve told them in staff meetings that when their “loyalty” to me is contrary to their loyalty to Jesus, for crying out loud, go with Jesus! Even if it means going with him out the door. Even if I’m sad when they leave, it’s just because I’ll miss them. Not because they’ve done a single wrong. They’ve done exactly the right thing. They’ve gone with Jesus and will have my unqualified blessing. I’m thinking a lot about these kinds of things as we at LPM take active steps toward major downsizing next late Spring. Steps that will include selling the building and cutting back to a skeletal staff of only a few. I’m thinking so much about how blessed I’ve been to work with women who were devoted to Jesus. Who loved him exceedingly more than they loved me, their other coworkers and the organization. Their greatest gift to me has undoubtedly been their deep devotion to Jesus.

Good Saturday morning, you guys. Psalm 32 was part of my scheduled Bible reading this AM. I always read from 2 or 3 different translations. I loved the Coverdale pairing of the words, “mercy embraces.” I pray them for all of you who are lonely. For all of you who miss someone so badly. For all of you who are simply never embraced by anyone. Never affectionately and safely touched. My late brother’s wife is at my house this weekend and she misses my brother almost unbearably. As much as I have grieved his loss this year, her loss is so much greater. So hourly. Unrelenting. Made me think how many of you feel the same way, whether over the death of a loved one or the loss of relationship or miles and oceans stretching between you. Our hurts are often magnified during the Christmas season. I’m so so sorry for your pain. May the God of all mercy, our merciful savior Jesus, wrap his arms around you this day and embrace you in a way you cannot ignore. You are so so loved. He sees your sorrow. He knows your longing. You are not overlooked. You deeply matter to him. I love y’all.