An Amazing Journey

My tenure as chair and my term of service on the NACYML Leadership Team both end in April with the 2008 annual Leadership Team meeting. Little did I know when I said yes six years ago to chairing the youth ministry leaders task group for the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry that I was embarking on an amazing, Spirit filled journey. Serving on that task group and the NACYML Leadership Team has taught me three important ministry lessons.

Lesson One: Have a well developed ‘ministry business plan’ when beginning a new ministerial venture.

Why a ministry business plan you may ask? In youth ministry, we do well with ministry planning in response to the spiritual and personal needs of young people and their families. But do we take the time to look at the impact of the program on the greater faith community? In developing the NACYML proposal for the NFCYM, we needed to go beyond the fact that having the association was responding to an expressed need by youth ministry leaders. We needed to show how NACYML would impact and benefit the parent organization, NFCYM. We needed to exhibit fiscal responsibility—both for future NACYML membership and the membership of NFCYM. Defining accountability in the proposal was also key to ensuring that NACYML would function in line with the vision and values of NFCYM. I have found great benefit in my own ministry utilizing a ministerial business plan—one which includes the proposed ministry program, its impact and benefit to the larger faith community, the fiscal effect of the program, and lines of accountability.

Lesson Two: Shared leadership can move mountains.

My preferred leadership style is one of collaboration and empowerment. Yet serving on the NACYML Leadership Team has shown me true shared leadership in action. Though there are specific roles on the Leadership Team, their function is to facilitate the work of the Leadership Team. It is the entire Leadership Team who takes responsibility for the management of NACYML. This understanding of shared leadership for the Leadership Team is not just part of our Standard Operating Procedures, it has been my lived experience. I have been honored and humbled to work with the dedicated members of the Leadership Team. The atmosphere of our meetings is one of mutual respect, trust, openness to dialogue and disagreement, and appreciation of the giftedness of each member. We work (or perhaps struggle might be the better word) to reach consensus on decisions. I believe that the effectiveness of shared leadership on the team is due the commitment of each person to NACYML and to the realization we need each other (and all the NACYML members) to make NACYML a success.

I have also seen how shared leadership is the foundation for a member driven organization. When NACYML was launched in December 2004, the leadership responsibilities fell to the Leadership Team. However, now in 2008, the leadership for the work of the NACYML is being shared among the entire membership. Two key examples of this are the project team for the NACYML newsletter and the project team for the NACYML booth at the 2007 National Catholic Youth Conference. Both of these project teams have provided key services for NACYML. Though a Leadership Team member might facilitate the project teams, the work and leadership of the teams is shared by all. Due to this foundation in shared leadership, I know that though I leave the Leadership Team, I still have responsibility as a member to serve NACYML in some capacity, whether serving on a project team, a coordinating committee, writing for the newsletter, or participating in discussion forums. I urge all members to consider how you too might serve in the shared leadership of NACYML.

Lesson Three: I am with you always. (Matthew 28:13)

I had a tough time naming this third lesson, for it is one that is quite profound and personal, plus it is more of an experience than a lesson. In the face of challenges to their ministry, members of the Leadership Team have remained faithful to their baptismal call to be disciples of Christ. The manner in which they endured these challenges reminds me of Jesus bearing his cross. For like Christ, they prayerfully struggle with their cup, discern where God is leading them, and willingly follow that path. This is a great witness and an amazing inspiration to me. For like others, these past six years have been a ministry challenge for me. Yet, in my Leadership Team colleagues, I found Jesus saying, “I am with you always” in the struggles, in the successes, in sorrow, in joy, always until the end of time. This experience has been one of deep spiritual connection, one of truly being the body of Christ, where one member suffers, we all suffer; where one member rejoices, we all rejoice. The Leadership Team lives authentic Christian community. This gives me hope because we are not special. And if the Leadership Team, who came together as strangers, can allow the Spirit to guide us to be community, to be church, I believe the Spirit can do the same in our local communities and in the world, if we just open ourselves to the possibility.

Finally as I say farewell to the NACYML Leadership Team, I offer a prayer for the team and all NACYML members in the words of St. Paul: