In high school, I noticed a strange phenomenon. The freshmen got smaller every year. It was really weird.
When my friends and I walked onto campus for the first day of our freshman year we were legit high schoolers, admittedly a little intimidated by the seniors, but plenty cool in our own right.
Not so with the punks that came in the next year. Something must have happened at the middle school to stunt their growth. None of the new ninth graders were anywhere near as big, smart, or mature as we had been the year before. And by the time I was a senior, the middle school was pumping out mental, physical, and emotional midgets.
As I said, it was really strange.
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Of course, that’s not what was happening. The freshmen weren’t getting smaller, stupider, and less mature; we were getting older, more mature, and arrogant.
Fortunately for each incoming crop of freshmen, the seniors keep graduating, giving last year’s freshmen, sophomores, and juniors an opportunity to spread their wings and fly. And sure enough, they always ended up flying a lot higher than the seniors would have guessed.
Unfortunately, in the church, it’s a different story. The seniors never graduate (at least not until they’ve become literal seniors and start dying off). They hog the leadership table, shutting out the next generation. It’s one of the main reasons why most churches stop growing and lose their evangelistic touch (and cultural relevance) around the twenty year mark.
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Ironically, most churches are started by young eagles. But soon after getting their nest built, nicely appointed, and fully furnished, they start to marginalize the next batch of young eagles, asking them to sit at the kid’s table and wait for their turn at middle-aged leadership.
To counteract that natural tendency, I’ve made it a personal priority to make sure that our young eagles have a place at our leadership table. I see it as my role to enhance their influence within our church, making sure that they are supported, protected, and listened to.
But I have to admit, it’s not always appreciated, especially by middle-aged eagles who think that tenure should be the primary determiner of influence.
I understand their reluctance. Young eagles can make a mess in the cage. They’re impatient. They lack the wisdom that comes with experience. In short, they make the same dumb mistakes that the old eagles made when they first started out.
But that’s not the real reason that most churches and leadership teams push young eagles out of the nest. The real reason is that leadership is a zero sum game. One person’s emerging influence is always another person’s waning influence. And that makes making room for the young eagles a hard sell, especially to those who already have a place at the table.
Again, I understand. Like most leaders, I love the idea of servant leadership and putting others first – as long as no one actually cuts in front of me or starts treating me like I’m a servant.
But it has to be done or we’ll fall victim to the predictable twenty year death cycle when most churches stop growing, evangelizing, and making a mark.
When a church grows old, gray, and culturally out of touch – far more interested in protecting the past than creating the future – and starts to wonder, “What happened to all the young people and families that used to hang around here?” it’s a sign that the young eagles have been shut out for a long time.
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I’d be a liar if I said that protecting and promoting young eagles can be done pain free. I find that it’s far easier in theory than practice. I don’t like giving up my personal power, prestige, or preferences any more than the next guy. It’s kind of a drag.
But young eagles are born to fly. It’s their nature. It’s how God made them. If they can’t fly high in our church, they’ll bolt and fly elsewhere. And sadly, when they do, they’ll take most of the life, vitality, and the future of our church with them.
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So, honestly now, how are you and your church responding to young eagles? Are they written off, tolerated, or celebrated? Are they encouraged to fly, or asked to clip their wings? I guarantee you; your answer will determine your church’s future.
So, tell me, what do you think about the way we tend to treat young eagles?
Excellent post. As a missionary-pastor I really love helping young leaders fly as high as possible. I must decrease and Jesus must increase. Thanks
Larry,
GREAT post!
How do you, the lead pastor, personally make room for the eagles? What do you do when the eagle throws a crazy idea on the table? You are one of the senior eagles. What is the role of a senior eagle at the table?
BTW, I’m a young eagle who is a pastor and wants to lift up other young eagles.
Thanks!
Paul
Paul
There are many things I can do as lead pastor to make room for young eagles.
First, I use my role to validate their input (a senior pastor has lots of influence as to who is listened to and who is not within the organization).
Second, I try to back their play even when I’m not sure it will work. Not that I give people total freedom. But if the price of failure will not be too great, why not give it a shot? Who knows, they could be (and often are) right.
Third, I share with them as many of the symbols of spiritual power as I can. That’s everything from preaching to baptisms, weddings, funerals and the like. The key is that they must do a good job at it AND it must be done when I’m present – otherwise they aren’t being positioned as a leader, they positioned as a substitute or understudy.
Very thought provoking.
Hanging out in the middle aged atmosphere, (51) I have to admit wanting to require the eaglets to grow up, or ‘earn their spurs’ before letting them try their wings at my expense. The few times I have tried including underclassmen in vital roles in the past, I thought immaturity or arrogance caused them to flake out. I’ve since learned that it’s my responsibility to develop them and give them a shot at leading.
A few years back, while standing in a circle of some young dudes at my church I was trying to raise their sites by encouraging them that they were the “future of the body of Christ”. My son was one of them, and he agreeably disagreed with me saying “No Dad, we ARE the body of Christ NOW”.
Instead of the head eagle, at that moment, I felt more like a buzzard. Humbled by my own son, it became a defining moment for me. We have since meaningfully included many more young eagles in our worship planning and vision meetings. We are also hiring younger folks.
I couldn’t agree more. Use ‘em or lose ‘em. Good book on this Reverse Mentoring by Earl Creps. Not done with it yet.
Phil
Larry,
Our church is in the planning process to launch small groups in 2010. I am reading prolifically on different models and different theology.
We have found Sticky Church to be one of the best books available, and the reason we are going to pursue message based small groups.
I have several small questions about a couple things in the book – how they look practically. Like offramps, etc.
Is there someone I can ask at NC that would be able to help me, or can I ask you those questions.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Grace,
Brian
Brian,
Thanks for the kind words about Sticky Church. Glad it’s been helpful.
You can contact Chris Mavity, director of our Training Network at cmavity{at}northcoastchurch.com.
He’d be happy to answer your questions.
Larry
Larry,
These words are honestly one of the best put ever. I am now beginning the journey as a lead pastor (we launch “preview” this weekend). I can honestly say most of what I have learned about leadership comes from NCC, and your values.
For those who read Larry’s blog, I was once a young leader in his church; and North Coast truly gave me a place at the table. I was never marginalized. In fact, I did make a couple “messes” on Sunday services in their main auditorium; but Larry & Andy Na kept giving me chances to grow.
Thank you Larry. Pray for our launch this weekend. Check out our website if you’d like http://www.lovehopecity.com.
In Christ,
Kyle
Larry,
Awesome post. This is the biggest topic on the table for us at the 11 year mark in a church that has had rapid and large growth. To keep our focus on bringing up the next generation.
Your continued insights on this will be much appreciated.
It’s actually getting a lot more fun to watch the young eagle’s starting to fly. I’ve come to realize that I need to be more of a dad in their lives. (that has been a little weird to get use to at 42) I remember the day our lead pastor stoped me in the hallway and asked said that to me, “I really need you to be a dad to the young guys”, it took me a few days to grasp it; but I’m really starting to see how that flows.
I realized it was the people that helped me learn how to fly that had the most influence and impact on my life.
What a great truth for long term kingdom impact.
Thanks Larry
Larry,
I was very moved reading this post. As someone who lives locally and teaches music to a lot of people at NC, I really appreciate the fact that you and Andy Na have always had a heart to train and equip younger people for ministry… and actually let them participate. That is such a rare gift for them to be given these days in the church. They have so much to offer. They also have so much to learn and most of them are hungry to have real relationships with people who are older. My heart and passion is to help equip them for ministry and to support them as they fly. Thank you so much for creating an environment where that can happen.
Linda Baley