Reflections
TEN WAYS TO SUPPORT MINISTRY IN THE WORKPLACE
By Pete Hammond
Where is the church on Tuesday? Do our church members view themselves as agents of the kingdom of God where they work? How can a congregation better affirm and mobilize its pew-sitters in ministry within their jobs?
Here are ten basic ideas for a church to serve its members workplace ministry:
1. In worship services dedicate or commission the members from various industries on a given Sunday. One option is to design worship on Labor Day around the responsibilities and positions your members have Monday through Friday. Members or selected representatives could either wear their work clothes or bring items from their jobs for a dedication ceremony. A slide show could be presented portraying various members at work. (This could replace "Christian Education" Sunday.)
2. In the public pastoral prayer include intercession and/or thanksgiving for key industries. Pray for particular difficulties such as a downturn in business, a strike, disaster or a major challenge it might be facing. Have members serving within that arena stand during the prayer. The prayers of thanksgiving could rotate through various sets of people and affirm their calling and service to the larger community (educators, managers, public servants, transportation workers, retailing, social work, food service, etc.).
3. Clergy could have patterns of visitation at work as they do with the sick, bereaved or homebound. Some call this "shadowing"-- where you spend a few hours with a member at their workplace as a silent guest. You would not be introduced as a pastor, but as a friend. Afterward, the two of you could have coffee or a meal and explore what you observed to help you understand what you experienced. This will enlighten and enrich your work in the Scriptures, counseling and preaching, as well as bringing affirmation to your people.
4. Create a pattern in the educational ministries of your church where classes, study groups, seminars or evening institutes are shaped around workplace issues or groupings. Some could be formed around specific industry groups (educators, managers, government work, healthcare, law and justice, manufacturing, retailing, etc.) while others could be around workplace responsibilities (supervision, finance, administration, sales, ethics, philanthropy, leadership, etc.).
5. Small groups could be developed throughout the congregation around workplace affinities in industries or responsibilities. These could meet for breakfast, after hours, on weekends, or even within the Sunday school church time, for prayer, accountability, encouragement, study and problem-solving. Pastors could attend as advisors and learners, but not as primary leaders.
6. The church could sponsor job helps such as a career guidance event, a job hunting and availability bulletin board, a care group for the unemployed, or transitioning members or internships for young people at member's places of work.
7. Establish congregational communications that feature news about members in their work. Options include a bulletin board, a column in the church newsletter or bulletin, a prayer chain or hotline, etc. Items can come from the local newspaper, business publications, photos taken by friends, awards received, job promotions and changes or workplace news stories with a note about which members are in that industry. Other items could be occasional profiles of biblical personalities that are in various industries. In the church member listing add the industry of each working person.
8. Sponsor special experiences about the workplace and faith development. These might be: a children's day at work with their parents, workplace storytelling, testimonials, panels in children's Sunday School classes, guest speakers, such as authors of workplace faith books, or seminars, mini-retreats or workshops on various themes about work.
9. Equip the church library , bookshop or resource center with helps on work and faith connections. There are many good books (over 200), videos, publications and curricula now being produced. Do a regular feature or review of these in the church publication or bulletin board to inform folks of topics and availability.
10. Do a sermon series on workplace themes from the Bible. It could feature profiles of various working people ( Lydia in the clothing trade, Daniel or Joseph in government, Nehemiah and Ezra in construction, Priscilla and Aquila in affordable housing, Job in agribusiness, Matthew in finance, etc). Another approach could be on various themes and issues such as money, power, ethics, witness, management, service, conflict, etc. You might establish a review group of working laity to work on these sermons to refine connections and avoid guess work. You could also build in a brief lay response of application or critique to the sermon.
We need to help the church function seven days a week. Our members are the delivery system for the Kingdom's salt and light into the workplaces and systems of our culture. The recognition and support of the workplace ministry of our people is a challenging and rewarding venture that deserves all the affirmation, understanding and guidance we can muster.
The Lord be with you.
Pete Hammond is a PCUSA elder, Presbyterians For Renewal board member, senior staff member of InterVarsity and the creator/developer of the new Word In Life Study Bible . He and his wife Shirley live in Madison, WI and commute to see their five grandchildren in Chicago regularly.
Copyright ©1995, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Marketplace ministries, P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895.
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