When Moses Meets Aaron: Staffing And Supervision In Large Congregations

by Susan Beaumont

With the number of large congregations rising in the U.S., these congregations are increasingly dependent upon a greater number of staff to meet the needs of their diverse collection of members. As leaders of multi-staff teams, senior clergy must play the dual role of both Moses and Aaron--both visionary and detail-oriented leader--in order for their large congregations to thrive. They need to be skilled with the tools of human resource management, while at the same time setting a vision and inspiring both staff and congregation. Unfortunately, until now there have been few resources for senior clergy who lead multi-staff teams. Working without adequate models and tools, senior clergy of large congregations often find themselves with passionate, dedicated staff members who are moving in different directions, competing over limited resources and attention. They end up with questions of how to evaluate the performance of staff and direct their efforts. They find themselves using time, attention, and resources to care for staff rather than using staff as a resource to care for the mission of the congregation. Longtime Alban senior consultant Gil Rendle and Alban senior consultant Susan Beaumont have developed When Moses Meets Aaron to help clergy responsible for several-member staff teams navigate these unknown waters. They have taken the best of human resource practices and immersed them in a congregational context, providing a comprehensive manual for supervising, motivating, and coordinating staff teams. Rendle and Beaumont give both detailed and big picture guidance on hiring, job descriptions, supervision, performance evaluation, staff-team design, difficult staff behavior, and more. Their combined experience in consulting and training with staff and leaders of large congregations proves invaluable in this manual for today's leadership demands.

Genres: Leadership, Church

270 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2007

Reviews

[Cassandra Pickens · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the number of large congregations rising in the U.S., these congregations are increasingly dependent upon a greater number of staff to meet the needs of their diverse collection of members. As leaders of multi-staff teams, senior clergy must play the dual role of both Moses and Aaron--both visionary and detail-oriented leader--in order for their large congregations to thrive. They need to be skilled with the tools of human resource management, while at the same time setting a vision and inspiring both staff and congregation. Unfortunately, until now there have been few resources for senior clergy who lead multi-staff teams. Working without adequate models and tools, senior clergy of large congregations often find themselves with passionate, dedicated staff members who are moving in different directions, competing over limited resources and attention. They end up with questions of how to evaluate the performance of staff and direct their efforts. They find themselves using time, attention, and resources to care for staff rather than using staff as a resource to care for the mission of the congregation. Longtime Alban senior consultant Gil Rendle and Alban senior consultant Susan Beaumont have developed When Moses Meets Aaron to help clergy responsible for several-member staff teams navigate these unknown waters. They have taken the best of human resource practices and immersed them in a congregational context, providing a comprehensive manual for supervising, motivating, and coordinating staff teams. Rendle and Beaumont give both detailed and big picture guidance on hiring, job descriptions, supervision, performance evaluation, staff-team design, difficult staff behavior, and more. Their combined experience in consulting and training with staff and leaders of large congregations proves invaluable in this manual for today's leadership demands.

[Lisa Lewton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a necessary tool for anyone leading a large congregation. Well-researched with practical and big picture wisdom. A good resource for pastors and lay leaders.

[Tracie]

Easy to read and digest and good for staff supervision in any size church!

[Pam S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the church administrator & assistant pastor of a growing church, I was anticipating great things from this book but was somewhat disappointed. While it contained some good information, it was almost a little too technical for me. The title was also a little deceiving. I expected to read more examples from Moses' but there were very few. It also seemed like it was directed more toward a Lead Pastor as opposed to a church administrator. Unfortunately, I didn't finish reading this book. After struggling with it for over a year, I stopped reading it at the beginning of the last section. I don't, however, feel like I wasted my time with what I read; because I did gain some valuable information from it.

[Rod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a taste:

Leadership in the contemporary congregation...involves learning how to do ministry while actually doing it in a fluid and changing time. To be effective, the description of the outcome needs to be firm and in place. The way we get to the outcome needs to be held loosely and be malleable to allow new learnings that we will uncover as we do the work. The idea of being firm in purpose but flexible in strategy is a basic principle of the organization of behavior for all vital living systems.

[Rev. Sharon Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for large congregations, this book is nevertheless useful to the minister or personnel committee of any size congregation. Employment issues in religious community are uniquely challenging, and it is hard to find good advice and guidance. This book fills a void in the already scant literature of church administration and is a must read for any church staff supervisor.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forced to read this book as a work requirement , I must say it was enlightening and informative information about the workings and operation of a corporate sized church!

[Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gil Rendle has some very good insights for leading the larger congregation. Staffing, interviewing, and staff meeting effectiveness is covered here.