Does a Church Residency Slow Me Down?
With so many churches searching high and low to fill staff positions with even marginally qualified leaders, we have to ask the question: Does doing a church residency actually slow me down? The answer isn’t as simple as the question is! In some ways, yes, a church residency slows you down. And in other ways, no, a church residency actually does the opposite.
Imagine someone admitting you into a high-speed race that’s set to span a course over varied terrain for a couple of thousand miles. It’s going to take a long time to finish, and even though you were admitted, the car you’re driving leaves a lot to be desired. It runs, but it sure isn’t optimized. Some people would want to get behind the wheel and get off the line as quickly as possible, taking the tactic of, “I have no time to lose.” Others might prefer not to start when the green flag drops, choosing instead to supercharge the engine, dial in the suspension, and put on some fresh tires. The goal for the first driver is to be a driver. The goal for the second driver is to win the race.
The question, “Does doing a church residency slow me down?” requires us to define the subject that is either slowed or accelerated.
If the subject is a career in ministry marked by traditional salaries and titles, the answer is usually Yes. Most church residencies are built upon a two-pronged structure of ministry preparation and ministry execution.
The execution part of the church residency reflects the competencies a person starting in ministry would already have mastered coupled with some low-risk tasks that stretch those competencies. For example, one task might be leading a Bible study, something that most people starting in ministry have already done and mastered. But, that same person may be asked to lead a training for other leaders who are leading Bible studies. That task may be a stretch, venturing outside the resident’s previous experience. It’s a low enough risk that if the resident blunders the training, it won’t sink the ministry. However, the resident feels the weight of a new experience that must one day be mastered. An environment like that serves as a training ground for the residents. The church expends great energy creating and sustaining these development labs. It makes little sense for the church to pay a traditional salary to someone they are, in fact, training for ministry leadership, and consequently, most church residencies are funded at least in part by the resident’s own support-raising. Therefore, if someone is trying to jump into a position with a title like Student Minister, Worship Director, or College Pastor with a correlating compensation package despite one’s lack of experience, yes, a church residency will slow you down.
Now, on the other hand, if the subject we are defining is a career in ministry that puts you ahead of your peers, then the answer has to be No. Because church residencies are primarily structured around development, they accelerate a person’s development of important competencies, self-awareness, and confidence. The individual becomes accustomed to critical feedback and learns how to leverage it for improvement rather than bristling in a defensive posture. The experience produces ministry competency in a carefully controlled lab where mistakes can be made without disaster. Residency leaders help residents understand their unique gifts for ministry and how to leverage those gifts almost like they are superpowers (or superchargers). All of this produces a person who is able to lead with greater confidence.
Churches with residencies also tend to be more networked, and they provide space for residents to navigate those networks. This leads to residency graduates who are profoundly more connected to peers and resources for ministry than their counterparts who opted for the more traditional route.
So, Yes, there are much faster ways to stomp the gas when the light turns green. And there are plenty of churches who, for varying reasons, I won’t discuss here, will take risks like that. But you’ll be in the race running the engine you were dealt. Only a certain level of performance should be expected.
And No, what seems to slow your start won’t slow your race. Because you’re taking the time to tune the car and get her race-ready. It doesn’t take long for the high-octane, high-performance racers to overtake the stock street racers.
Church residencies help you reach your highest and best by setting you up for success.