Should the Church be More Professional?
What if it’s us that gives the Church a bad name?
Part III in the Working Church Series
One of the best parts of my job as a superintendent of schools is to work with boards. School boards are full of talented, smart and faith-filled people. They choose to give back and put their professional skills to work. They can be driven, direct and ambitious.
Some bring financial acumen while others know construction. Still others have a keen interest in marketing and community relations. No matter their areas of expertise, they are often very impressive.
I wonder if these lay folks, typically successful in their respective fields, say the same thing about us. Do they find us to be people of high intellect and personal drive? Do they leave our meetings and say, “That Felix, he’s sharp”?
The answers to these questions are subjective. Thankfully, most board members are utterly mission-driven and can see the forest through the trees. And, we ought to strive for mission-effectiveness over professionalism.
But let’s not take ourselves off the hook when it comes to being professionals. We are still to maintain a high standard when it comes to our work. Someone once told me that “we strive for excellence because we serve an excellent God”. I’ve never forgotten that.
“We strive for excellence because we serve an excellent God…”
So what does a “high standard” look like when it comes to working professionally for the Church? I offer five practical ways that we can bring professionalism to our missionary -focused ministry:
Prepare for your week. A good weekly review is essential. My 5 Easiest Ways handout offers a quick-start guide to getting ready for your next week.
Dress for success. I’m not suggesting that you go into debt in order to update your wardrobe. I am saying that people judge us based on how we look. Let’s make sure to take pride in how we appear to others. Shoes that are polished convey pride. Well-ironed slacks tell others that you care about how you look.
Recognize the importance of your workspace. A workspace conveys a mind at work. Do others see your office as a place where great ideas originate?
Take pride in your meetings. It’s important to have an agenda, start on time and end early if that’s possible. Here’s an example of one of the best meetings that I ever attended.
Follow up. As you take notes during your day, attending meetings and going about your work, there will be things that require action. When we follow up on these little tasks, we move our work forward. Others appreciate that. The habit of following up is what great professionals do.
In conclusion, we need the Church to be laser-focused on sharing the Gospel and living out our calls as people of faith. Being more professional doesn’t hurt along the way.
I think these notes and pointers are actually important for anyone in any vocation. I’m in an era of heavy caregiving that’s limiting my productivity. I find that even in this situation, my attitude and mental health are better when I treat my station in life with care.
I love this topic! It's my firm belief that Catholics should set the standard but the world is far better at it. I could expand profusely on this but here's my one insight. Most positions in the Church are voluntary or underpaid. Because of this we are apologetic or feel like we are infringing on their time and so are happy with what they give. Am I gonna sit someone down who is in that position and say "Hey, this is not good enough!"? What we are left with and model is mediocrity.