William Diehl - Seven Suggestions for Pastors

I've recently been reading William E. Diehl's book Ministry in Daily Life: A Practical Guide for Congregations (New York: Alban, 1996). Diehl worked as a management consultant and became a key figure in the workplace and ministry in daily life movement in America during the 80s/90s. He wrote prolifically in this period, even producing a book called Thank God It's Monday! (good title for a book!). Most of Diehl's books are now out of print but you can still find them if you search on Amazon.

The book Ministry in Daily Life is an important one for us as it tells the story of how the congregation of which Diehl was a part, the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus, Pennsylvania made the transition to supporting its members for ministry in the places they spent the majority of their time. (For those of you interested in seeing how sustainable this work of culture shift is over the long term, it is well worth checking out the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit website to see what has become of that work today.)

There are a lot of important observations that Diehl makes in this short book and it will be a source that we return to in the future, however for today I thought it would be worth sharing the list of 7 suggestions that Diehl makes for pastors involved in this work. He begins by asking 'If we focus on the church, primarily through its laity, ministering to the world, what should a parish pastor be doing?' This is his list of suggestions:

1. Be a believer. Truly believe that the church is to minister in the world and that the laity have been called to do that. If you can't believe in this, then stop reading here.

2. Listen. Ask your members to tell you what they do in their daily routines. Once they believe you are truly interested, they will tell you. People love to talk about their daily work. Listen to their stories and remember them.

3. Affirm, affirm, affirm. By the grace of God, your members are already in the mission field doing the things their God-given talents have best prepared them to do. Affirm that their work is important to God. Affirm that they have a ministry. And do it over and over again. They have been raised by a church that told them only you were the minister. So you need to preach again and again that their work matters to God.

4. Be patient. Remember what you are about is a radical change for people. It will take time for them to recognise their ministries. Don't be surprised or discouraged if they don't respond with eagerness. After all, being a passive pew sitter and not troubling one's mind about faith is a very comfortable way to practice religion. You are asking them to begin a religious life that is infinitely more difficult - and scarier.

5. Equip. Together with them find the ways they can best carry the Gospel into the world. Help them to make the connections between Sunday and the rest of the week. Help them to help each other.

6. Nourish. Make sure the word you preach, the sacraments they receive, and the worship they experience each Sunday will nourish them for the week to come.

7. Support. Help them create their own support groups. You don't have to do it. Just give them the vision and resources. (p70)