Years ago, a leader shared with me a leadership application she had created for women desiring to serve in her church’s women’s ministry. What a great idea! The application itself prescribed the requirements for a woman wanting to teach, lead, etc. I read the first page…then the second page… By the third page, I wasn’t sure if even Mary and Martha combined would be able to fulfill all the requirements listed!
Is it important to have requirements for leaders active in serving through women’s ministry? Yes! But that list of requirements should be clear, concise, and authentic. It should be about your non-negotiables rather than an exhaustive list of “all that you hope for” in a leader.
I recently read where the only essential requirement for becoming a Benedictine Monk novice is an affirmative answer to the question: “Do you seek God?” I wept as I considered how powerful our collective Kingdom work might be if we each would make this “requirement” a non-negotiable for leading others.
Consider the following as you consider requirements for your ministry’s leaders:
1. Determine your non-negotiables
2. Communicate them clearly (and upfront)
3. Incorporate methods of accountability
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb. 11:6).
Written By Randy Garner
