News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Steve-Chalke-at-Oasis-Church_article_image.jpg
UK News

Sundays can be "devastating" for church leaders says Steve Chalke

by Sam Hailes

"If you've got 101 people in a church, you have 101 line managers," he said adding that "the experience of a Sunday can be utterly devastating" for church leaders who must face criticism from well meaning church goers.

"The drop out rate is huge. People are burnt out and they're tired", he said.

Churches see the need for community work, but there's a lack of understanding about the processes and infrastructure needed to engage, the Baptist minister argued.

Mr Chalke made the comments last night during a dinner promoting his upcoming seminar on leadership.

He said that while church leaders can gain a degree in theology, they often will not be taught 21st century leadership skills such as how to work with local authorities on social action projects.

"To get a good degree in theology, you need to give three years to the biblical languages etc. The skills that I use to sustain what we're doing are all skills that I did not learn in theological college or a ministerial training college."

He argued church leaders need to be able to "do long term strategic planning, work with local authorities and national governments, read social trends and build a network of relationships".

"In order for a church to deliver down on the ground in a post Christian environment...you need infrastructure."

Saying the church needs to use skills from the business world shouldn't be controversial, he said. "Business isn't bad, it's about what you're using it for".

He said that church leaders who hire a youth worker as the first member of staff were mistaken.

"If you just scramble up the money to get another member of staff involved and hire a youth worker, that is the road to bankruptcy. The youth worker is going to go out spending money all over the place."

He said youth leaders will, "bring youth in who don't have any money to tithe and smash the toilets up, contribute nothing, and use all the resources."

"You slowly go bankrupt by doing mission unless you learn about processes", he said.

Mr Chalke said he wants to help church leaders "set up support structures that are actually supportive". He argued many settings where church leaders come together are either full of "boasting about successes", or depressing when "everyone is really struggling".

He argued that Oasis' strategy is "joined up" and the organisation is "explicit" about the faith-basis for their work.

"In any community where Oasis works, its all joined up. Here the secondary school is in the same building as the church. We're very explicit. We work in communities in order to give everyone an opportunity to fulfil their God-given potential."

He contrasted Oasis' public image with the Salvation Army's.

"In America everybody has heard of the Salvation Army and they all know they do disaster relief. But I couldn't find anyone there who wasn't a Christian and even knew they ran a church. The Salvation Army does all this fantastic stuff, but its got church stuff and the public don't perceive the two things as linked."

The leader admitted it was refreshing to be talking to the press about a less controversial subject.

"The press has been all about these [previous] controversies."

Referring to his previous comments about the atonement Mr Chalke said, "if you're going to work with people in the community its no good believing they're all under the wrath of God...If you sing in church about the wrath of God it will leak out in your body language in the council chamber."

"Equally the LGBT issue: Our task is to serve everybody."

"I don't seek to be controversial. I just believe passionately about these things. What's always driven me is to build communities where people get to meet Jesus."

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate