There’s Not A Perfect Church Job (What Do I Do About it?)

If you’re a leader of a team, it’s important to remember that everyone under you is not going to love every part of their job. As a leader, your team needs you to help them develop, especially in the parts that aren’t their strength.

If you’re feeling discontent in your church job, consider these three things as you think about your next steps:

1. Expectations: If you love your church job 50% of the time, like it 30% of the time, but feel discontent 20% of the time, you’re in a great spot. Even if you think you’ve found your dream church job, there may be aspects you don’t enjoy that present themselves. In many churches, church staffs are juggling multiple ministries to keep the church running.  If you’re discontent in what you’re doing 5-10 hours of the week but love what you do for 30-35 hours, that’s okay-maybe even normal! When searching for a job, be realistic about your expectations. If your heart resonates with 80% of the job description, that’s an encouraging sign that this could be a great opportunity for you.

2. People/Team: If you like your team, but not necessarily your job description, it’s worth having conversations with your supervisor to try to find a position for you within the existing organization that better fits your strengths. Good leaders understand that not everybody is strong in everything. Maybe your weaknesses are another team member’s strengths and vice versa. A rowing team is strategic about who sits where in the boat because each team member contributes its unique strengths in getting the boat across the finish line. You may be on the right ministry team but need to be serving in a different spot.

3. Problem Solving: If you're discontent with 25-30% of your church job, then communicate your challenges with your boss-they can’t read your mind. Be honest about your struggles, and bring possible positive solutions to the table. It’s not easy to talk openly about our weaknesses, but it’s to your benefit to have these conversations with your supervisor before the daunting 30% consumes you.

If you’ve discussed your challenges and struggles with your supervisors multiple times with no support or progress, then it may be time to look for opportunities that would better fit your strength mix. If you have great leaders who are supporting you, be patient with yourself and be committed to your development wherever you are.

Focus on the parts of your church job that you like and that you excel in. You’ll do yourself and your team a favor if you come to work with a positive attitude and ready to serve God and your church each day.