"When I have the opportunity for conversation with pastors, I like to ask, "What is the biggest need in your congregation in the area of harnessing human capacity?" In a recent conversation, the answer given was quick and emphatic: "
Mentorship."
This creative pastor saw mentorship as a way to harness the human capacity of different generations. The mentorship plan he was working out focused on roles within the church. In the area of worship, for example, his experiment was to identify a young person with interest or potential aptitude. That youth would be partnered with an older person who had experience in worship-leading roles, who would coach and support the young person in trying out the role.
This is a simple plan, but what an effective way to harness gifts! I wonder if this is what farmers used to do when they would put a young work horse in a team with an older, experienced horse. Think of the advantages of a system like this over more usual ways of inserting a new person into a new role:
It is personal. Instead of only reading a job description to provide information, this process engages the feeling part of the brain by putting the learner in touch with a caring person.
It is expressive. The older person has an opportunity to communicate the passion he has for the activity, which can lead to a deep response in the youth.
It is supportive. The younger person has someone to ask about problems and challenges in the role. Obvious gaps can be filled in ways that prevent embarrassment.
It makes use of skills. Often older people have developed the skills of listening and empathizing, which can be put to good use in a one-on-one working relationship.
It supports friendship. A positive by-product of the mentoring relationship is that people become friends across generations, perhaps gaining greater insight into each other's culture.
Another way of looking at mentorship is that it recovers the role of the elder, which we may have lost in recent times. Older people are given a positive way to contribute at the same time as they begin the well-deserved process of stepping back.
What are some other roles where mentorship could be well used? Could one mentor young church board members, deacons, teachers or preachers?"
Bob Wiebe is president of Enliven! Consulting, whose motto is "Helping harness human capacity." This short feature appeared in the Canadian Mennonite, December 20, 2010 (p. 12).RESPONSE Suggestions by LB:1. Read Reverse Mentoring - it reminds us "older" ones that we have something to learn from those younger than us, those we mentor. (I will post the full details on this book title soon - it's in my office right now!)
2. Ask people for their stories of mentoring in the church. I am putting out a challenge to Randy Toman to write his story on becoming a church moderator.
3. Comment on this article.
4. For this spring/summer season, consider who you might ask to mentor and who you might ask to mentor you in your church setting.
(Sharing a love of reading and road-tripping, Maddie and my Mom, summer 2009,
on the way to Saskatchewan's largest tree).
