Word Count: 321 – Est Reading Time: <2 Minutes
What’s Up
Putting untrained leaders, especially your lay leaders, in front of your congregation may feel inclusive … until it backfires publicly.
So What
Churches love to “empower the laity,” but when there’s no training, what we call empowerment is often just abdication. And visitors are the ones who pay the price.
The Point Is
No Instructions? No Impact.
If your communion leader isn’t clear on the mechanics, your guests are going to feel confused, awkward, or worse … excluded.
Holy-Sounding Is Not Helpful
Reading a sanctified-sounding prayer might impress insiders. It won’t connect with guests. Clarity matters more than churchy language.
Giving Isn’t Obligation Alone
Tithing shouldn’t feel like a toll booth. Skip the guilt trips and show how giving fuels ministry, mission, and real community change.
Train. Every. Leader.
It’s not about personality, it’s about preparation. Every leader needs a position description, clear expectations, and real training. Period.
And … ?
I get it. Including lay leaders in worship is supposed to be a good thing. But good intentions don’t produce good results without real investment. If you wouldn’t let someone preach without some theological education, why would you hand over communion or stewardship moments to someone without any preparation at all? This isn’t about hierarchy … it’s about stewardship of sacred moments.
Ineffective leadership from the platform is rarely the fault of the person with the mic. It’s almost always a systems failure. Who trained them? Who gave them a model to follow? Who gave them a clear description of what success looks like? If no one can answer those questions, then you’re not empowering leaders … you’re setting them up to fail. And your guests? They’re walking away thinking, “That was awkward.” You can do better. And now you can do it faster and easier.
Action!
Get the Leadership Development Manual and the Lead the Leaders kit at https://go.effectivechurch.com/lm-leadership-development to equip every leader to lead well.
