Meshing or Grinding Gears

How do we envision our ministry? Do we see our self as the only gear or one of several gears needed to move the congregation forward in faith-fulness? What is the ratio of teeth/cogs of our gear and does that ratio align with other gears/ leaders in the congregation?

What is the purpose of a gear? Gears are used for transmitting power from one part of a machine to another. In a bicycle, for example, it's gears (with the help of a chain) that take power from the pedals to the back wheel. Similarly, in a car, gears transmit power from the crankshaft (the rotating axle that takes power from the engine) to the driveshaft running under the car that ultimately powers the wheels. (http://www.explainthatstuff.com/gears.html)

I do not want to push the analogy too far, but the questions are worth pondering. I do not know all that much about gears. I did some internet research and found mind numbing formulas for calculating gear ratios. I am glad the many visible and invisible gears in the numerous machines in my life work, and I do not have to worry about figuring the number of teeth/cogs for each gear and the directional movement of each gear to transfer power into proper operation.

It would be nice if we had formulas for calculating the proper intertwining of the gears for proper operation of the congregation. One thing is certain, if we as pastors do not mesh well with others in the congregation the gear box can explode and do damage to us and to the congregation. However, the gears will not always be syncromeshed, allowing for a smooth shifting and transfer of power.

I grew up driving a three speed manual transmission car. There were times, especially when I was learning to drive that I would “grind the gears.” The application of the clutch and moving the shift lever were not always smoothly done. Everybody around could hear that grinding as the teeth of the gears were not properly interlocking. With years of driving an automatic transmission vehicle, I wager that moving back to a manual transmission would yield more grinding of gears until I relearned the coordination of the clutch and the shift lever.

How efficiently do we and others in the congregation mesh our gears to move the church forward? When we are new to ministry, to meshing with other leaders in the congregation there is always some “grinding of the gears.” After a while, we learn a smoother way of operation. Yet, periodically, we do not mesh and the grinding can be hear by all those around us. When that happens do we keep trying to force things? One of the things which can happen when we continue to force things is one gear or another may break off a tooth and future smooth forward motion is impossible and the congregation sputs and sputters along, of simply stops any forward movement.

If there is a constant or frequent grinding of gears it might signal we need to shift into neutral to reassess why the gears are not smoothly meshing. At these time, a coach can be of significant value. Clutching and shifting is an art which is learned through practice and reflection. Very few people sit behind the wheel of a manual transmission vehicle and innately make smooth shifts necessary to move the vehicle forward at the desired speed and efficiency. The same is true when assuming the positions of preacher or session moderator. There are no mathematical formulas to be applied in every situation. Serving as a pastor is an art which is learned. Coaching enables a greater syncromeshing of pastor and other leaders in the congregation.