Super Domestiques
I’ve been watching the Tour de France (actually just the daily summaries of the race!). Cycling is a team sport, and winners only stand on the podium because of the hard work of their team. In particular, there are riders called ‘domestiques’ who sacrifice their own chances at victory to help their teammate succeed, often providing a windbreak, setting the pace or fetching supplies.
Christian ministry relies on ‘domestiques'… those who support the team. In our case at DAC, we have Linda Thomson willingly serving as our Operations Minister (along with her women’s and care roles). She writes:
Part of my role will be working alongside Amy in the Support to Ministry area. I will oversee operations, and Amy will continue to provide administrative and reception support.
A healthy Operations department ensures that the daily functions of the church run smoothly, creating an environment where members and ministry staff are equipped and resourced to use their time and energy effectively, focusing on areas such as preaching, mission, pastoral care, and discipleship.
Operations support looks to build and manage the areas of an organisation that add to the daily functions. In our case this will include working alongside the Wardens and Mark to provide oversight to matters relating to: buildings and facilities, volunteers within the office, IT, reporting to the diocese, office budgets, some HR tasks, supporting the work of the OP shop and anything else that may arise along this track.
Operations is a large area of ministry support. We know that God’s church is one body with many parts; operations is an area that draws heavily upon the gifts and skills of the whole body. I’m excited to see how God uses us to support pastoral ministry into the future. Please continue to pray for Amy and I as we seek to grow in our Support to Ministry roles.
Two things to note about the importance of the Support to Ministry area:
There is heaps to do, and given our budget doesn’t presently allow us to employ further help, Linda will be actively looking for volunteer help.
Aside from Operations, there is the whole area of Governance, a vital role filled by our Parish Council and Wardens.
"God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:18-19). Please be in prayer for all those serving in this vital ministry area.
Grace and Peace,
Mark