FAMILY MATTERS

Whenever I get involved with Church-sponsored activities, I end up feeling frustrated. Meetings start late, proceedings are disorganized and nothing much seems to get accomplished. Are efficiency and professionalism too much to ask of leaders of church-based organizations?

I concur that there seems to be a built-in forgiveness factor at work in parish- and Church-sponsored groups. To a certain extent, this is understandable. In some cases, it's laudable. But that doesn't mean we have to make a mission out of mediocrity.

Neither does it mean, though, that you should expect Church operations to behave like businesses. For one thing, many Church-sponsored programs are staffed mainly by volunteers. They may have professional-level competency and skill sets in their careers — but not in the area in which they're toiling for the Church.

It usually comes down the individuals involved. Sometimes, for example, you'll see people who feel it's okay to “dumb down” when they show up to pitch in on a Church project. I know of one individual with impressive financial skills who has let his parish know that he is ready, willing and able to help out — with anything other than financial matters.

Then, too, let's face it: Volunteers act, well, like volunteers. Most will commit when other things don't get in the way, but other things often do get in the way. The mentality that often prevails is that we must be grateful for whatever a volunteer can provide. It wouldn't be right to hold people accountable — even for what, in a paid job, would be considered poor performance.

Now, as Pope John Paul II reminded us in his 1981 encyclical Laborem Exercens (On Human Work), all organizations should value the person more than his or her performance. But this is a call to improve respect, development and leadership, not an invitation to tolerate ineptness and complacency. Poorly run Church activities can lead to low morale, inefficiencies, wasted resources and added expenses. Worse still, they can lead to constricting the Kingdom of God.

And then there's the other side of the coin: Sometimes we want to bring our “A game” to the Church only to have the Church turn us away. I know of one highly accomplished professional who, upon retirement from his large corporation, offered his formidable financial acumen to his parish. The pastor declined to have him help with the books, but offered to have him serve as an usher. With all due respect for what ushers bring to the parish, this sounds to me like an unwise spurning of a great resource.

There shouldn't be anything inherently unprofessional in Church-sponsored or Church-led activities. Effectiveness, efficiency, customer focus and prudential business practices are virtues that a spiritual goal should embrace, not ignore.

In Luke 16:8, Christ is wondering why the children of darkness are more astute in their projects than the children of light. Practical, hardheaded intelligence is often what we're missing. And in 2 Peter 1:3, we are reminded that we are called to both glory and excellence. Not glory and shoddiness.

So go ahead and expect the best of the Church-based organizations and activities to which you're devoting your time. Make suggestions and offer feedback, albeit in a charitable and humble way, if you think your group could do better.

Let there be professionalism in the Church — and let it begin with you.

Art Bennett is director of Alpha Omega Clinic (aoccs.org).