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From the perspective of the mentor, a fundamental impetus for mentoring is the awareness of one’s human limitations and mortality. Those who mentor others recognize that they do not have the capability to fulfil current responsibilities by themselves nor will they live long enough to accomplish everything they believe needs doing. So they will want to equip those around them to access their energies and capabilities to help address current realities. Continue reading “Biblical Foundations for Ministry Mentoring-2”

Okay back to writing–after a long time. We will go for a few blogs talking about a biblical rationale for ministry mentoring.

“He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel,

which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.”

(Psalm 78:5–6, NIV)

 

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The theological framework which we set around ministry mentoring begins with an understanding that God is a relational being and that he has created us to be relational beings to whom he relates and who relate to others in community. This is alluded to in the creation narratives of Genesis. God deliberates, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule (have dominion [ESV]) over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground”” (Genesis 1:26, NIV). At another point in the narrative he says, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.” (Genesis 2:18–19, NIV)  These two brief references suggest a theological basis for understanding the relational nature of God and human beings. The first reference suggests that there were persons to whom he related during the creative process. The second reference is an introduction to the creation of the woman so that the man would have someone of his own kind to relate to. Both of these passages also introduce the nature of the relationship that God has with humankind in terms of purpose and partnership in creation. Under God’s supervision humankind is to have dominion over the created order and that is illustrated by the task of naming the animals God gives to the man and then steps back “to see what he would name them.” This is very much like what a good mentor would do to encourage development by releasing a mentee to fulfil and project and embracing the outcome. The rest of the scriptures are permeated with examples of a similar dynamic where God continually invites human beings into a partnership with him to fulfil his purposes.

Ideal ministry mentors will be thinking of two things as they develop relationships with their protégés or mentorees: (1) what is best for the protégé and (2) what is best for the kingdom of God. Keeping those two things in mind will keep mentors on track and prevent them from abusing any power they may have in the relationship. As protégés see these things as guiding principles in their mentors, they will be more inclined to trust them and relationship will be strengthened.

I am starting this blog on mentoring because I want to learn how to be a better mentor and this will be one way of processing some of the things I am learning.  I will be working on a project over the next couple of years which will involve studying the subject of ministry mentoring in some depth. I expect that there will be some insights learned or significant quotes on the subject which I will be putting on the blog just to share something that may be helpful for those who are also involved in mentoring. I would also like to receive comments or additional insight that anyone who follows the blog might care to offer.

The early blogs are likely to more about defining what I understand by ministry mentoring. The focus of the blog generally will be around best practices of mentoring  and the mentoring relationship but may also include some actual areas which relate directly to issues of ministry mentoring from time to time. We will see where it goes. Check in from time to time to see if there is anything that interests you. I’d be interested to hear from you. Comments will be monitored.

Johnson and Ridley in Elements of Mentoring define mentoring in this way: “Mentoring relationships (mentorships) are dynamic, reciprocal, personal relationships in which a more experienced person (mentor) acts as a guide, role model, teacher, and sponsor of a less experienced person (protégé). Mentors provide protégés with knowledge, advice, counsel, support, and opportunity in the protégé’s pursuit of full membership in a particular profession. Outstanding mentors are intentional about the mentor role. They select protégés carefully, invest significant time and energy in getting to know their protégés, and deliberately offer the career and support functions most useful for their protégés. Mentoring is an act of generativity— a process of bringing into existence and passing on a professional legacy.”

Ministry mentoring includes the above definition but occurs primarily in the context of Christian ministry development. Ministry mentoring also focuses as much on the growth of Christian character of the one doing ministry as on ministry competencies.