MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Do You Need to Hire a Minister of GCD?

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Thu, October 01, 2009
Viewed 79
(9) comments so far

The very first position any church planter needs to fill is the Minister of GCD. That’s short for Getting Crap Done.

Notice I didn’t advocate a Minister of GTT (Getting Thoughts Thunk) or HLM (Having Lunch Meetings). The most important thing a senior pastor needs in the earliest days of starting a church is a support person that will enable him to fly at a high altitude. A good GCD Pastor is willing to be your children’s pastor, administrative assistant, executive director, and custodian. In the same day. A natural born CGD (Crap Getter Done) will learn to live for the thrill of freeing up the leader to do what only the leader can do. And the vision will flourish.

Over time, your needs will become much more sophisticated. You’ll want to hire specialists and people who deal in big ideas. But in the first year or so, you don’t need theorists. There’s no room for that on the payroll.

The more limited the budget, the more important it is to fire the show horses and hire folks who know how to execute. Someone who specializes in follow through. Someone who’s not afraid to get his/her hands dirty, and can morph into whatever is needed from moment to moment.

You can read more here at Steven's blog.

What do you think? Do you have a pastor of GCD? Do you need one? What person (position) do you most wish you had on YOUR staff?

Comments

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Peter Hamm on Thu, October 01, 2009

man, I really loved the idea of people who [live for the thrill of freeing up the leader to do what only the leader can do.]

We should ALL live for the thrill of making our leaders’ jobs easier! THAT is being a great leader/follower!

I do wish more of our people thought that way, and if they did, we wouldn’t need a crap-getter-done-er…
Jay Kelly on Thu, October 01, 2009

I have never, ever in my life met anyone who lives for the thrill (the THRILL??) of freeing up the leader to do what only the leader can do. I’ve met a LOT of leaders who would love to meet this person, though.
CS on Thu, October 01, 2009

How about more BSHPs? You know—blond, spiky-haired preachers. I would think that Furtick would approve. =)

—
CS
Josh Griffin on Thu, October 01, 2009

If only my Senior Pastor would allow me to be the Pastor of GCD and move out of the mindframe that I’m his “intern.” Only been doing that for a decade now. It would work well due to the fact that I’m already the Youth and Administrative Director, a main Sunday School teacher, small group leader, and credentialed minister. I think this is very important due to his working 3 jobs, with his main one being our church. If anyone has any suggestions on how to try to move forward I’d love to hear them.
Leonard on Thu, October 01, 2009

I hired one to get crap started but not get it done. Shoot. oh well. That said, I wish I had someone like this… big time. I do have an amazing staff team that together we work well and we have an amazing team of volunteers too.
Randy Wood on Thu, October 01, 2009

I am a former Lead pastor. I think, no I KNOW that I am a GCD staffer. Todd, if you know of a Church in Central Arkansas that needs one let me know!! I love getting crap done!!
Stretch Mark Mama on Thu, October 01, 2009

Oh, that is so true. I’ve been part of a church plant for two years now—have watched a lot of people come and go—many of them show horses. But blessed are those who are on the GCD Team—they are few but they are mighty.
Shawn on Fri, October 02, 2009

We have a CGD. We call him the administrator. He makes sure we see the reports we need to see, not the ones that make him look good. He also makes sure that we get crap done. We are not a church plant but a church of 500 or so with a perpetually small staff. We added this guy after a layoff in his business field and have not regretted it yet. He’s a valuable member of our staff. If you have someone in this position make sure you show appreciation for him.

Josh, sounds like you are a CGD who isn’t appreciated. Remember that you are serving the Savior, not the supreme leader of anywhere church, USA. If you believe God would have you stay there, then by all means do. But stop looking for appreciation. Otherwise, get your resume out there and start looking. But don’t ever act like you were under appreciated. No one wants a staff member who “desires” regular pats on the head. We should give them as a matter of effective leadership and genuine appreciation.
Joe Johnson on Mon, October 05, 2009

I sometimes think that is my role in my paid job - I consider myself the “Valley Keeper,” you know what rolls down hill. I like this title.