I’ve been writing some practical Youth Ministry posts at the Slant33 blog this year. If you are in youth ministry and seeking some very specific questions and answers dealing with the practical side of the ins and outs of youth ministry leadership I recommend you go over there.  My most recent post is below. I encourage you to go to the source though so you can see the other 2 writers and where we agree or disagree.

How do you know when it’s time to consider moving on from a youth ministry role?

I should start out by saying that I have worked at 4 churches so I have a few thoughts about transitions.  I’ll also be transparent here and say in most cases I made good decisions but there is still one church I left that I still question if it was right.

First a funny story:  About 10 years ago I was asked to apply for a job at a large camp in Southern California.  At the time I had a great job already, was going to school (church was paying) and had just bought a house. We were happy. But, I felt like God had opened a door that I needed to explore because when I took the job at this church I specifically told them if this camp ever called and asked me to interview I would.  I made it to the final two in that search but ultimately I just didn’t feel like it was the right decision to pursue that job. So when we started talking about salary and things like that I shot really high because I didn’t want to leave.  It was the greatest decision to stay and I had years of amazing ministry at that church.  Well about three years ago the same thing happened again. Same camp called me.  And in similar fashion I made it to the top 2. And just like before I didn’t want to leave my job but felt like I should at least interview.  Well just like the time 7 years before I didn’t get the job and it just confirmed in me that I was supposed to stay where I was.  I joke about these two situations because in both cases the same person was hired. A woman I respect and think is amazing.  So what I like to say is “Sometimes God speaks in a still small voice and sometimes in my life he just uses Angie.”

Transitions are always difficult to navigate.  In many cases in the youth ministry world churches assume that we won’t stay long term when they hire us. Unfortunately, that preconceived notion by many churches that we will only be there for short-term makes them not commit much to us.

Now there are youth ministers who stay at their churches for a very long time. I think that’s great and commend them for that commitment. We would better serve the world of youth ministry if we all did that. But, it is often just not possible.

So how do you know it’s time to leave or go? Here’s a couple thoughts.

How are your heart and soul?  I work at a church now that I love. I love my staff, the students, families and the whole community.  I wake up in the morning thinking about the church and am really excited about all the possibilities there.  Most of the time I feel like I am valued, contribute and that people care for me.  I worked at a church once where I didn’t feel any of those things.  That was hard.  I think self evaluation of how you are doing at your soul is a huge step.  If you feel like you are at a place that nurtures and cares for it then you are in a good place. If the opposite is true then you might want to consider a transition.

How are you compensated?  I mean way more than money here but I’ll start out by talking about strict finances. Do you get paid enough to live on? Are you able to make ends meet and not eat noodles every night?  Does the church have a plan for how you might be compensated better during life transitions or milestones?  Often in our world churches don’t take care of you differently when you get married, have kids or graduate from college or seminary.  This is especially true in this economy when things are tight.  But, this is a long term question you will have to wrestle with.  Now it may be that you are compensated fairly and I don’t think $ should be at the top of our list when it comes to transitions but it is a factor.

Is there opportunity for growth?  This sounds way more like a business question than a church question but I think it’s still worth asking.  If you’ve been in your job for a while and do it well is there any opportunity to take on more leadership and responsibilities?   In many cases the answer is yes and you could see yourself sticking around for a long time because there are places you can move into as your life changes.  I’ve moved into more of a leader of leaders role as I’ve gotten older and been around longer.  It’s a good place for me.  If you are in a role that will likely never change and you feel already like you are butting up against a ceiling you might want to consider a transition.

What happens when you graduate from school?  I’m a huge proponent in education and for preparation.  Because of that I’ve gotten a masters degree and more.  Graduation is a natural time of transition. I left a church after I graduated from seminary. It was a great transition and everyone celebrated with me.  It may be that you are more qualified for a different role after graduation and doors are opening to you.  You might find though that your church wants to have you move into something else or they want to financially reward you more.

Are you done?  This is a simple yet profound question. The hardest year of ministry for me is always the 5^th year. It is the year after the first group of students that I started with as 9^th graders graduate. We are not supposed to have favorites but in general that first class that I spent 4 years with will always be mine. So the year after they graduated was a difficult year. I missed them a ton. I was done that year but stuck around for 2 more because I didn’t feel like leaving.   All of us will get to a point where we recognize that we know we are finished with our role.  But, many of us like paychecks and hate transition and just stick around because we are to scared to follow God somewhere else.

One thing I really like about the Slant33 blog is that you can read two other peoples thoughts here about transitions.  Getting multiple opinions is probably really helpful for you.  All situations are different.  My last bit of advice is to say you have to weigh all factors before making any decision. Focusing too much on any one factor will probably lead you to make the wrong decision. I did that once. I decided a location I wanted to live and a beach that I wanted to spend a lot of time at.  My blinders came up and I didn’t weigh all the factors.  Great beach, wrong church.