So all day yesterday seemed to be one annoying person after another who, if not through their words, showed me through their actions that they don't really value the children's ministry department in our church as "real" ministry.
First of all, our young adults leader (he's not paid staff - just a volunteer), a recent Master's Commission grad, announced to me out of the blue that he had purchased a smallish air hockey table for the young adults' meetings on Monday nights. No problem there...EXCEPT: a.) They meet in the room that is shared by children's and youth ministries, b.) He went to SP and got approval for it BEFORE even finding out how it would affect children's or youth ministries, c.) I am running more kids on Sunday mornings than any of them, so space is definitely an issue, and d.) I was told that it was going to be "off limits" to the kids and youth that meet in there.
I stood my ground and said that it's fine if they want it in there for their meetings, but I need them to move it out when they're done because I simply do not have the room for an extra piece of equipment that my kids aren't even going to be able to use...nor do I and my leaders have the time on Sunday mornings to "police" and make sure none of the 50+ kids in there are touching it. We came to an agreement, but I asked him in the future to please come to me and YP if he decides to make any significant changes to the room BEFORE going to SP.
So then last night, I was meeting with my ministry team (a group of 5th and 6th graders that help me on Sunday mornings and do drama, puppets, etc.), when first of all, one of our deacons comes in and announces to DH and me...right in the middle of my talking...that there's a planning meeting tomorrow (today now!) for our Pastors' Anniversary celebration...we do our "pastors' appreciation" on their anniversary as our pastors, not in October like everyone else, lol! First of all, way to give us notice! As it turns out, we'll be gone. Second of all, I was obviously in the middle of a meeting. Not five minutes later, YP comes in and starts asking my kids to help him move some chairs. No problem (I usually have them do that after our meetings are over, anyway!)...other than that we were just about to close in prayer!
Would any of these people go into an adult meeting and do this? Or even a youth meeting? Why is it that when kids are meeting, people think that they can just come in and "talk over" us if they feel that there's something more important? It's sad that when we did a Baptism in the Holy Spirit day, I had to post signs in the door that said, "Holy Spirit at work: please do not enter until the doors are open," AND plant leaders at each door to make sure parents didn't come in and bellow, "TIME TO GO, JOHNNY!!"
My SP is extremely supportive of children's ministry being "real" ministry. As far as parents go, it's a matter of educating them - our church is growing like crazy, and we have a lot of new parents who simply don't realize that kids' church is church and not daycare. But I feel like, at the very least, I should have the support of my fellow leaders...youth pastor...young adults' leader...deacons...I'm trying to figure out a way to bring this issue up in our next staff meeting without sounding defensive...
Don't be so sure that it's because you work with kids. Some people just don't know how to use appropriate manners. My husband and I are the senior pastors of our church and sometimes things like that happen to us! I will be on the phone on an important call (sometimes when they come in I don't always know what the call will turn into and I have not shut my door.) Without knocking, or waiting to see what I'm doing, sometimes a staffer will just walk right in and start talking while I'm on the phone, and I could be on with somebody who is tellling me they are thinking of killing themself. Do I get irritated? Sure but I realize they are not disrespectul of "my ministry" but sometimes they are just not utilizing proper manners.
There are times I'm ministering at the altar or "counseling at the altar" after service and somebody interrupts me...they get tired of waiting. Well, I should say this USED to happen before I had two armor bearers that stay with me before, during and after services and STOP those people. Before that, things could get crazy.
I really believe that many people today are just not educated on proper manners. Our YP was having prayer with his team before the service one night and they were really calling down fire from heaven and all of a sudden one of the leaders of another ministry burst into the room and next to their prayer circle were a bunch of stacked up tables. The guy yells to some others (not praying), "hey guys, come grab these tables" and they proceed to go over and grab these tables, clanking and banging around. Our YP was furious...right there in the midst of prayer, he said, "put down that table! We're having prayer and you need to respect that!" but evidently the person looked at him like he was a martian. Again...just lack of MANNERS.
I believe when this happens you have to just gently instruct about manners. Your sign was PERFECT. Why don't you leave that up every week? Or send out a memo about expectations/respect for the Holy Spirit. We put something in our bulletin each week now about cell phones, babies crying and all kinds of stuff. Why not do it in kids church too?
People SHOULD know, but many today just do not know social graces. They (even adults!) must be taught.
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