Formal study at the undergraduate or graduate level is a common form of continued learning. Degree completion programs are booming as many colleges and universities respond to the desire of men and women who, at mid-life, want to finish their bachelor's degrees. Graduate schools are responding by making masters and even doctoral degree programs more flexible and accessible.

Non-formal learning through seminars, workshops and conferences is another growing avenue of learning. Many employers and professions now require workers to attend continuing education events. A number of churches and parachurch organizations also offer training. These events tend to focus on practical concepts and skills related to the workplace or ministry. Self-study or small group study is becoming more and more popular. Many learners have personal study plans that include non-formal learning and reading. Reading books and discussing issues in study groups has become more popular in the past 20 years.

In the last article, we discussed strategies for life-long learning for personal spiritual formation and musicianship. In this issue we conclude by exploring strategies for deepening theological understanding and developing ministry leadership abilities.

3. Theological
Depth Perhaps the best defense against ministry burnout is continuous learning and growth at the theological level. It is commonplace for ministry professionals, especially music ministers, to play down the importance of theology. Many worship leaders tell me, "theology is irrelevant to me. I need practical stuff." But how irrelevant is theological understanding, really? Several years ago, Ray Anderson of Fuller Seminary wrote that "clergy burnout is a symptom of theological amnesia. Many pastors and ministry professionals discover only too late that deeper theological roots might have prevented pain and frustration.

"A pastor and former student of mine, I'll call him Jeff, began his studies at Fuller ready to quit the ministry. His ministry was a shambles - tragedy of errors, poor leadership, conflict, miscommunication and wounded pride. His church was clamoring for his resignation, and his wife had delivered an ultimatum: "quit now or I'm leaving you." As Jeff sat in my office, tears streamed down his face. "I want you to know, Dr. Redman, that this is my last shot," referring to his program of study. "If this doesn't work, I'm outta here."

My response to his dilemma astonished him. While I did recommend the expected practical solutions like marriage counseling for him and his wife and some intervention from his denomination to sort out problems in his ministry, the most significant assistance I could give him was theological. More than anything, he needed to find his theological bearings again. So together we designed a program that included some heavy-duty biblical and theological studies. By the time Jeff graduated in the spring of 1997, he was a new man. Although he was eventually removed from his church, Jeff has since started at a new church where he leads effectively with a new sense of purpose and commitment.

To avoid potential burnout you need to grow deep roots. Here's some ways you can begin to deepen your theological foundations, whether you've never read a single theological book or you've got a Ph.D. in theology.

• Develop your own theology of worship. Start by studying the key biblical passages that relate to worship. Read books and articles that present a theological slant on worship, as well as literature with a practical leadership approach. Sign up for worship workshops or conferences in your area. Take classes on worship at a college or seminary. Finally, writing your perspective out in the form of a 20-25 page essay will help you crystallize your thinking. As Samuel Johnson said, "reading maketh a man broad; speaking maketh a man ready; but writing maketh a man exact."

• Get to know your pastor at a theological level. Find out his or her theological perspectives and passions, and start a dialogue. Most pastors have strong theological interests they developed in seminary, but few have regular opportunities for theological conversation. Chances are they'll welcome the opportunity to mentor your theological growth. Have him or her suggest some books or articles to read. Try reading a book together, then meeting once a week to discuss a chapter or two. Good books to start with might be Themes and Variations for a Christian Doxology by Hughes Old, Worship Evangelism by Sally Morgenthaler or The New Worship by Barry Liesch. If you're new to worship ministry, sermon tapes, particularly those on worship, are a great starting point.

• Be part of a learning community with your ministry peers. Get connected to other worship leaders and learn from them. Worship workshops and seminars are great places to network with colleagues in your area. Developing one-on-one relationships with ministers at other churches will educate and inspire. These relationships can expand into groups that can provide encouragement and accountability for growth.

• Develop a strategy to deepen the theological awareness of your team. Prepare and lead Bible studies for your team on key worship passages in the Old and New Testaments. Get them subscriptions to Worship Leader and other publications, and have regular times to discuss articles and features that impact your team.

4. Ministry Leadership
The inability to lead and manage the worship ministry is a chief weakness of worship leaders today. Good ideas and intentions are often undermined by a lack of personal organization and poorly handled relationships. Worship leaders don't have to be management geniuses to lead their teams well. But neither they can neglect the fundamentals of building an effective ministry. You do not need an MBA to lead worship, but ministry leadership will take you out of your comfort zone. Max de Pree, the long-time chairman and CEO of Herman Miller, Inc., wrote, "the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader must become a servant and a debtor" (from Leadership is an Art).

For the in-between years, there are a few key areas of leadership focus that require purpose, direction and focus.

• Take charge of your schedule and get organized. Begin by reserving time each week for personal worship, practicing your instrument, and study and reflection. Watch out for unnecessary meetings. Management expert Peter Drucker believes that an organization that spends more than a third of its time (12 hours a week) in meetings is bankrupt. Learn to use your computer for organization and communication. Utilize volunteers to help you with routine tasks. An office manager or administrative assistant attending your church can show you how to set up filing systems and how to keep the inevitable paperwork flowing across your desk.

• Make time for key relationships in your ministry. Keep plenty of time available to spend with your pastor and other leaders in your ministry, time not just spent on pressing ministry issues. Leadership is about trust. Trust can only be earned in relationships, and relationships take time.

• Make time for long range planning and strategizing. Balance the immediate with a view of the bigger picture. "The problem with planning services," observes veteran worship leader Monty Kelso, "is that Sunday comes around every week." Many worship leaders find themselves caught in the trap of weekly planning and have little opportunity to step back for a look at the bigger picture. Establish annual goals and objectives, such as special events or trips, that reach beyond the weekly service.

• Learn how to deal with conflict in a godly way. Many musicians are conflict avoiders who hope that conflict will go away if they don't pay attention to it. But as Joseph Garlington has said, "what is buried alive stays alive." Many worship teams are poisoned by conflict that started over surprisingly trivial things that fester and infect the whole ministry. As leaders we need to lead by example and model godly conflict resolution following Matthew 18.

• Develop a feedback system that allows for honest evaluation. Musicians are notoriously thin-skinned when it comes to criticism. One negative comment can put someone into a funk that lasts for days. Yet without feedback it is impossible to know how you're doing. At some point successful worship leaders learn not to take feedback too personally, whether negative or positive. Instead they sift it for what can be learned and disregard the rest. I am aware of one particular church where the worship team, including the pastor, meets directly after each service. Each person in the circle contributes one thing he or she thought went well and one thing that needs to be fixed. The critique includes the message. Everyone takes notes, and action plans are developed and approved to correct the problems at hand. Each service and the ministry as a whole needs to be carefully evaluated by getting honest feedback.