Keeping the Beat: The Rhythm of Pastoral Engagement with Group Leaders

When was the last time you considered the beat-keeping nature of pastoral engagement with the group leaders in your church?

By Ken Braddy

When I entered middle school, I was invited to consider joining the school’s orchestra. I had no musical background, but I had one thing the orchestra was looking for: height. I was tall, and they needed someone to learn how to play (and lug around) a cello bass (also called the “upright” bass). It’s normally in the background, often on the back row of an orchestra.

That’s exactly what I did. I chose to learn how to play the cello bass in the orchestra, and I continued to play all through my high school years. At one point I even considered playing in college but quickly realized that was not the right pathway for me (I was good, but not that good!).

The great thing about playing the cello bass is that the entire orchestra listened for my bass line. I was the instrumentalist who kept the beat for the rest of the orchestra. Although the first chair violinist has an important role to play in leading the orchestra, everyone could easily hear the loud, rich resonance of my cello bass. And I set the beat for the rest of my orchestra companions.

Keeping the beat in churches

Pastors have an important role to play in making sure there’s a beat and rhythm to communicating with group leaders. Group leaders benefit when pastors find the right cadence of engagement, which includes both on and off-campus groups. The question becomes: What’s the right rhythm so group leaders feel seen, heard, appreciated, and supported but not like they’re always being monitored or smothered?

“Pastors have an important role to play in making sure there’s a beat and rhythm to communicating with group leaders.” — @KenBraddy Share on X

An allegro tempo of engagement

Group leaders newer to that role need an allegro tempo when it comes to pastoral engagement. Allegro is a musical term that means “a fast, lively tempo.” A new group leader, someone who has less than two years of experience leading a group, should have faster and more frequent engagement from the pastor. New leaders need affirmation, guidance, and feedback about their ministry.

The last thing a new group leader needs or wants is infrequent communication and engagement from the church’s main leader. You can create an allegro tempo through frequent in-person meetings like a meal or a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop. You can maintain an allegro tempo of engagement through weekly or bi-weekly contact via phone or text.

An allegro tempo of pastoral engagement is often helpful when a church has a small group ministry that primarily takes place off campus. Off-campus groups could begin to feel disconnected from the church since they spend so much time together but away from the church’s main gathering. Pastoral engagement is critical for keeping these group leaders feeling connected to the church body.

An allegro tempo is also useful when a pastor has a group leader who doesn’t always act in the best interest of the church. The group leader might teach something contrary to the church’s stated theological positions, or he simply might not speak favorably about the pastor, staff, or the direction of the church. In this case, a faster tempo of engagement is helpful to make certain the leader knows he’s valued and also being monitored.

If a wayward group leader knows his pastor is interested in his group ministry, he’ll be more likely to accept the pastor’s corrective actions. Leaving this kind of person alone is the opposite of what he needs.

“If a wayward group leader knows his pastor is interested in his group ministry, he’ll be more likely to accept the pastor’s corrective actions.” — @KenBraddy Share on X

An adagio tempo of engagement

In musical terminology, adagio means “a slower tempo.” As you consider the frequency of contact with group leaders, some will need an allegro tempo, while an adagio tempo will serve others well. Generally speaking, experienced group leaders are comfortable with a slower rhythm of contact from the pastor.

Group leaders who have 10 years or more of experience leading groups often appreciate a slower, more “hands-off” approach to pastoral engagement. They’re supportive of the church and the pastor, and they’ve developed confidence over the years. These group leaders can operate much more independently than a person who’s newer to group leadership.

When it comes to experienced group leaders, an adagio tempo might look like a once-a-month contact from the pastor—or maybe even once every six weeks. In extreme cases when a group leader has even more years of experience, a less frequent cadence of engagement might be sufficient.

These kinds of leaders don’t feel slighted or forgotten; instead, an adagio tempo communicates that the pastor trusts them and their leadership of their group.

Using fermata rightly

A third musical term we should consider when it comes to finding the beat for pastoral engagement with group leaders is the word fermata, which means “to pause or hold.” This is applied to a note in a composition where the conductor wants the orchestra to pause and hold over a note or a rest longer than its given time value, sometimes up to twice as long.

In group life, it’s wise for pastors to sometimes pause and linger over a particular group leader when seeking to engage with that person and their group. He would spend time with that group leader—extra time, to encourage them.

Group leaders are volunteers, and they have lives outside their volunteer roles in the church. They support their families by working, they coach little league teams, date their spouses, help their children with homework, and somehow find time to lead a Bible study group.

This is difficult work, and many group leaders need a pastor to practice fermata on them—extending time to them for the purpose of encouraging them in their work for the Lord. Burnout is a real issue in group life, and by lingering over a cup of coffee or a breakfast with a volunteer group leader who’s struggling, a pastor might be the person who puts wind back in their sails.

“Burnout is a real issue in group life, and by lingering over a cup of coffee or a breakfast with a volunteer group leader who’s struggling, a pastor might be the person who puts winds back in their sails.” — @KenBraddy Share on X

The coda

In musical composition, the coda is the concluding section of the piece, often repeating thematic elements previously heard. It signals that the conclusion is imminent.

We have considered the beat-keeping nature of pastoral engagement with group leaders. Some group leaders need an allegro tempo, with quick and fast check-ins and a more regular rhythm of engagement because of their newness to the ministry of group leadership.

We also noted that other group leaders who have more experience appreciate an adagio tempo of pastoral engagement, with a slower rhythm of engagement. These leaders are secure in themselves, confident, and don’t need as much hand-holding as newer leaders.

And in conclusion, there are some group leaders who need a fermata, a lingering over them by the pastor. These group leaders may need encouragement to continue fighting the good fight, and pastors truly shepherd these leaders when they recognize the needs of their sheep and spend more time with some, pausing to be present and assuring the group leader he sees, hears, values, and cares for them.

For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.