I have tried doing team building and asking their input on many of these things, but we are just not getting anywhere.  If I ask for input on an event and I have ideas that differ from what they have done before, I am told they don't agree, and even that they will not help.  For example, our program usually takes the summer off.  The Pastor and others in the church feel that it would be better to have a program available in the summer.  I mentioned this to the teachers, and was quickly told would all be on vacation, and noone would come anyway.  Same response for doing VBS.  I have the support of the Pastor, council, and many parents, however if the teachers are not behind it, then it makes it very very hard. 

I'm sorry if this seems whiny, but I am just so frustrated.  The focus needs to be on these kids and the difference the program can make in their lives, and yet the program cannot grow without the support of the people who run it.  Any advice???  Thanks.

I think if you have support of other adults for a summer Sunday School, you can ask for Summer teachers.  The crowd may be smaller so you may want to start by combining all or half of the cl so that you need less teachers.   It may be a different format also.

As for VBS, we have never expected the teachers to run it.   Our Board of Christian Education asks for volunteers to lead and then people to come forward to help.   I think we would loose teachers if we expected them to be available for VBS.

So, start by advertising an organizational meeting for those interested in helping with a Summer Sunday School and VBS.  Talk to those parents you know are supportive to encourage them to attend the meeting.   At the meetings, have a list of positions you need help in (many people do not know the details needed to run these programs).

Stress that you are starting two new programs - you appreciate the work of the current teaching staff Sept - May and would like to increase the learning opportunities for the congregation by adding two more programs.    You would like another set of staff for each program  and people are allowed to serve on more than one staff.

I will pray for you and the process you choose.  Hopefully others can add to these suggestions.  I am also interested in help in the areas you are looking at.

Adrianne

Check out Larry Shallenberger's "Making Waves: Or how to create change-producing waves without capsizing your children’s ministry."

http://www.childrensministry.com/backissues/detail.asp?ID=5989

And Gerri Baker's "20/20 Vision: If hindsight is 20/20, then why not get a rearview picture to begin with? That’s
exactly why we asked six children’s ministers to share what they wish they would’ve known in their first year of ministry."
http://www.childrensministry.com/backissues/detail.asp?ID=4894

Hope these help!

Christine Yount Jones

You are definitely in my prayers.  After 11 years in Children's Ministry it's still easy to remember the challenges and struggles of my first two years as a Children's Minister.  I entered full time ministry with loads of experience working with adults and children in very stressful situations, but my eyes were opened wide by the unique politics and pitfalls of Children's Ministry.  I will spare you a rehashing of my story and simply tell you what my experiences taught me.

Year one in a new church - Focus on Discovery, Exploration of what's in place and relationship building. Watch, listen, build relationships with key volunteers and keep major ministry changes to a minimum.  Tweek here or there, but do not start new ministries unless it's your ministry team's idea and they are behind it 100%.  Listen, ask questions that evoke other's insights, listen and listen some more. If you have to be heard, make sure you start with words of encouragement for what your current leadership is doing and appreciation for the last Children's Minister.  Look for the positives and freely, sincerely point them out as praises. Then listen, listen, listen some more.  And as Paul instructed, don't do anything that would make them think less of you!  Approach any negativity or well intentioned gossip with an immediate plea for unity and cooperation encouraging everyone to speak to people, not about people.

Year Two - If you have faithfully followed directions for year one, you will have earned crediblity and garnered the respect of the leaders that will serve your ministry with maturity and loyalty. Those that still want to stir up negativity will surely be outnumbered and your positive leadership will help them find their positive side or else they will quietly slip away.... (I find that negative people and gossips avoid positive teams and postivie people anyway.) Now you are ready to share your new ideas for new ministries and your team will be more than willing to listen.

Your situation is surely different from mine, so I only offer what I learned - the hard way! I pray it is helpful to you.

Blessings,

Lisa B from NC

Obviously the leadership of the church saw something in you--that is why they hired you!  As the saying goes, "If you always do what you've always done--you'll always get what you always got!"

Sometimes change is exactly what a church needs to keep it from going down!  My advice--PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!  Ask God to direct your path--if it is a program that He wants--He will open the doors to make it happen.

When I came on staff, we were going to the rotational Sunday School system.  Man--did we meet resistance!  But, we pressed on and now everyone loves it.  The best part for me--teachers only commit to 1 month at a time.  After that, they can take off however long they like--this way no one gets burned out and summers don't take away the entire 3 months for 1 teacher.

Again, pray--that is the key!

that I am praying for you, because I have been where you are now. I know the uphill

battle that comes along with getting into a postion where you try to come up with

ideas that you know will change the course of direction in your children's ministry

and the people that are suppossed to be supporting and helping train our future leaders

just turn a blind eye to wanting to see God do some brand new things in the hearts and lives of our kids. Our children are a heritage from God and we better treat and teach them as such.