Yesterday a young minister called me to ask my advice and counsel. He is looking to bring on another minister for a key staff position. They were interviewing throughout the weekend. They had gone over position description and key objectives for the ministry. They had talked through the mission and vision of the church. They discussed theology and ministry at length. They shared their views and practice of personal prayer life and key thoughts about marriage and family. They have driven around mission area. They had the hard ‘money talk’. They even prayed about this new assignment together. Everything seemed to be right.
I said, “You don’t sound convinced that he’s the right guy for the position.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I can’t put my finger on it. I don’t know how to get at the question…but there is something I can’t identify that is not right.”
I said to him, “Ask yourself one question: would I want to go on vacation with this guy?”
There was silence on the phone. He said, “That’s it…I don’t think so.”
“Well, if you are going to be working closely with him, you’d better really, really like him enough to travel across the country on a road trip together.”(hypothetically)
The “Vacation Question” as I call it, never lets me down. It gets to the issue of chemistry. It zeroes in on a very subjective topic and gives it an easy answer. How high is the likability index? It needs to be pretty high to make a good call on someone you are going to work with closely.
I have made some really good staff calls in my ministry…and some really bad ones too. Most anyone who works in Human Resources will tell you that there are no silver bullets. Our recent experience with a search firm (Vanderbloemen Search Group) has been successful and rewarding. Still, over the years I have learned to ask that one single question…and very seldom has it let me down.
And if all the other issues are right…and if the answer to the ‘Vacation Question’ is yes, then pack your bags; or rather, the new guy should pack his bags. You have a good change of making the right call.
On the face of things, this makes complete sense, but I wonder if this can be justified through a biblically based view of the church and her leadership? I think getting along is important, but I wonder whether failing to get along and then learning through having to get along and working on repentance and forgiveness, actually makes a team stronger? Moreover, might it not be the case that a person I don’t “like” actually brings something to the church that the church might need and what they bring to the team is something that I instinctively feel uncomfortable with because its just not me? Then there is the question of when the vacation will actually ever happen? (That, of course, is tongue and cheek. Since it misses the point of the test.) So yeah, I would like to see a theologically articulated reason why the vacation test should be the deal breaker (since this seems to be a modernist managerial proposal)
Much love.
Good points for sure. But one biblical reason might be the simple fact that Jesus selected is core from the people he knew the best. Peter, James, and John were regional fishermen that Jesus ‘likely’ knew well. And boy…did they travel!
I see.
For anyone who is not familiar with Anglican clergy searches or new to the Anglican church, please understand that this concept does not represent us or our values. In this case, the hiring rector should have prayerfully considered his doubts about the candidate and then contacted the candidate with follow up questions and concerns. The vacation question does not involve Christ or the candidate’s abilities as a spiritual shepherd. It does not honor God in the hiring process. How many people do you know who like to vacation with their coworkers? Most people vacation to take a break from work and coworkers. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t great at their job. For anyone considering ordination in the Anglican church, please don’t be discouraged. Most priests would not consider a candidate this way.
Furthermore, as a general hiring rule, this question is faulty because asking yourself whether or not you feel comfortable enough to vacation with a candidate is a surefire way to end up with dangerously homogenous staff that does not reflect the diversity and various needs of your church.
While I certainly appreciate your clear disagreement with my lighthearted approach to asking this sort of question, I disagree with you. My suggestion is to ask about a question of ‘chemistry’. That does now exclude Christ or the Holy Spirit. I think also you may have over-read my article to suggest that every boss should go on vacation with their staff. That is to take my suggestion too literally.
But again, thank you for reading my article.