The 3 C's

Competency
Commitment
Character

These are the three C's. They are 3 very important words. They are important in a marriage, a family, a business and especially in youth ministry. Think about it, everyone who works with students probably went through some sort of "evaluation" or "job interview" or something. As formal or informal as it may have been we all go through something. And I am willing to bet that one, two or all of the three C's (though maybe not mentioned by name) came up in the conversation.

I am down with the three C's. However, I am very much zealous about the order of priority we give to them.

In my experience of being interviewed for youth jobs (been through many of them in the last 12 years) to now doing more of the interviewing I have found out something that is giving me pause. The normal order of the 3 C's seems to be (though I doubt we intend this to happen):

#1 Competency
#2 Commitment
#3 Character

As I reflect on my many job interviews I can not recall more than one (yes...only one job interview) in which many character questions were asked. However, every single one of the jobs focused on competency as a primary point. Which communicates to me that competency is more important to that church and to God than character. Again, I do not think we mean to do this and I am also guilty (is this a confessional blog? If so, you are not allowed to share my confession of sin with anyone!).

For example, many of the questions where, "What and how do you teach? How did you grow the youth group? What was your strategy? How do you train and recruit leaders? What is your vision? " etc....

Commitment was not far behind. "How long are you planning to stay? We want a commitment of 3-4 years. We want you to take the kids here...or there..." etc....

Notice what the questions where not. "How is your relationship with God? What do you do to strengthen it? What can we do to help? Here is what we think can help you....does that sound good? Do you have a spiritual director or mentor? Do you have someone outside the church who is a safe person to vent to and talk through things? How do you handle gossip and divisiveness? If you have a problem with a coworker how do you handle it? Here are some resources and training items we have to help you...would you be willing to read these?" And that is just all off the top of my head.

The 3 C's re prioritised.

I think they should go like this:

#1 Character
#2 Competency
#3 Commitment

I would rather have someone who is ok on competency and great on character than someone who has average character and great competency. And I would venture to guess that any of you who have been bit in the butt by a coworkers or an adult leaders poor character would say "AMEN!" Not only that, as I look at my own life it is my lack of character from time to time that has most hurt others as opposed to some of the many bone headed decisions I have made in youth ministry.

Finally, a big fat thank you to Ryan Hofacre for putting words to much of this stuff that has been bouncing around in my brain for many years.

Labels: Leadership, Training