A popular discussion lately in junior high ministry circles is the question of student leadership. It seems that we all like the idea of having some sort of approach to student leadership in our junior high ministries, but actually pulling it off is proving a bigger challenge than most of us expected!
Here are three typical approaches to student leadership in junior high.
- The Organic approach.
This approach doesn't involve any formal structure or leadership program' Student leadership with young teens is tough, but crucial! The junior high years are probably the most important for helping students develop leadership qualities that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Instead, student leaders simply emerge from the pack and are given bits and pieces of responsibility and leadership. The adult leaders pin-point students who are influential, have the natural gift of serving, express a higher than normal level of concern about the ministry etc. The organic approach would tend to let the cream rise to the top' and proceed to skim the cream for leadership roles.
- The We value structure but this is junior high, after all approach.
This approach is much more formal than an organic approach, but still leaves lots of room for flexibility and for leadership to rise up unexpectedly. In this approach, the ministry has a formal leadership program that meets regularly to teach about and experience leadership opportunities together. Typically, any student who wants to be involved is allowed to do so. The goal of this approach is simply to expose any interest student to leadership training and opportunities.
- The We take this thing super seriously approach.
This approach is a formal, structured, programmatic approach to student leadership. The program is advertised as something for spiritually mature students who want to share in the ownership and direction of the ministry. Students apply for the program (not everyone who applies is accepted) and can be asked to step down if certain requirements aren't met. In this approach, student leaders are made known to the other group members and are held accountable for lifestyle, attitudes, behavior etc.
Granted, these are rather simplistic explanations of what junior high student ministry may look like. In our ministry at Saddleback, we've taken a crack at all three approaches and probably even a few others. Here's what I've decided: Student leadership with young teens is tough, but crucial! The junior high years are probably the most important for helping students develop leadership qualities that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. I'm not sure what the best way to do it is, but I'm certain we need to!
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