Mike Bonem
What is the treatment for a fractured ankle? Immobilize it in a cast and stay off of it for several weeks, right? What if the ankle in question is part of one of the most famous statues in the world?
My wife and I had the amazing privilege of going to Italy for our 40th anniversary. One of the highlights was seeing Michelangelo’s David, which is a truly magnificent statue. During our tour, we learned that there are internal microfractures in the statue at the ankles. David is not about to topple over, but the statue is examined periodically by experts.
“Microfractures” are inevitable in ministry leadership. A volunteer leader thinks the church isn’t doing enough to support a missions partner. A small group of people is unhappy with the decision to consolidate from three to two worship services. A staff person is frustrated that they didn’t get the budget increase they requested. None of these examples are cause for immediate alarm, but any of them could become serious.
So how should a pastor or ministry leader respond to a microfracture?
- Assess the severity. Think about the examples above or in your experience. It isn’t always obvious how serious the fracture is. Before making any decisions about how to respond, it is essential to determine whether the concern is minor or much bigger.
- Enlist help. You may not be the best person to assess the severity of an issue. The people closest to a disagreement often have a distorted view. It took engineers, not art experts, to determine that Michelangelo’s David was not at immediate risk of falling. Who can help with your assessment?
- Heal (or deal) when appropriate. No immediate solutions were feasible for the statue, but relational issues can often be healed. Even if a fracture is minor, it is usually wise to work toward reconciliation. This doesn’t mean reversing a decision, but it often means taking the time to listen to someone’s concerns and apologizing where appropriate. Occasionally you may need to deal with a fracture, holding someone accountable if their behavior is harming the church.
- Monitor. Fractures are not static – even when they are in marble. Once a leader is aware that people are frustrated or unhappy, it is important to keep an eye on the situation. It may quietly dissipate over time. But it can spread, gaining a life of its own and becoming more than micro.
- Move forward. It would have been a tragedy if Italian officials had put the David statue into storage just because the fractures might get worse in the future. They didn’t, and we (along with thousands of others) were able to admire this masterpiece. Leaders shouldn’t let a microfracture paralyze them. They should take the appropriate measures, and then move forward.
Jesus prayed for believers “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21). Unity, a body without microfractures, is certainly the biblical ideal. But we should remember that Paul’s letters often dealt with fractures large and small. Don’t be surprised when microfractures appear, and don’t let them stop you from the mission to which God has called you and your church.
