LIFE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CHURCH
Anglicans for Life is grateful that the Lord has touched your heart about becoming involved with our life-affirming ministry. We recognize that the most important place where we should do life ministry is within the Church. Therefore we welcome and need both lay and ordained members of the Church to join Anglicans for Life in ministry, education and action.
AFL offers three different levels of leadership opportunities: Level 1- Life Liaison, Level 2 - Life Coordinator and Level 3 - Chapter Leader of your local church. Our experience has shown that it takes a unique person to be involved in life ministry; it isn’t for the weak or for those easily intimidated! Being a Life Leader often means being labeled radical for caring for the unborn, the elderly, and women & men hurt by abortion.
Passion for Life and a heart-felt desire to make a difference are foundational requirements for life ministry. AFL is looking for individuals with this foundation, combined with perseverance and dedication. Said another way, we are looking for people with “hard shells and soft hearts!”
Discernment of your role as a life leader with Anglicans for Life begins with these points:
1. PRAYER
We ask you to seek God’s guidance and discernment as you make the decision to take on a life leadership role, realizing that involvement in life ministry is ultimately a call from the Lord and anointed by the Holy Spirit. Your role, as well as any specific actions and involvement in life issues, will unfold in God’s timing, and through His strength, perfect wisdom, and your ongoing discernment.
Ultimately, this is a task that should be accepted with a great deal of confidence in the Lord - who will work through you and equip you for every task. Realize that humility does not mean that you are always hidden, but rather that you are wherever the Lord wants you to be. So if He wants you to be out front, get out front - realizing that the good He will accomplish through you is all credited to Him. Know that we at Anglicans for Life will also be praying for you and your church.
2. CHURCH LEADERSHIP APPROVAL
Once you feel led to move forward, the next step is to share your passion for life issues and leadership with your rector or spiritual director. Securing your rector’s blessing and verbal support is the first step in getting your church involved in life ministry.
We will assist you by providing background information on our organization as well as our current ministries, but it is up to you to schedule time with your rector to discuss your interest in life issues and to get his approval before moving forward. If your rector has additional questions or concerns, members of the Anglicans for Life staff or Board of Directors will be happy to answer them.
Plan to keep in regular contact with your rector to exchange ideas, success stories, concerns and prayer.
3. SELF-ASSESSMENT/QUALIFICATIONS
As you consider taking on a role with Anglicans for Life, ask yourself some questions:
- How strong are my faith and my relationship with the Lord? Life issues can be tough, emotionally draining, upsetting and frustrating. We have found that a strong faith and prayer life are invaluable in this ‘world.’
- Do I feel called by God to this ministry?
- Why is the sanctity of life an important issue to me?
- How are my leadership skills? Do I have experience communicating a vision, laying out action plans, and rallying people to make things happen?
- Do I have the time – and the emotional and spiritual energy – to commit to becoming involved with AFL?
Sometimes it’s helpful to ask a good friend to work through these questions with you, and offer their input.
4. PERSONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
From experience, AFL knows that strong leadership is vital to the success of any of these roles within the Church. Successful leaders need to have vision, integrity, creativity and humility. They must be strong communicators, effective delegators and consistently dependable.
AFL is your partner in your life mission; we are here to help you succeed! We will provide opportunities for leadership development through telephone/web conferences, printed literature and internet resources. You are also encouraged to seek and pursue opportunities to increase your leadership effectiveness during your involvement in life ministry.
LIFE LEADERSHIP LEVELS:
There is no standard timeframe for moving through the levels, nor is there any hard and fast rule as to how the various roles are filled. In one church, a person who begins as a Liaison may move into the role of Coordinator or Chapter Leader, while in another, a new person might move directly into the Coordinator or Chapter Leader role.
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EACH LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP:
Level 1 – Life Liaison
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Learn about AFL’s mission, publications and other resources, as provided in the AFL Liaison Toolkit
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Discern interest level in life issues within your church
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Begin to educate about life issues by distributing AFL Newsbriefs within your church. Stay informed about AFL and life issues and be prepared to share what you learn with others
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Seek to do one activity from the “What Can You Do to Protect Life?” brochure, included in Toolkit
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Arrange to have your name/church information included on AFL’s website’s list of Life Leaders
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Respond to information/communication updates as requested by AFL home office
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Together with your rector, consider coordinating one (1) special LIFE offering each year in your church as a donation to AFL.
Are you ready to take the next step? Contact Julie.
“Liaison” responsibilities, PLUS
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Stay informed about AFL events, life news, resources, etc. by checking AFL website regularly; receiving AFL e-communications; reading and using materials sent by AFL home office, and by following AFL on social networking sites if possible
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As interest within the church increases, the Coordinator agrees to take on a more active role doing life-affirming outreach under the Anglicans for Life banner – accomplishing at least one project/initiative each year. Examples of ACTION IDEAS include:
• Arrange for pro-life guest speakers to participate in church services or as separate church event
• Publicize the annual “March for Life” within your church and coordinate arrangements for church group to attend
• Through AFL, arrange for “Sanctity of Life” bulletin inserts for your church during the month of January
• Communicate life affirming community activities, news stories, etc. within your church
• Organize a diaper drive or other fundraiser to support a local pregnancy resource center
• Join AFL’s Prayer Team – and recruit others to join the Team as well! Never underestimate the immense power of PRAYER to the life mission!
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Familiarize yourself with other pro-life groups, such as “The 40 Days for Life Campaign”; stay informed of local partnership opportunities with these groups
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Publicize activities and results within your church, e.g. in church bulletins, newsletters, etc.
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Place a link to AFL’s website on your church’s website
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Provide regular updates on your activities and results to AFL in April and October
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Together with your rector, consider coordinating one (1) special LIFE offering each year in your church as a donation to AFL.
Are you ready to take the next step? Contact Julie.
When your church and rector support the development of a chapter, here are the ongoing responsibilities of a Chapter Leader:
Includes Liaison and Coordinator duties, PLUS:
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Continuously recruit new members
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Keep members/church family informed
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Plan annual meeting to establish Chapter goals and action plans
- Stay informed of life issues and events that provide ideas for involvement/action
- Serve as liaison between AFL and your Chapter
- Provide photographs and Chapter news for Life Leaders section on AFL website
- Provide leadership for ongoing development of Chapter outreach and ministry
- File Chapter Update forms annually, keeping us up-to-date with any changes in your chapter membership, location, contact information, etc.
- Responsible for any fundraising needed to carry out Chapter activities
- Together with your rector, coordinate one (1) special LIFE offering each year in your church as a donation to AFL.
Brief Overview of the Steps for Starting a Chapter:
When a proposed Chapter is being established, request AFL’s Chapter Handbook and proceed with steps to officially form a new Chapter as detailed in the Handbook:
- Recruit initial members
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Use available technologies for communications
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Plan formal meeting to officially establish chapter entity
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Identify your Chapter’s areas of interest and type of activism
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Send completed Chapter Formation Statement and Chapter Member list to AFL office
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Display AFL Life Chapter Certificate in visible location in your Church
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Rally your team and begin to Protect Life Now!
Are you ready to take the next step? Contact Julie.
The “Life Leaders in Action” section of our website provides information on what current Chapters and Life Leaders are doing within their churches and communities. This is a helpful resource for you in your time of contemplation – and will also be an ongoing resource as you proceed with your ministry
