A Better Kind of Onboarding

Dear Friends,

This week we held a lively Staff Retreat for all of our Bethesda employees, both those who serve at the church and at The Church Mouse. The timing was great, as we have a number of new staff members. 

And as we prayed together, and learned together, and talked about carrying out our parish vision, I kept thinking about the term “onboarding.” And how I really don’t like it. Maybe it’s because it feels very 1990’s corporate-speak. 

What we’re really seeking to do with folks new to ministry at Bethesda is to welcome them to the team. We share our parish culture, build relationships, talk about the interconnected nature of ministry, set expectations, and be open to the skills and gifts that everyone brings to our shared ministry.

But then I went down an “onboarding” rabbit hole and discovered that it actually is a great term for us here at Bethesda-by-the-Sea. Why? Because it has nautical roots! To be welcomed “on board” a ship first emerged as a phrase in the 1500s, indicating someone who was either physically on a ship, or serving as a member of the crew. 

Being brought “on board” implied both a literal presence and a commitment to the voyage. And that is precisely what we seek whenever we bring a new member of our ministry team “on board” — that they will be committed to the voyage. 

And, frankly, this is what we want for everyone around here. That we will all be committed to the voyage of faith, that we will all come on board and commit our lives ever-more fully to Jesus Christ, that we will become active crew members in this community rather than passive observers. In a word, we could all use some spiritual onboarding.

But please know that while I may be a recent convert to the phrase “onboarding,” I will not be “circling back” or “pivoting” any time soon. 

Peace,
Tim+