How do we think about ministry?

Badly, I'd say.

Much of the modern discourse about ministry has transmogrified into a lame apeing of popular business cant about 'leadership'.

But let's start with the biblical dimensions of ministry instead.

It's about responsibility, practice and relationships.

The intensity and focus of each factor varies by the context of the relationships, but it falls out in this way:

• Responsible Ministry (Phil 2:3-4a) (person takes responsibility)
• Humble Practice (Phil 2:14-15) (we can always learn and improve)  
• Respectful Relationships (2 Tim 2:3-5) (people are uplifted by being with us)

All predicated on the particular scope, domain or circumstances of the ministry.

Then what has the minister (paid or volunteer, 'ordained' or not...although all are ordained in biblical terms; i.e. granted by the church to minister to it) to do?

This is adapted from general management of organisations, the 'team' being other ministers organised by the minister responsible for the function (associates, assistants, helpers, supporters, if any):

• clarify the mission - define the objective, describe the approach, check for progress
• focus the team - concentrate, sustain and protect it
• deliver results - provide resources, capability, information
  

with the overall modality, bringing together recognised responsibility, church support and the voluntary commitment of attendees or participants in a ministry program or activity to:

• influence the socio-operational domain as the means of achieving the mission, establishing a position (i.e. what the minister in the function stands for, promoting the vision, etc.), and nurturing effective relationships within the mission domain.

Note, I've avoided the word and the modern idea of the 'leader' and its related adulatory hubris.