His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about the importance of preparing leaders inside the church as a practical and spiritual service.
He explains that preparing leaders has at least three reasons: assisting the priest in his work, preparing the next generation, and utilizing energies for constructive beneficial service.
He emphasizes that successful churches employ every person in work that suits their energies which gives the person a sense of importance and continuity in membership.
He suggests practical methods: involving retirees in administrative work, organizing membership records and addresses, and surveying the artisanal and professional energies in the area.
He points to the importance of youth teams and scouting to organize the church and to employ artistic and administrative talents instead of leaving the youth empty to be exploited externally.
He recommends practical training: providing opportunities for laymen to attend and deliver sermons, training servants in specific tasks, and encouraging handing-on and succession in service as the apostles did.
He warns against not giving opportunities to laymen and local talents because that prevents discovering them and leads to losing energies in favor of other groups.
He notes that mistakes in training are not a fault if followed by awareness and correction, and that the successful priest knows how to employ and prepare others so the church’s work continues despite travel, illness, or death.

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