Last week’s post detailed What Every Ministry Leader Owes Their Team. This week we turn the table and consider what every team member owes their team. While leaders certainly hold deep responsibility for teamwork, so too do the members. This is true when working with vocational staff. It’s equally true when serving alongside volunteers. So, assuming the leader is faithful to the responsibilities described last week, what do the members owe their team. Here are my top five.
Team members owe their teams commitment to the mission. As important as it is for leaders to communicate where the team’s work fits into the church’s greater mission and what this team’s particular roles are, it’s likewise important that team members embrace and commit themselves to it.
After years in ministry I’ve known many who accepted team assignments, only to miss most if not all meetings. If you don’t believe in the team’s purpose or you’re too busy to follow through on your commitment, say so. But when you say “yes”, stand by your commitment. Remember, an important assignment for the Lord’s church has been delegated to your team. Your service matters.
Team members owe their teams, and especially their leaders, questions for clarity. Too often, when team members are unsure about their next step with the team, for fear of “making waves” they say nothing. But leaders are not mind readers. The way they know to offer more clarity or direction is with your questions.
But be careful what kinds of questions you ask. Questions concerning the value of the team’s work are best asked before saying “yes” to the team. Raise those with the pastor or in business meeting. Once you join the team, though, you commit to the team’s purpose. Value questions now only hurt the team. But when you ask questions in order to better understand the team’s plan and your part of it, you help the team and your leaders progress to the goal.
Team members owe their teams regular communication. Yes, leaders set the pace for this, but communication is not just about leaders connecting with individual team members. It’s also about communication within the team.
My most recent team experience involved Purpose Week, the GTBN Youth Camp. I can’t say I was perfect at it, but I worked toward an environment where the team members were well aware of what the others were doing, so team members could “have each other’s back”. In this way, should family or church matters arise so that one team member couldn’t complete his part of the job, a colleague would reach out and help.
Teams succeed or fail together, so everyone must support their partners. And this only happens with regular communication among team members.
Team members owe their teams regular discipleship and spiritual focus. There is a tendency, especially among the task oriented, for the team’s success to cloud one’s vision of the Lord’s direction. Frustration is common, sometimes from external factors, but often due to personal issues among the team. As the pressure builds, even the most mature Christians can become worldly in how they relate with others. So team members must always remember who they are serving.
Yours is the Lord’s team, dedicated to His purpose. So, as your team launches out, make sure you are grounded in those regular spiritual disciplines that feed your walk with Him. Your service with the team should help fuel your life as Christ’s disciple, not distract from it.
Team members owe their teams support for the leader. Leadership is hard, and it comes more readily to some than others. Pastors and vocational ministers usually have some training and experience that warrant a higher expectation of their service, but many lay leaders in the church are simply willing, faithful disciples who see a need and accept the responsibility.
Leaders, of course, are responsible for knowing the capabilities of their team and shepherding accordingly with grace. But team members owe the same of their leaders. Team members who believe they should be “in charge” undermine not just the leader, but the entire team.
As stated above, when you have questions ask them. Work with your team to generate solutions to the problems you experience along your way. In private you may have passionate conversations about the details. But, when you stand before God’s people, stand together as a team with one heart and voice.
Much of your service for the Lord will occur as part of a team, a group of Christians who accept defined responsibility to fulfill particular ministry responsibilities. Take each responsibility seriously and serve well, that the Lord would be glorified and your service joyful.
Blessings,
Bro. Jim