It is common to talk with pastors and hear of difficulty with their leadership teams. Sometimes it is at the elder level, within the deacons or among various sets of lay-leaders. My heart just breaks when I hear a pastor talk through these things. I know these things can consume, discourage, and distract guys. It’s hard.
So what do you do? How do you turn things around?
Realizing that every situation is different with unique problems and challenges, I cannot propose a one-stop solution. However, I can suggest something that most always get you going in the right direction. And it has the unique ability to clean up a lot of other stuff along the way.
What is it? Prayer. More specifically, I am talking about regular prayer with and for your leaders.
Where We Were & What We Were Lacking
At Emmaus we are in the early days of a church plant. We meet in a High School and conduct meetings at various spots within the community. Often times this means a coffee shop or Panera or something. These spots have their benefits but they also have their drawbacks.
A little over a year ago we were conducting our bi-monthly leaders’ meetings in a Panera at 6am. We talked about ministry items and the time was productive. However, the location was not conducive to have a focused period of prayer together. One thing I began to notice among us was a little bit of shortness and frustration with on another. It wasn’t an epidemic, by any means, but it got my attention.
The guys were getting to know one another and they had strong committment to the mission (which is indispensible) but had not had their ‘shields locked together’ (to use the Gladiator analogy). We were united on paper and organizationally but not with the type of kindred spirit that is forged while digging together in the gospel quarry. We weren’t fighting but we weren’t gelling either.
Worst case scenario it could produce division. ‘Best’ case scenario guys would get hardened. Either way, I knew this would not work long-term.
Where We Went & What We Got
I wanted to get the guys away and together. A gentleman volunteered to open his home very early in the morning. We moved the meeting to every week and made the focus of the meeting time prayer, ministry needs, and planning. We start off the meeting singing a hymn and pray together.
Within a few months I noticed the tone had seemed to change. Again it wasn’t a huge problem before. It was just beginning to concern me. After 6 months guys were saying that that was their favorite day of the week. Now over a year later I say it is working well. My initial concerns have been dealt with and the team is growing together.
This is also a great place for our pastors to reset our values. In leading these meetings we are able to set the cadence and develop other leaders. It has become a healthy vortex of gospel ministry. It is the place we want our interns to come to as well as potential deacons. Today I would say that it is indispensable to the ministry at Emmaus.
When you have guys that are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, believe the gospel, love the church and are sinners, there may be issues. However, unity is forged when the gospel is reset regularly and guys pray together and for one another. You are reminded of the priorities that you all love, the church you love, and most importantly–your glorious Savior. It is good.
(Since many who read this blog are church leaders, feel free to comment and add what you have seen work well in your context. It doesn’t have to be just in terms of anticipating or diagnosing conflict, it can be about promoting unity…thanks!)
