Speaking the language of support is easier than authentically being supportive. Some staff members mistakenly assume that if they do not hinder another staff member’s ministry, or if they occasionally drop a compliment, then they are being supportive. However, building a supportive church staff requires intentional, individual, and initiatory action.
Intentional
In our general staff meeting, we provide opportunities to share victories and challenges. Lack of awareness of what is happening in each others’ ministries is often the cause of lack of support. Additionally, we have two or three events a year in which all staff members are expected take full ownership. Our fall kick-off Sunday and our community Easter outreach event require every staff member to have some responsibility outside of his or her specialty. We plan as a large group; and then, after the event is over, we celebrate as a large group. No one ministry gets the credit. These events not only build up the church body, but also enhance teamwork of the staff.
Individual
I attempt to model support by frequently asking individual staff members how the senior leadership staff can help their ministry areas. I ask individual staff members what they want me to support from the pulpit, either through public prayer, a sermon illustration, or closing comment on Sunday morning. I deliberately try to publicly support the ministry of at lease one staff member each week. All senior staff try to regularly publicly bless or endorse our younger staff member’s ministry by name.
Initiative
A difficult and neglected part of building a mutually supportive staff is taking the initiative in confronting places where we see a lack of support. If a staff member is not supporting the other ministries, unintentionally or intentionally, it needs to confronted. This requires prayer and spiritual preparation. You are doing staff members a favor by telling them they are being perceived as unsupportive. As the confronter, however, you must do this for the purpose of building support and not as a means of punishing the unsupportive staff member. As a staff leader, ranting about staff members who are not supportive is not enough; it requires you as an individual to intentionally take the initiative to confront speaking the truth in love.
