One of the strengths of the Presbyterian faith is its understanding that you don’t have to be perfect to do good. At the same time, there is a touch of irony in the fact that though we proclaim a faith centered on love for each other, many multiple-staff churches find it difficult for staff to maintain a good relationship with each other.
Part of the challenge is that the ministry is so demanding that we don’t take time just to relate to each other. Even regular staff meetings, which I believe are essential to maintaining good staff relationships, are often so filled with the agenda of our work that we can fail to face some lingering discomfort within the staff.
Yesterday we spoke of a conversation that the head of staff should have with a new staff member after they had been on board for four to six months. Now I want to suggest that a variation on that conversation might be valuable for the whole staff at least on a yearly basis. Consider some of these questions as a basis for that conversation.
1. Has there been anything in the last year, either in your personal life or in the life of the church, that has altered your perspective on what God is calling you to do in your ministry?
2. What are some growing edges to your call and what type of support do you need from the rest of us in pursuing them?
3. Where have you experienced significant grace moments in your life and ministry in the past year?
4. Are there particular areas of concern or stress that you would like the members of the staff to hold in prayer over the next year?
5. What brings you the greatest joy at this point in your ministry?
It is important that all staff members, including the head of staff, participate in this conversation. It needs to be emphasized that what is said is to be held in confidence. Having such conversations on a regular basis can strengthen the sense of family among the staff.
