Some final thoughts on what can help multiple staff relationships.
First, a yearly planning retreat in which you take a calendar and plot out the schedule for obvious events in the church year can help everyone get the basic year’s structure laid out. My staff would normally do this in June because the school year significantly structured our ministry. Planning together helped avoid obvious conflicts and the time together, including lunch, etc. helped us feel a part of the team.
Another very important yearly event was a “fun” day. We took a day to simply play together. Over the years we did different types of things. One time we went to a place that taught us to do pottery together. Another time, I gave them a handful of tokens at a game shop and told them to introduce themselves to the games that youth were playing. One of their favorites was when I took them to a Barnes and Noble. Their first assignment was to go to an area in B & N that they would rarely visit, find a book in a totally new area, and bring back to the group some new idea that they had learned from that book. Then I would tell them that they had $75 to spend on books if they picked them out while we were there. After they selected their books, they came together to share what they had picked out. There are many other type of activities that you could choose. Once we went on a ropes course. Hiking together is always good.
Our events always included a good meal at a restaurant. Food tends to enhance conversation. Think together what would be a fun experience and plan a day away to have fun together. You might find it fun to invite another staff from a nearby church to join with you.
