There is a little ribbon I’ve seen online - the kind that you got for track meets in elementary school - that says, ‘This meeting could have been an email.’ Especially in our (post) COVID world, why would we meet when so much can be communicated digitally? Especially as people who lead teams of volunteers - aren’t we already asking for enough of their time? Truth be told, I’ve never been a fan of meetings, but I do think there are some essential things that happen when you gather a team - yes, even a team of volunteers.
See people.
There is a temptation to see people as objects, serving a utilitarian purpose in accomplishing what we are trying to do in a worship service. When we gather with our team outside of our shared weekend responsibility, we can see them removed from a task, and simply as people. People who have relationships, responsibilities, pain, interests outside of what you get to glimpse for a few hours during your time together.
Be together.
Depending on how many people participate in your team, there may be several people who do not actually know one another. Giving people the opportunity to grow and develop relationships outside of a Sunday service will help to develop trust, camaraderie, and respect - that will serve the team, the congregation, and the songs better as you lead together.
Cast vision.
We can and should lead by example. We can and should work to communicate clearly and effectively in digital correspondence. But there is something different about having your team together to be able to articulate all at once the vision and direction of the team as well as the goals and desires within this area of ministry. I have found team meetings to be an amazing time to teach theology, to help the team see that what we do is so much larger than playing music, sliding faders, clicking slides. I want to be able to connect the 30,000 foot view of this area of ministry, to what the team does week in and week out.
Celebrate.
I tend to be task driven, and when one task is complete, I am ready to move on to the next. When we do not take time to pause, reflect, and remember, we can quickly run ourselves, and our team into the ground. Raise your ebeneezers - those stones of remembrance - mark out God’s faithfulness to your church and the team, let gratitude be a consistent heart posture, honor the work and growth of those who are serving week in and week out as a part of your ministry. One of my favorite pastors was fond of saying, ‘Everyone you meet is under-encouraged,’ may that not be true of anyone on our teams.
Show hospitality.
Our teams pour themselves out to serve God and His people each weekend, how can we as leaders pour ourselves into them? Use your home, use your church building to make a space that is inviting and hospitable for the team. Share a meal, or make some coffee and desserts. Create a space where your team feels valued, safe, and cared for.
Little things over a long period of time make such a difference in shaping people, shaping culture, and serving your team. Don’t use meetings as the place to shotgun information, or vent frustrations, but as a place where people can get to know one another, feel valued and celebrated, and you are able to articulate the mission, vision and values of this particular area of ministry.
