The personality of church culture

Have you ever noticed that the culture of a church or ministry is a distinct reflection of the personality traits of its primary leader?

There are many clues; some obvious and others subtle. Most churches are a combination of what follows, watch closely and you'll see it in your church. I've categorized a few:

• Control Culture: The leader seeks to have input into, or control every aspect of ministry. Evidence of this type of culture is in staff and volunteers who feel pressure that their performance is never good enough. This feeling is compounded by the leader's weakness in interpersonal communication skills, lack of accountability, and unapproachable nature.
• Numbers Culture: Evidence for relevance is driven by numbers: numbers of attendees; numbers of small groups; numbers of children in ministries; the amount donated on a weekly basis. Numbers matter more than relationships. Closely related to the Pedestal Culture.
• Cowardice Culture: Evidenced by the use of executive pastor or staff to deliver bad news at direction of senior pastor. Senior pastor refuses to accept responsibility or be accountable for bad decision making.
• Last-minute culture: All execution is last minute, even if planning is done months in advance. Most likely, planning and execution are done last minute. Little regard given for personal schedules of volunteers, and possibility of previously scheduled events.
• Only my Ministry Matters Culture: Intra-church ministries and teams do not compare calendars, and cross-schedule events. So much for the idea of a body working together.
• Pedestal Culture: Senior and executive staff who exhibit reclusive behavior, rarely interacting with "the flock," as if the very activity is beneath them, and perhaps best left for a pastoral care professional. Difficult for these individuals to come down off their pedestal and get a different perspective.
• Excuse Culture: "Oh, it's because he's a musician." It's because he's a big picture individual." "It's because he's the teaching pastor." "It's because we're short-staffed."
• The Miscommunication Culture: How can the church communicate the gospel, if it can't even communicate internally well?

Oh, I could go on, but it makes me tired just thinking of all the reasons why churches are so dysfunctional, and how they could be better. If only our leaders would listen as much as they talk!

Thanks for nothing

Do you serve in a ministry? When was the last time you were thanked? Do you lead a ministry? When was the last time one of the church leadership thanked you for your volunteer service?

Have you ever been asked to do something, with the assumption that you would because you're a "brother in Christ?" Did you do it, only to feel unappreciated because the other person didn't express their gratitude?

Pastors and leaders need to remind themselves, and their congregations, that even though it it's God's desire for us to serve one another, everyone needs to be grateful for that service.

Don't take your congregation's service for granted, and don't dare to use guilt or misplaced exhortations to motivate them. Lead by example. If your words affirm your actions, then we'll consider following your lead.

Ministry Communication, Expectations, and Organization

After 25 years of serving and observing, it's clear that there are three areas where ministries frustrate their volunteers (so leaders, pay attention, you need to fix these!).

Communications: The core of many frustrations. It may seem basic, but if you clearly communicate who, what, when, where and why to everybody involved – that includes the volunteers, the audience, the leaders and if it's a children/youth ministry, the parents – everybody will be on the same page.

Expectations: What's my role? What's your role? Who's in charge? What are my responsibilities? Who's on the team? What are the expectations of those participating in the ministry in which I'm volunteering? What will I be doing today? Don't be ambiguous with any of these details. Volunteers need to know what their boundaries are so that they can serve with their gifts and be effective.

Organization: As a volunteer, don't waste my time. I have a specific set of God-given gifts, and a calling to serve, so please be prepared when I show up to serve. Don't make me wait while you prepare your presentation, organize materials or simply get your act together.

It's important not to frustrate volunteers. They want to serve with their gifts and not get frustrated. They want to be motivated, not demotivated. They want to serve with joy, and they want to receive joy from their service. It's the role of the leader to help make that happen.

This is not church

In over 30 years of serving as a volunteer in church ministry, I've scrubbed toilets, taught children and adult Sunday schools, led a church board, served as an elder, led a small group, cut grass, participated in construction projects, shoveled snow, sung in choirs, played in a praise band, and served as a worship leader. I'm sure I neglected to list a few activities.

Most have been enjoyable and fulfilling. Surprisingly, the leadership roles have been those that have left me feeling relieved when they are over; the roles where somebody else is leading leave me grateful that indeed, somebody else is leading. (And it's always a blessing when they are a capable leader). It's a challenge to remain optimistic, idealistic and excited about the next opportunity.

Recently, in listening to some volunteers who worked very long and diligently on a summer VBS program – hours of preparation, practice, setup – I heard the question "Where is God in ministry?" Where was He in all the long hours, the frustrations, the interpersonal drama?

We serve because we believe in God first, and with the passion for the ministry second. At least that's how it should be. This is not church; this is life.  Embrace it!