Challenge One of Congregational Leadership Today:Team Building
Challenge One is the building of a leadership team that enjoys cohesiveness and exudes creativity. There has been a generational shift in the predominant style of congregational leadership. The recent past witnessed dominant and sometimes dictatorial leaders who wielded control over congregations who had a limited grasp of information beyond their immediate context. The task today is much more the development of teams of leaders called of God to guide congregations. There is a powerful synergy within a well-functioning team of leaders. Executive Coach Mary Beth O’Neill reminds us that “building relationships and facilitating interactions” is essential. . Furthermore, there is no more strategic investment of a leader’s time than the intentional formation of teams to carry out profitable ministry. The challenge of team building involves the enjoyment of cohesiveness where each is respected for their uniqueness, what Mary Beth O’Neil calls “signature presence.” Just as a signature is unique, so each person’s contribution is unique. All team members are encouraged to achieve increasingly significant ministry impact. It seems that in a friendly team environment, creativity finds solutions to life’s changing situations. Margaret Wheatley, wrestling with a fast-paced world, states “in a quantum world, relationship is the key determiner of everything.” “To have a sense of fun is crucial for visionary leadership” suggests Rolf Jensen. Within a caring and maturing circle of leaders, the ugly specter of leader burnout is less likely to occur. It is also necessary to redefine roles periodically in a changing church environment. This means that the element of flexibility is a valuable commodity within the leadership teams of today.