In a lot of contemporary churches, it takes a few teams to successfully run services.  We usually see a mixture of musicians, techs, directors, hosts, and other volunteer teams.  While each team may have a different set of tasks, all seemingly serve one purpose, to create a welcoming environment for worship.  Some teams inherently have interconnected or dependent relationships with other teams.  Take for example the worship team/band and the A/V tech teams.

The interactions between the A/V techs and the worship teams have a direct impact on each service.  If these two teams operate completely separately from one another, there is usually a visible gap in operations that can negatively affect the worship experience.  Murmurs from one team towards another start quietly in one area and quickly spread pitting one team against the other.  Tension between teams can become so thick you can cut it with a leatherman.

Dysfunction and division can sometimes be an indication of the failure to communicate/reinforce the common purpose each team serves.  We have to constantly sift through complaints to deduce the underling issues that are causing division between your teams.

There is a flip side to dysfunction.  Cohesion.  Unity.

“…may they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” – John 17:23

So how do we combat the “us vs. them” mentality in the church?

While the scriptures provide plenty of examples of how we should interact with each other in love, organizationally there are lots of examples of how some churches are implementing those standards practically.  I don’t know what the make-up of your team is, or what your church environment is like, but here are three observations I’ve made while at churches that systematically get this right.

Churches that pursue inter-team cohesion create moments for collaboration, open channels for communication, and build in time for community.

Create Moments for Collaboration

You’d be surprised at how many teams operate independent of one another.  When Sunday comes around, there can often be a panic to accommodate.  If often takes more than one team to pull off conventional and unconventional ideas.  Sometimes we fail to think to include the other teams that are otherwise essential to it’s success.  When other leaders are included, they’ll know how to direct their team accordingly.  Collaboration among team leaders has a such a profound effect on the teams.  Seeing team leaders working together to bring ideas to life not only puts an informed leader in each team, buts creates an inclusive atmosphere where feedback is valued.  Volunteers will take ownership of projects instead of viewing its as another job they don’t get paid for.

Open Channels for Communication

This may be an over simplified tip, but I can not tell you how many times I’ve stepped into a church and people do not know who to bring their minor or major issues to when there is conflict between teams.  If there is no CLEAR place to go with issues, negative murmurs will fester and spread.  There has to be a place for constructive criticism and conflict resolution to flow.  Otherwise it will just circle the ranks and become less constructive and more destructive.  Implementing channels for communication vertically towards leadership is a game changer.

I’ve seen some leaders schedule lunch with individual team members, or send out “how are we doing” surveys.  Periodic evaluation is good.  Including specific insights from your team members multiplies your results.  Once your new practices are in place, make sure you create a timeline for evaluation.  Still, some issues can not wait until the next survey.

Some ideas may work well while others may need some mid-season tweaks.  Using quick team huddles before services provides a streamlined approach to update your team on tasks, progress, and gives quick and open opportunity to get feedback.  Huddles also provide a great opportunity to do some re-vision casting.  Reminding each team of their common purpose within the church can serve as the glue that keeps cohesion together.

Build In Time For Community

Opportunities for community building helps bring multiple teams together.  It becomes easier to communicate between teams when the teams at the very least know each other’s names.  Nothing brings people together faster than food, the great moderator.  New season kick-offs, meet & greets, potlucks, holiday parties are just the tip of the iceberg.  Retreats, conferences, and summits are also awesome opportunities to build community with the larger community.  The more “built in” these opportunities are, the less chance there is of it becoming a stop-gap afterthought.

Maintaining unity is a continuous process.  It’s like driving in a straight line.  The minute you take your eyes off the road, you drift off the mark.  The good news is, if you put the energy into building in systems that reinforce cohesion, you are instilling practices that lead the church by example and your teams will begin to take up the mantle.  May the unity in your teams elevate the worship experience for all, so much so that the world may come to know Jesus.

Amen.

What practices does your church build-in to reinforce unity and cohesion?