The Core Leadership Team Meeting

joel by Joel Comiskey

I’m writing from Winnipeg, Canada. I’ve been here for the past four days holding a cell conference at the International Worship Centre, an exciting cell church of 80 cells and 800 people (pastor Junie Josue). I spoke to pastors and leaders during the first two days, but the third day pastor Junie wanted me to speak into his life and the life of his leaders.

One of the key things I told Junie was to concentrate on his core leadership team, which consists of five cell network couples who oversee the eighty cells (with the help of supervisors under each network). I told Junie to spend the majority of his time with these core leaders, building relationships with them and overseeing the cell system through them.

I encourage lead pastors, like Junie, to meet as frequently as possible with the core leadership team (weekly is best but every other week also works). As far as the order of the leadership team meeting, I recommend the following:

1. The lead pastor speaks into the lives of his core leaders. He shares what God is showing him through the Scripture and then asks the core team to respond. It’s also great to pray for one another and minister to each other’s needs.

2. Review the progress of the cells. I think it’s best if each core leader has statistics that show:

  • A list of each cell with the attendance in the cell from the previous week and any other pertinent information
  • Those who are in the training track and what stage they are in the training track
  • The cell goal for the end of the year.

I encourage each core leader to go around and talk about the network under his or her care, highlighting cells that are struggling, those ready to multiply, spiritual victories of cell leaders, and urgent needs. The beauty of this approach is that the leadership team is able to pastor the entire church through the cell structure.

After discussing the cell groups, the team can then move to the large wing of the church, such as celebration service (s), various ministries, and calendar items. In my experience, a normal leadership team lasts about two hours.

But what about you? Perhaps you run your core leadership meetings differently. We’d love to hear. . . .

Joel

Spiritual Leadership

robby Rob Campbell

In July 1994, Chuck Swindoll spoke at the Promise Keepers Leadership Conference in Boulder, Colorado. As he stepped to the podium, he looked intently from left to right at the thousands who had gathered for this event. I was one of those in attendance, seated in the very front row next to Coach McCartney. Then he spoke, “Pastors, lighten up…lighten up!” I loved his admonishment for I have always believed that pastors are too tight, serious, posturing themselves to be more important than they really are.

The place filled with laughter and Chuck continued. This masterful communicator cited the dirty dozen obstacles to leadership. They are as follows: Authoritarianism, Exclusiveness, Greed, Hypocrisy, Sensuality, Prejudice, Pride, Rationalization, Manipulation, Secrecy, Unaccountability, and Traditionalism. As he rattled off this deplorable, dirty dozen list, conviction fell on me. I sensed God saying to me, “Rob, leadership is a big deal. Continually clothe yourself in me.”

Might I share a few thoughts on leadership? You are so kind!

First, a leader sees the way (vision). Second, fellow team members and followers are essential for the journey (mission). Finally, leaders must be passionate about people for relationships are the key to any successful quest (passion). Ecclesiastes 4:12 states, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Vision (seeing), mission (doing), and passion (feeling) are commendable and necessary traits for an effective leader. Each strand is essential as you serve others. For example, if you lack mission and passion, then chances are strong you will jump from project to project. Further, if you have strong strands of passion and mission but lack vision, then you will give yourself to too small a task. Finally, if you lack passion but have immense vision and mission strands, then you will not have the heart to inspire others and the vision will become dry and laborious.

Spiritual leadership is a high calling and can be filled with great joy and/or immense pain. A great deal is expected from key leaders. These expectations can become burdensome as a pastor tries to become all things to all people. Can you guess which group is “the single most occupationally frustrated professionals in America?” That’s right– you nailed it! The answer is pastors. Pastors are in need of help and help is available as they intentionally and deliberately empower others for ministry. Pastors must consistently be on the lookout for emerging leaders. Author Mike Regele writes, “This means you may get less done in the present, but you will actually accomplish far more in the future by pouring your life into the people who can carry on those things that are nearest and dearest to your heart.”

Comments?

Rob

Good and Pleasant Teamwork

by Michael Sove

David expressed what we are experiencing as a staff here at Allen.  He said, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”   Psalm 133:1

A few days ago Jeff Tunnell talked about how “Two Are Better Than One.”  He said, “We need the camaraderie and brotherhood of others for mutual encouragement, mentoring, sharpening of skills and broadening of ideas in our cell ministry.”

Our staff is actually experiencing this and we are working well together.  There are a couple of things that lead to this unity and camaraderie.  Each of us including the Senior Pastor is involved at some level in a cell.  Some of us lead a cell, some of us coach as well as lead a cell, while others simply participate in a cell because of other levels of responsibility. We understand the importance of connecting in community and being in each other’s lives.  It’s a value we all hold in common and this strengthens us as a team.

Having a cohesive team is important in any situation but I feel it is even more critical in the cell church.  One of the greatest moves we have made is to simplify our objective as a church.  Each person on the staff focuses on that objective and therefore our ministries all fit into a directional flow that leads toward the fulfillment of that objective.  So when we come together in a team meeting, there is this sense of togetherness and encouragement.  We are helping and supporting one another.  We understand the importance of “integration.”  Everything we do fits the objective and connects with everything else we’re doing.  There is not a sense of competition but of cooperation.

On top of all that, we’re growing as friends and this leads to good and pleasant teamwork.

Comments?  What have you done to enhance teamwork in your ministry?

Michael

Pastoral Team Values

mario
by Mario Vega

It’s very important that each member of the pastoral team share the same vision. It is not possible for a team to be properly integrated if each one of its members has a different vision of where they’re heading and the methods to get there. The Senior Pastor of the church establishes the vision, and the church responds to what has shown the lead pastor, for the community, city, and country.

Each of those on the pastoral team recognizes that they have been invited to join the lead pastor’s vision and to help fulfill it. If a team member wants to serve as a Senior Pastor and not as a collaborator, which is completely legitimate, it’s best for him to leave his position and dedicate himself to pastor his own church.

In the Kingdom of God there will always be number “ones” and number “twos.” Both need each other. No number “one” will be effective trying to be a number “two.” And no number “two” will be effective trying to be a number “one.” Each one must be very aware of his call and must remain faithful to the position God has given him. The desire of every child of God should not be to become the main player, but rather to to be the servant of all.

To share and live these values is essential if a pastoral team is going to be effective in Christ’s body.

Comments?

Mario

Translation in Spanish

Valores del equipo pastoral.

Una condición muy importante para formar un equipo pastoral adecuado es que cada uno de sus miembros compartan la misma visión. No es posible que un equipo se integre adecuadamente si cada uno de sus miembros tiene una visión diferente de hacia dónde se dirigen y los métodos que se utilizarán para llegar all. La visión debe ser establecida por el Pastor principal de la iglesia y responde a lo que Dios le ha mostrado para su comunidad, ciudad o pas.

Esto supone que cada uno de los miembros del equipo pastoral reconozca que ellos han sido invitados a sumarse como colaboradores del Pastor principal. Si alguno de los miembros aspira a desempeñarse como un Pastor principal y no como un colaborador, lo cual es totalmente legtimo, debe mejor dejar su lugar a otra persona para dedicarse a su verdadero llamado.

En el Reino de Dios siempre habrá números ‘uno’ y números ‘dos’. Los unos necesitan de los otros. Ningún número ‘uno’ será efectivo tratando de ser un número ‘dos’. Y ningún número ‘dos’ será efectivo tratando de ser un número ‘uno’. Cada quien debe estar muy conciente de su llamado y permanecer fiel a la posición que Dios le ha entregado. El anhelo de todo hijo de Dios no debe ser el protagonismo pues en el Reino de Dios el mayor es el menor.

El compartir y vivir estos valores se convierte en elemento fundamental para integrar un equipo pastoral que pueda dar atención a los miembros de la iglesia celular local.

Two Are Better Than One

by Jeff Tunnell

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companiion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one o help him up…and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 & 12

Getting together with other leaders is always an encouragement to me.  I work things out verbally, which means I need to talk issues out in person to come to a good conclusion.  Providing and receiving feedback about cell ministry occurs in the regular meeting of coaches, supervisors or zone pastors, whichever level or name of leadership you utilize. 

Luke 9 demonstrates Jesus meeting with His 12 disciples, giving them power and authority to preach and heal, followed by giving instructions for thier work. This is a wonderful help to the leadership meeting, instructing us in the following: there must be a key leader to bring the other leaders together.  He/she must know the mission clearly, including the goals to reach, the other leaders must understand mutual submission to leadership and their part on the team. Verse 10 shows us the accountability of those dispatched by the Lord along with another private meeting of the leaders.

We need the camaraderie and brotherhood of others for mutual encouragement, mentoring, sharpening of skills and broadening of ideas in our cell ministry.  Holy Spirit synergy occurs when we meet as a team!  Regularity is key in this gathering for consistent forward movement and accountability.  Don’t let this drop from your calendar!