The Importance of Unity

 

What do you do when you think the Pastor or Senior Leadership Team have got it wrong! A friend was recently talking about a decision made by our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) including the Pastor. We are a small church community, so decisions affect every member there. However, unless directly involved in a programme or initiative the SLT do not know how a decision they make might impact on the on-the-ground day-to-day running of that programme or initiative. It is important to talk to those involved to get their perspective and even in a small church this might not necessarily happen. Having said that, our SLT are generally very good at consulting.

So, what do you do if you think it’s an unwise decision?

This will of course depend on size of the church, whether the Pastor is a good listener and is prepared to talk about it and I’m sure, many other factors.

My perspective is that I do not want to be talking about the Pastor behind his back. I do not want to gossip about him and take sides. We are called to be unified, not take sides.

When our current Pastor arrived and I got to know him, I told him I would be honest with him and talk about any issues with him, rather than about him. He graciously thanked me for that and said that was the way he would prefer it. I go to him and talk as a friend to a friend. It might simply be to say, ‘I was concerned about this decision because ……  Have you thought about doing it this way?’ Or, ‘I was just wondering why the SLT made this decision? Are you able to give me the background so I understand it better?’ He is very patient and will give me the time to explain or have a conversation. Sometimes looking back, the SLT decision worked out for the best. Sometimes, the decision might not have been the best - after all, they are only human, and having spent around thirty years on our Senior Leadership team, I am not going to cast stones!

But I am so grateful that he cares about the perspective of all our people and will take the time to listen, even if nothing is going to change. Our politicians could take a leaf out of his book!

So, my message today is to talk with people, not about them. Bless you each heaps.