From time to time people will ask me what to look for in a good church working environment. In order to answer this I have created two lists: 10 things to look for in a church you attend and 10 things to look for in a church where you work. If you are in transition for whatever reason, here are 10 things to look for in a local church where you might work.
Integrity: Are the stated values of the church shared and defined? Do people act on these or are they just thoughts that no one really lives by. Are people held accountable to the shared values? Does the senior leadership submit to these values or are they “above the law?”
Commitment to following Jesus: Does the leadership talk about their relationship with Christ? Is this part of your staff meetings? My current boss asks me weekly how my personal relationship with Christ is going weekly. In 15 years of full-time ministry he is the only boss to ask me this consistently.
Care for staff families: Is the church relationally intelligent? Do they care about their staff’s families? I have one friend who works at a well-known mega-church whose boss routinely calls home to his wife to see if there is anything he can do to help his family. He asks about workload, time commitments and financial support. This shows great care for the entire family. It will serve to keep great staff longer and motivate staff even deeper if they feel they are more than just part of a ministry machine.
Developing vs. Using staff: Does the church value the developing of leaders as part of their mission? Do they have a process for this? Funding for education? Is there upward mobility or will you have to leave the church if you feel God is calling you to another type of ministry? In a meeting with David Browning, Senior Pastor of Christ the King Community Church, he told me that he believes that the future success of CTK will be based on how many leaders they can grow. “I realized a number of years ago that I had to stop looking at it like they work for me and had to approach it like I work for them!” Is your senior pastor insecure? Will he limit the success of those below him if he feels threatened by their gifts and leadership abilities?
Work-Life balance: Quite simply, does the church demonstrate a biblical theology of work-life balance? All of us should be motivated to expand the kingdom, but not to the detriment of those closest to us, our families. Some pastoral friends of mine work in cultures where they are required to work 6 days a week. Some have job descriptions with 65-75 hours a week. Is that healthy? Is it biblical? Does the church teach work-life balance to their members but expect quite the opposite from their staff?
Freedom: Will the church allow you the space and resources to accomplish the work you have been given? Is there a culture of trust or suspicion?
Pursue vs. Protect mentality: Is this church looking to the past or looking ahead to the future? Are they protecting past success or dreaming about what God has next. Is the ministry built for those who are not here yet or for those who have been here for 20 years?
Heart: Why does the church exist? What is the motivation? Is it a call to reach those far from God? Train leaders for the future? Is it success? Ego? The legacy of the Senior Leader? Make sure you have clarity on this before you join in.
Leadership: How are the staff meetings? Does staff look forward to them? Are they a celebration? How does the staff honor each other? How does the leadership receive feedback? Is honest and loving critique well-received by leadership as a tool for growth and development? Is the leadership secure or insecure?
Conflict Management: All relationships have conflict. How does this church handle conflict when it arises? Is there a process? Is this handled with integrity? I recommend calling the last three people who left that church to ask this question as well as the previous 9!