By Tim Schmoyer, Founder of Life In Student Ministry

For several years I hosted a live weekly youth ministry talk show. Every once in a while a participant would make a comment like, "I love it that this got me out of staff meeting today!" Unfortunately, I totally know that feeling.

Why are church staff meetings often so dreaded? Is there really nothing better to do with our time than sit around and give our "busyness reports" from the week before? One youth worker I know even calls it the "why I deserve to work here" meeting.

As a guy who's talking with churches about potential youth ministry positions, one question I like to ask is, "Tell me about your staff meetings." Pastors and search committees usually pause for a second because it's an unusual question, but I ask it for this reason: How a church spends its time in staff meeting often reflects its true values. Are they actually living out their stated values in every area of ministry or are there unidentified values that take precedence?

The values that are often communicated in staff meeting by how we approach calendars and discussion items are not usually values that are shared by staff members, so we unfortunately grow to tolerate them as a necessary evil. I'm not convinced staff meetings need to be as draining and mundane as we're used to, though.

So many churches spend immense amounts of time developing their mission, vision and values while fully neglecting to evaluate the health of the culture that has developed in the church. Culture is the soil where vision and strategy can take root and grow ... or be planted and die.

Dr. Chand wrote, "Vision and strategy usually focus on products, services and outcomes, but culture is about the people-a church's most valuable asset."

Often the dysfunction in the culture has become the "normal" and isn't recognized. When unhealthy culture infects the whole of the organization, or church, that organization will never be able to move forward. Many leaders have a compelling, God-given vision for the church but can't seem to live into that vision. Dr. Chand would say, "When there is a disconnect between a leader's vision and the receptivity of the staff or congregation, the problem isn't with the vision; it's the culture."

A healthy culture will actually act as a catalyst to propel the church into the vision. Dr. Chand wrote, "A healthy culture begins at the top, but it eventually releases the creativity and energy of everyone in the organization."

I highly recommend this book for every leader who is trying to figure out how to get from where they currently are to where they believe God wants them to be. The book provides a framework for evaluation of the health of your church and ministry. Understanding your culture will help you make better decisions, allow you to lead more effectively, and create an environment where everyone wants to give their best to living into the vision, mission and values of the church.

Dr. Chand doesn't offer a handful of quick, easy steps to a new revitalized church. What he offers is a helpful diagnostic and corrective for stuck, unhealthy church cultures. When we get the culture piece right, we create a place where God-sized visions can not only be talked about, but can be lived into.

Buy it on Amazon 

Meditations for Mom by Bonnie Sparmann, Excelsior Covenant Church in Excelsior, MN 

Heart Cries: Praying by the Spirit in the Midst of Life by Jane E. Spriggs, interim pastor at Monticello Covenant Church, and Robert V. Rakestraw

Pray the Scriptures Bible: Psalms and Proverbs by Kevin Johnson, pastor of Emmaus Road Covenant Church in St. Louis Park, MN 

Healing the Hurts of Your Past: A Guide to Overcoming the Pain of Shame by Remy Diederich, lead pastor at Cedarbrook Covenant Church in Menomonie, WI 

Next month we will publish a list of NWC blogs by pastors, staff and lay leaders. If you blog, please share your URL with bryan@nwc-cov.org.

"We appreciate the many ways that she has contributed her gifts and talents to MA," said Donna Harris, president of Minnehaha Academy. "She has definitely left a positive thumbprint on Minnehaha and we are grateful for her service."

Johnson will remain in her role as Director of Admission until the end of January.

Communications Corner