Staff Relationships

(Not So) Great Expectations By Chard Berndt

If we buy into our society's negative perceptions of kids, we're giving up on them and their potential.
Companions in Ministry: Youth Workers and Pastors in Partnership By Will Penner and Dan Sanders-Wooley

A youth pastor and senior pastor share why they get along so well.
From Herding Cats to Becoming Family: Principles that form the glue of staff relationships By David Martin, John Cullipher, and Dave Sander

Three military youth workers share the lessons they've learned working together for almost a decade.
Getting On Board: Transforming a Fellowship Into a Team By Jim Walton

Cabin fever was epidemic among youth workers in this city-until they began talking with each other.
Looking Over Both Sides of the Fence By Doug Stevens

He's been a youth worker; now he's a pastor. Being on both sides of the fence has given him some new insights on staff relationships.
Mars and Venus: Men and Women Together in Ministry By Kara Powell

Powell explores how men and women can work together in ministry in a healthy way by avoiding emotionally intimate "pink flags."
Navigating Staff Relationships Gone Bad By Curt Trotter

What happens when unanimity seems impossible-when seeing eye to eye turns into more of a pre-boxing-match stare down than a symbol of agreement?
Pastors I Have Known; Lessons I Have Learned By Michael Holt

I've learned some crucial truths through the years that aren't specifically about youth ministry, though they impact it substantially.
Reality Bites: And Some Churches Have Fangs By Len Evans

What do you do when you're told that your current church position "isn't a good fit?" How do you get past the feelings of hurt and anger and find God's healing?
Second Bananas: Ministering in the Shadow of Your Peers By Joe Neill

There are all sorts of names for not being the number one. Words like "associate," "assistant," "behind the scenes," "intern," "support staff," "helper," and even "gofer" have become popular ways to refer to people working in the shadows of others.
Senior Pastors, on What It's Like Working with You

Six pastors offer advice about expectations, credibility, communication, and power struggles between senior and youth pastors.
Staff Meetings: A Contemplative Approach By Mark Yaconelli

Yaconelli describes a process that transforms staff meetings from chaos and control to contemplation and community.
Straight Talk On Staff Dynamics: A Youthworker Roundtable

A roomfull of youth workers talk honestly about staff dynamics and what they need from their senior pastor.
Teamwork Isn't Everything...It's the Only Thing: A Conversation with Ridge Burns

"Team player" is a term that goes beyond sports, as this youth worker has discovered to his delight.
The "In-Between" Bunch: Using Interns in Your Ministry By David Olshine

Is an intern "more" than a volunteer? "Less" than a youth pastor? Actually, an intern can be a terrific addition to your ministry.
The Curse of the Revolving-Door Pastor By Name Withheld

For many years this 'curse' seemed to follow me everywhere. Like a dark cloud that knew my tiniest move. Brothers and sisters, I'm coming clean today. I've been a victim of a long-term case of revolving-door pastoritis.
The Summer Internship Gone Amuck By Mark Bushor

Frank confession about jumping too quickly into a new leadership model because of the need for help. Bushor outlines the mistakes he's made and lessons he's learned from them.
The Will To Power By Tony Campolo

Power games are a reality among church staffs-and many of us are playing right along.
Their Pastor By Dan Kregel

Some of the individuals that know and understand our senior pastor best are our high school seniors. Every year our senior pastor blocks out two weeks of his summer to spend time with our high school seniors walking around in the woods.
When Sin Goes Public By Tom Stephen

As youth pastors, how we face the hidden sins of our volunteer leaders impacts what the leaders and the kids learn about grace, forgiveness, and responsibility.
Who Let the ~~Dogs~~ Kids Out? Reclaiming the Adult Role in Student Leadership By Dave Rahn

True student leadership does not mean grown-ups need to just step out of the way. Adults need to guide, mentor, and challenge young people in Christian discipleship and servant leadership.
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Board? By Jon Nixdorf

Here are some ideas for the care and cultivation of your board members (you'll find many of these ideas are applicable for dealing with parents as well).