Culture matters. Every church has a culture, every team has a culture, and as leaders, we bear a responsibility to shift the culture toward one that resembles the Kingdom of God and the person of Christ more than it resembles our cities, churches, and leaders. But this work of culture is not - and cannot be - a solo endeavor. One of the ways I think of leaders on my team is carriers of the culture. What is true of us now, and where we are prayerfully aiming the direction of our lives, our team, and ultimately our church will be shaped by the carriers of our culture on our team.
How to identify culture carriers on your team:
Do you have culture carriers on your team? You will be able to recognize them because their voices, presence, and influence have an outsized impact on the team. On a worship team, the temptation might be to consider those with a microphone (choosing songs, leading the liturgy, running a rehearsal, etc) as the main carriers of culture - and this might be true. However, I have often found that the most consistent carriers of culture are not always the most obvious leaders. Who shows up early? Who is encouraging the team? Who is investing in relationship? Who is giving more of themselves (in time and talent) than is expected of the rest of your volunteers? Here are your culture carriers.
How to encourage culture carriers on your team:
Invite them in. Bring them into your thought process, and your planning.
Ask them to do intentionally what they are already doing naturally.
Entrust them with greater responsibility in leading the team, the congregation, and planning.
Ask them to weigh in on decisions about songs, events, services, and the overall direction of your team.
Make investments in their leadership on your team as well as their growth as people.
Ultimately, this is the discipleship. And discipleship is the long game. This work will be slow, but it is the kind of self-giving we are called towards as disciples of Christ, as we make disciples.