DISINVITING TEAM MEMBERS

     I just got off the phone with an arts leader from a church in western Canada.  He is trying to take his music worship team to the next level and believes that some of the faithful current team members do not possess the music skill required.  Of course, they are veterans who have sacrificed so much for the team, and are much loved, etc.  It would be so much easier if they were jerks!  Together we talked about the difficult meetings and conversations he will lead as he trims his team.

     I told him that he needs to expect this process to be difficult, and that he should know going in that he won't do it perfectly.  It's vital for him to explain the core values of the worship ministry to the team, and explain why he believes the church needs them to improve their musical quality while at the same time ministering with authenticity and strong spiritual character.  We discussed how the Evil One will try to sow divisiveness and tempt the team to spread slander.  He plans to call everyone on the current team to doing this process as "big people", those who want to follow Christ with their tongues and their attitudes.

     Most of all, arts leaders need to recognize that they are not alone in these experiences.  I have similar conversations all around the world.  What a delicate juggling act we do seeking to honor faithful people while continuing to pursue more effective ministry.  There are no manuals for this sort of thing, but we truly can help one another.  What have you learned along these lines?  Do you have any further advice for my Canadian friend?

Comments

[Mark McConnell]

I question I would have is...

Why would it be so much easier if they were jerks?

Doesn't Jesus have a heart for jerks?

:)

Also... I guess I would like to know what the "core values" are, and how these values are related to Jesus and his good news.

[Barry Pike]

This is a hard thing. I, too, have had to do this as a leader and I've also had to accept it when it was my turn to be cut from another project. Having sat on both sides of this transaction, I find that it really has become somewhat easier, both to be the pruner and the prunee.

But it's still very difficult and requires great sensitivity and preparatory prayer.

[Pat]

I would also encouage the leader to give these indiiduals training options that would help them. Then they have people or schools to contact if they want to get better at whatever their skill is. Sometimes when someone is let go - whether from a job or an arts team - we just let them flounder. Giving them ways to improve so they can get back in the game, shows them that we believe they have the ability to improve and that we would love to have them back in the future.

[Nancy Beach]

Pat,
I agree with you as long as we aren't encouraging them to get more training as a way to stall things, thinking deep down that they don't have the raw potential to improve. For those who really do have that potential, suggesting training options is a very loving thing to do.
Nancy

[Nancy Beach]

Mark,
My reference to it "being easier if they were jerks" was an overstatement, but it stemmed from the fact that so many times the most godly, faithful people are the ones who lack some of the musical skills needed to go to the next level. If the person had ungodly character, of course Jesus loves them and so should we. But it makes it easier to disinvite them if they have a poor attitude. Those who are incredibly Christlike are a lot harder to have these conversations with. Hope that helped to clarify my statement...
Nancy

[Mark McConnell]

Nancy,

Thanks for your response. I basically know what you mean, and as a pastor I have had to deal with, and process, similar situations.

But... I think I would still want to push a bit and ask questions such as "why are those who are incredibly Christlike a lot harder to have these conversations with?" If they are incredibly Christlike, would it not be easier to to raise sensitive issues (such as their musical participation) with them? I think such difficult conversations bring to the surface the true character of both speaker and hearer.

I guess what I am reflecting on is my own experience and how I have sometimes tended to treat people (eg. musicians who lead "worship") differently depending on what I think of them (rather than what Jesus thinks of them). Also, I know that I can easily classify people according to my judgemen and in doing so I fail to love.

Our real need is to know the good news of Jesus and the freedom that brings - freedom to have difficult conversations and freedom to hear difficult things (like a disinvitation).

So, I think one of the key issues is whether we believe that our "core values" are rooted in the gospel (rather than say... the values of our culture). That sense of confidence will, I believe, give us a sense of freedom to "truth in love".

So... in situations like this I know I need to ask myself the question - am I able to love this person as I have the difficult conversation (perhaps in such a way that it means that I have to give of myself in the same way that Jesus gives of himself when he speaks truth to us on the cross). If I am not, then perhaps I should not have the difficult conversation. For me, this is one of the key challenges of leadership.

Anyways, hope this makes sense.

Mark

[Nancy Beach]

thanks, Mark - very good thoughts. I think the primary reason I find it difficult is the hesitancy to hurt people I love so much and people who are so giving. But you're right, most often their godly character causes them to respond with tremendous grace and maturity...
Nancy