I realize many regular pastors find themselves leading churches that don’t have a staff. At the first church I pastored in Kentucky, I was the staff! Even though most regular pastors won’t have a staff like the mega-church down the street, you will likely have a couple of key people on your leadership team. These folks may be full-time employees, part-time employees, or lay leaders. Whatever their employment status may be, these are the folks who lead with you and serve alongside you. This group of people must be healthy and functional if the church is going to be healthy and functional. To that end, here are 6 characteristics of a great church staff.

1. They pray together. The work of Christian ministry requires the power of God. When we pray, we acknowledge our dependence on God. We depend on God for future grace and sustaining power. We depend on God to give growth to the seeds we plant and water. A healthy church staff must regularly and consistently as God to do what only God can do.
2. They spend time together. The work of Christian ministry involves a surprising amount of busyness. There is much planning, many odd hours, and more emergencies than people would imagine. In the midst of this busyness, a church staff should seek to spend time together. The best church staffs actually enjoy being together.
3. They give each other the benefit of the doubt (and they give their people the benefit of the doubt). The work of Christian ministry invites criticism from all directions. This criticism may come from other staff members, from church members, and even from outsiders. Criticism should never be arrogantly dismissed, but the best church staffs are committed to giving each other (and their people) the benefit of the doubt.
4. They refuse to gossip or listen to gossip. The work of Christian ministry requires talking and listening – lots of talking, and lots of listening. There are many situations, issues, problems, and crises to discuss. However, the best church staffs are committed to never gossip, and they are committed to never listening to gossip.
5. They defend each other and celebrate each other. The work of Christian ministry has many highs and lows. Sometimes our plans come to fruition, others times the fall flat. Whatever the outcome, the best church staffs are resolved to defend their coworkers and to celebrate their victories.
6. They love their church. The work of Christian ministry is centered on the church. A church staff has the unique role of working at a church, helping to lead a church, and also being part of a church. These responsibilities are harder to juggle than you might imagine. Those who juggle these things well are always those who love their local church.