Communication is challenging in any church or organization. It’s especially challenging in the matrixed organizational system of a multisite church, which has lines of communication and accountability running vertically from top to bottom—from senior leadership down to the campuses—and horizontally across ministries. Things are further complicated by the geographic distance separating campuses and team members.Communication

To those of us doing multisite church, these communication challenges create daily frustrations. How can we keep communication strong and team relationships healthy in a multisite church?Here are four key actions that make all the difference. (I’m indebted to Jamus Edwards for sharing his insights in an article in the Winter 2014 issue of The Great Commission Research Journal. My points are similar though a little different than his.)

  1. Clarify responsibilities and authority. Role clarity is pivotal in a multisite church. Different campuses have different needs, different settings, and leaders with diverse gifts in campus pastor and ministry director roles. It’s pivotal that people know what their assignments are, what they cannot change, and where they can be creative. Clear job descriptions, well-defined accountability lines, and consistent reporting and feedback systems remove ambiguity and empower people to excel within the church’s given vision and values. (You can find some of our church’s job descriptions by clicking here.) Where are things ambiguous in your system? Where does your church need greater clarity and better two-way reporting?
  2. Build authentic, in-person communication into your system. Today we have amazing 21st century technologies that help us connect and span the miles that separate us. Tools like GoToMeeting, Skype, and FaceTime help teams and individuals meet digitally when we can’t meet in person. At the same time, the kind of teamwork and trust required to have a dynamic church requires in-person, face-to-face communication between team members. When we assessed our campus pastors needs a couple of years ago we realized that their greatest need was relational time with the senior pastor and with each other. By talking this through and experimenting we’ve been able to dramatically improve communication, relationships, and support for them. Other staff and volunteer ministry directors also need relationship and support that requires a combination of both digital and in-person meetings. Where is this working in your church? Where does it need to be improved?
  3. Encourage healthy conflict. Different perspectives and ideas are always going to be present. Healthy conflict creates teamwork, clarifies vision and improves plans. But too often people are afraid to be honest. We must work hard to create a safe atmosphere where people can freely share their ideas, thoughts, and feelings. How is your team doing in this regard? Can people safely disagree and share their perspectives?
  4. Create a culture of encouragement. I am consistently amazed by the passionate, sacrificial leadership of campus pastors and their ministry team leaders. Those of us in senior leadership and on the central support teams of our churches, must continue to seek ways to connect with, encourage, and appreciate our campus pastors and their leaders on the front lines. Providing ample doses of encouragement requires two things: healthy systems and positive personal action. In terms of systems, we must look at our calendar of leadership events to see that we are pulling leaders together within and across campuses in ways that continue to envision, encourage, appreciate, and equip them. On the personal level, we must all ask what we are doing to express appreciation and encouragement to others within and across campuses. Everyone needs encouragement, even the senior leadership! All of us must  continually ask questions like: “Are we doing our part to bless and build others up?” And, “What can I do this week to encouragement teammates beside, below, and above me?”

Which of these principles is your team strongest in? Where do you most need to improve? I encourage you to talk this over at your next in-person meeting. Seek to be both honest and encouraging in your dialogue!