Parlez-vous français? If not, I think you’ll still appreciate this article.
When churches engage with The Unstuck Group, one of the wins we want to help them experience in addition to clarifying mission, vision and strategies is to more intentionally develop the culture of their teams. We do that in a number of ways, but core to that conversation is clarifying what we call the “culture shaping behaviors” of the team.
Here’s a recent example from my work with Mission Chrétienne Intergénérationnelle – MCI Canada, a primary French-speaking congregation in Montreal, Quebec. I asked Pastor Benjamin Carbone if he’d let me share this with you, and he agreed. And, since they originally drafted this in French, I thought I’d share it with you in their words. I hope you have a translator or someone who learned a little more than I did in my two years of high school French.
Notre code d’honneur et d’intégrité:
1 – Être enseignable
Nous sommes toujours prêts à apprendre.
Car nous avons faim de grandir.
2 – Équiper
Nous croyions dans le potentiel donner par Dieu à chacun.
Nous sommes appelés à nous développer et à nous multiplier
3 – Donner l’excellence
À cause de Son meilleur, nous offrons notre meilleur.
Donner le meilleur de nous-mêmes reflète Christ, honneur Dieu et inspire les gens.
4 – Être généreux
En réponse à son sacrifice, nous sommes prêts à payer le prix.
Nous contribuons volontairement pour faire partie de la solution.
5 – Honorer les autres
Nous glorifions Dieu en honorant les autres.
Nous saisissons chaque opportunité avec passion pour célébrer notre prochain.
One of the reasons why I have left their culture shaping behaviors in French is because they reflect the culture that MCI Canada is trying to create.
I don’t want you to just copy and paste their behaviors to become yours.
If you translate these, you’ll probably see some influences from ministries that have been a part of Pastor Benjamin’s faith and ministry experience. They are also the result of hours of conversation about the culture they want for their team going forward. Your culture will (and should) look different.
You’ll notice that we focus on behaviors rather than values. That’s on purpose.
We’ve learned that it’s easier to shape the culture of a team when you focus more on how the team interacts with each other as opposed to having everyone memorize a list of values. Over time, those behaviors will not only shape the culture of your team, they’ll be reflected throughout your church.
My prayer, of course, is that the culture of the church will eventually impact the communities around us. Even in the midst of the challenges that many of our communities are facing, I’m believing that will happen.
We focus on behaviors rather than values. u003cstrongu003eThat’s on purpose.u003c/strongu003e #unstuckchurch Share on XIt’s easier to shape the culture of a team when you focus more on how the team interacts with each other as opposed to having everyone memorize a list of values. #unstuckchurch Share on XHere’s your opportunity—
You get to shape the culture that you desire for your team.
Yes, I get it. Naming the culture shaping behaviors is the easy part. Then you need to live them, hire with them in mind, coach them and celebrate them. But you have to begin by naming them.
What’s the culture you desire for your team, your church and ultimately for your community?
Today’s the day to begin that conversation with your team and name those behaviors.
C’est la fin. Bonne journée.
