As a leader, how can I help build community in my church or organization?

Acts 15:2Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.

The early church modeled a process that respected all people involved and cultivated healthy community in the midst of conflict. Leaders do not lead in a vacuum, and the “product” they are trying to produce is not all that matters. The people are the ultimate product; therefore, processes that involve and respect the community are important.

James 2:1My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

To build community, leaders should not show favoritism or allow those in their organization to do so. Favoritism only fosters jealousy and destroys community.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

To build community, leaders recognize and leverage people’s giftedness. In the church, the focus is on the Holy Spirit’s gifts—discerning and using them. In the secular world, the same applies, just with different language. Leaders in a secular organization still should determine what their people are best at and assign jobs accordingly. In both cases, this builds community, helps people appreciate one another, and encourages them to work better together.

Acts 20:33-35“I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

To build community, leaders get involved in the trenches and work alongside their people so they understand their jobs. Obviously, leaders have different kinds of responsibilities, but their employees need to know that they, too, are working hard. They need to see that leaders are working for their good and for the good of the organization. This builds community among those working together for a common goal.