The 'Wiki Encyclopedia of CityReaching' is collaboratively sponsored by the 'Center For Urban Innovation'... "Producing Innovative Multicultural CityReachers."

Teamwork... for CityReaching

Collaboration is working TOGETHER.   Coordination is working together WELL.

[Also see "Leadership"]

[Also see "Who's Truth?"]

We all understand the concept of 'team' and 'teamwork'... and might already all agree that the 'Church' is indeed a team... the only team... that Christ charged with the mission of continuing His work for the proliferation of the Good News of the Kingdom.  Yet, its seems apparent that we haven't truly taken it to heart.  Is there something missing from our concept of team?  I'm hoping we can start fleshing out the concept... especially re now filling the gap of the disconnected Church...

 Click to go see all 12 Partnership Principles

Now... What are some essential elements of the TEAMs engaged COLLABORATIVELY for reaching our cities for Christ? 

Anyone want to suggest some bullets to consider?

• Networked & communicating.  [but not JUST networked on communicating.] 
• Bound at the hip by Purpose & Principles.... eg. CityReaching & Common Statement of Faith. 
• Committed to work together... no matter what.  [don't let the devil do his Pride & Divide thing on us] 
• Shared goals & objectives.   [eg. some suggested objectives in Indianapolis]
• In addition to required trust in the purpose & the people, there must also be 'trust in the process'.  (per Phill Butler)
• Having a Model City Plan in mind, would help greatly.
• Determine 'commitments' of each team-member.  Without accountability somehow, there really is no 'team'.  [We're experimenting with a grid-approach for our Communications Team in Indy.]
• Actually WORKING together... concerted actions.  [Eg... Indy Timeline.]
• A facilitation team should include at least... a prophetic role (someone willing, in love, to call people to task & accountability), a servant (willing to do things behind the scenes for partners in need, even perhaps unrelated to the partnership itself), and perhaps a 'coach' (an encourager, wise-counsel, etc).  (per Phill Butler)
• Accountable to the group.  Part of that accountability is showing up at team meetings.  And reporting a status update vs. objectives. 
• Intentionality.  With it, they'll do whatever's necessary & practical.  Without it, you're just competing for occasional attention among a mixed set of priorities -- and the law of distraction will win.
• 'Team Bulletin Board' -- Centralized Hymnpage.  Not uniformity, but agree on the knowledgebase (Phill) and each probably excel in different functions... but must be on the same page.
• Concur on a leadership model. 
• Recognize that the team doesn't need to be 'large' -- small & impactive (ie, with rippling effect) is just fine.  700 left-handers, so to speak.
• 12 Partnership Principles... 12 videos (by Phill Butler)
• Achievable Objectives... Big vision... yes... but also short-term achievable objectives (things God wants done... and thus which re-emphasize & encourage us all along the way -- 'it can be done; see we're doing it').    (per Phill Butler)
• Good communications across all constituencies... transparency in reporting (good or bad)... and celebrating successes along the way.  (per Phill Butler).   [Without agreed-upon communications, there really is no team.  Perhaps only a network at best.]

Stray Thoughts & Links to retain for consideration...

• Caveat:   If we have all of the above, then our 'team' will prioritize our concerted meetings/actions.  But if we're having trouble getting together for meetings/actions, then it may well be that we don't REALLY have a team yet -- just a 'network'.
• And if that's the case, then perhaps a very small (but true) 'team' should recognize itself as such, covenant/commit together, and work at then slowly adding more & more folks from the network into part of their 'team'.... rather than trying to overhaul the network as a whole, into a giant team.  Just a thought.
• Teamwork Illustration:   Sometimes I like to think of 'networks' as roping a bunch of horses and tying the ends of the ropes together.  But a TEAM is when you somehow develop the ropes into a harness (yoke)... and thus leverage their collaborative power & speed.   [...Neil]
• Per Craig Groeschel... Work to keep your meetings small and communication from meetings large.
•  
• Suggested Book:   'Well Connected'   (Phill Butler) -- an excellent textbook for all this.
• Keywords:  Teamwork, Collaboration, collaborative, Coordinated coordinate coorinating team work

Cool example, from an innovative ministry team...

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