I admit to being an avid fan of a select group
of police action television shows. By and large, my “select” list consists of
shows in which women are portrayed as competent leaders and colleagues
alongside their male counterparts. I am not referring to the shows that portray
men as idiots (e.g., King and Maxwell)
or those with a male-female team where there is a romantic element (e.g., Hart to Hart). Those dynamics detract
from what interests me, and that is: team work. In short, I am attracted to
shows that demonstrate the essence of a team across genders, cultures, etc.
Ever watch the TNT show, Major Crimes? Two members of the TV-created Major Crimes Division of
Los Angeles are female—the captain and one of the team of detectives. The female
supervisor delegates authority to the team members according to their
respective strengths. She knows their gifts and skills; she realizes that a
team is made stronger through the sharing and growth of members’ individual strengths.
She also understands that delegating responsibilities and authority, as well as
acknowledging another’s gifts, does not detract from her own. Instead, it makes
for a stronger and more effective team. It also avoids burn-out by the leader
and fosters trust in all members.
How about Flashpoint?
I know! I admit it! One of my early attractions to the show was the fact that
the team included a petite woman who more than “carries her own weight” in
performing as a member of the Toronto Strategic Response Unit. But with each
show I am drawn into the excitement of seeing the team members operate as a team.
If a member is unarmed or assuming the role of negotiator in a volatile
situation, that member’s life literally depends on the judgment and skills of
the other members of the team.
There is no territorial rivalry here. Each knows
what he or she is assigned to do, but they are trained to anticipate (and think
like) each other and work as a team, which is very different from working as a
committee. Further, knowing the emotional toil of being an SRU member, each
cares for each other and makes sure that they support each other emotionally so
that the work does not unduly impact their personal and family lives.
Team ministry within the Church is much the
same. It is not work by committee. It is not a pyramid of bosses with lesser
and lesser authority as one works down the strata. It is the coming together of
gifted persons who are encouraged to share their gifts (and authority) for the
sake of the team. They acknowledge their individual gifts and “growing edges;” the
primary concern is achieving the team’s missions—the work of the Church—not the
glorification of self. Further, they understand the emotional and physical toil
of ministry on the individual ministers and offer needed support to each other
the best that they can.
Hmm. Who would have ever expected it?! In this
media-dominated world that we live in, we can look to the “little screen” for
models of team ministry.
Theresa
