One of the most misunderstood topics in Emmaus is Team Selection. This subject is well covered in the Handbook beginning on page 21, but as usual, there are underlying principles between the lines that may just make more sense than written rhetoric.
First of all, good intentional team selection builds leadership, not only in the Emmaus community but more importantly, in the church. The principle of “Progression of Servanthood” has a very distinct method to its madness. Remember, we don’t earn the right to progress in Emmaus, we learn it. Serving behind-the-scenes first, then entering the conference room at the table community slowly at first, helps us all to understand the dynamics of listening as well as the sharing of ideas.
Second, you can’t develop leadership of a community unless the community has a chance to serve in this progressive way. We have literally hundreds of community members who have never served in the conference room, many of whom deserve the opportunity to do so. This is the reason Team Selection MUST wisely use the experience information supplied by the registrar (or whoever keeps the experience records) and make its decisions for teaming with the health of the community in mind.
Third, the recycling of the same folks through the conference room does absolutely nothing for those who desire to serve there but never get called. The recycling of past leaders and other frequent team members will quench the spirit of servants willing to serve but never asked. Please do not rob willing servants the chance to give of themselves!
Fourth, the community should own the community. The Board provides governance and leadership; the team guides the pilgrims on a weekend; but the community must own itself in order to support and maintain a healthy spirit level. The original reason for three year Board terms was to provide more opportunity to the community members to serve and prevent a few from holding too much control over the community.
Lastly, the Team Selection Committee is composed of only two Board members: the chair of the Team Selection Committee and the Community Spiritual Director. The rest of the committee is made up of the chosen walk Lay Directors and as many community members at large as deemed necessary to adequately represent the community in the wise selection of team members.
Remember! Walk Lay Directors do not choose their own teams! They simply call the persons Team Selection has chosen until they achieve the team God has selected. Walk Lay Directors do not choose their Walk Spiritual Directors. These two leadership positions are always Board chosen at the same Board meeting. Walk Lay Directors are not charged with the responsibility of selecting the Support Coordinator, the Board Representative, or any of the Support Servants who work behind-the-scenes. This, too, is the work of the Board. Board members should not perform all the behind-the-scenes functions themselves but ask community members at large to do them—-again so the community will have ownership of the community as well as having the opportunity for personal sacrifice.
The more community people we involve in the walks, the healthier the community will be, and I’ll bet you will be surprised at how much easier it will be to get volunteers for your needs in the future.
Try it, you’ll like it!!!
Scoofer Jordan
S/E Regional Rep.