When Mel Warren first came on the staff at Circle Church, it was often difficult to ascertain his true feelings toward the rest of us. He was vocal on the black issue and how it related to the Christian church or to social concern, but the short time together hadn’t given us a personal knowledge of one another.
One afternoon Mel returned from a speaking trip out of state. On the plane he had fallen into conversation with his seat companion—What is your job? Where do you live?—that sort of thing. The businessman was so moved by Mel’s account of his work in the inner city that he extended a hundred dollar bill at the end of the trip.
Mel split the money five ways. He gave a portion to each of us. From that point on we had no more question about Mel. We reasoned that when a Bible school student, whose wife is working to put him through school, shares a windfall of that proportion, he must feel as intensely about you as you do about him!
At this point, I am in my middle thirties, but this is my first pastorate. I wonder if I could have endured the strain of this honest relationship five years later in life. As individual members of a staff, we are deliberately choosing to submit ourselves to the authority of the group. I am extremely grateful the team concept happened at Circle Church when it did.
Often after our confrontations, Al prays, “Thank you, God, for the luxury of the staff.” One afternoon our district superintendent dropped by the office on a Tuesday, staff day. He was amazed at the openness and stated that he wished every church staff could be this same way. He didn’t know the half of it! Because of his presence, we were all on particularly good behavior!
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