Year-after-year we were able to move mountains because of the trust extended to us by leadership. However, when the status quo became increasingly threatened, the mountains became insurmountable sealing our own doom. Without trust a mighty river is slowed to the speed of molasses. Rather than dealing with the problem head-on our new senior Pastor asked the team leader to step down along with two outspoken tenured volunteers. Minutes later he rallied the remaining founding team member to stay involved; he resigned four weeks later.
The Technology Team was summarily disbanded, ending the team that was founded 14 years ago. We were asked to pack up our personal gear (8 truck loads!), and have no further involvement from that day forward. He also dissolved the HVAC Team ending a ten-year stint of a volunteer licensed boiler engineer.
In one fell swoop the achievements and legacy of these two teams evaporated.
The next day an email went out to all leadership announcing the change without a scintilla of explanation. Leaders were reminded that they are not to assume anything or engage in gossip. So much for open and direct communication.
Command and Control leadership continues to preserve itself by the same culture of blaming and shaming that has plagued this organization for decades.
Spin. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.