The 5 C's

While the 5 C’s are not core values, they are how leaders choose people to invite on their team. We want our Ministry Area Leaders to be aware of them and find ways to grow in them.

We evaluate people using the 5Cs.  They are:

Character consists of the attributes, traits, and distinctive characteristics that make an individual unique. The character traits Embark measures leaders by fall into 2 categories: external actions and internal values.  

1. The external actions we measure are commitment, competence and chemistry. They are explained below. Someone who cannot live these actions out will need help developing them before being fully released into ministry.    
2. The 3 primary internal values we look for are:  
   1. Integrity - doing the right thing when no one is looking.
   2. Sustained spiritual life  - living out the spiritual disciplines of prayer, study and other disciplines. We do not look for perfection, just someone who is actively applying themselves to the God-given character development process.
   3. Teachable - does the person respond positively when given feedback, corrected, or instructed OR do they get defensive, shut down, make excuses, or play the victim?

Commitment is following through on what we say we are going to do and being dependable. Specifically, we measure people by:

• Dependability - Does someone show up when they are supposed to show up, ready to do what they said they are going to do? When they aren't going to show up, do they call and let that person know they are not coming or just don't show up?  
• Follow-through - Does someone complete what say they are going to do in a timely manner? In a volunteer organization like a church, many commit to do something but never follow-through to completion.  

Put these 2 values together and someone will be seen as dependable, a key character trait necessary for ministry leadership. Dependability demonstrates how much someone believes and values the importance of your ministry.

Competence is defined as having sufficient knowledge, judgement and skill to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. For example, the worship team requires people with a requisite level of musical competence. Teams require someone with a requisite level of administrative gifting to keep them organized. To ensure your team has the competence it needs:

1. Know what gifts and skills you are looking for in your ministry.
2. Know what your people's gifts and skills are.

You can measure someone's level of competence by their ability to produce results.

Chemistry is having the ability to get along with other people in times of agreement and in particular, disagreement. Nothing kills group morale quicker than a person who is unable to get along with others. With this said, understanding conflict is CRUCIAL to chemistry.  

Conflict or disagreement is inevitable. Healthy churches don't have an absence of conflict, they know how to manage it well. When there is a disagreement, we look for 3 chemistry character traits in people:

1. Engagement - Will the leaders engage the person when there is a problem OR ignore it and hope it goes away?  
2. Tact - Can the person communicate their disagreement with the other tactfully and respectfully?
3. Staying connected - Does the other stay relationally connected and work through the conflict constructively OR do they "pick up their toys and go home?"

When someone operates with the above 4Cs, they are receiving life from what they are doing, and positive results are produced, we say someone is CALLED to a ministry. A call does not just appear, it is developed and discerned over a period of time, by trying new things and receiving feedback from others.