What are the rules??

[bugmedic]

I oversee (run) the a/v department at our church. My main tech and I are always there, but we do have others to come in and help. The ages of the helpers are late teenage to early twenty year olds. They do the job well and are faithful in their attendance but I am having the cell phone issue. They think because one of their friends texts them during church they MUST answer them back. I have on numerous occasions verbally discussed with them that this is not the time or place for using a cell phone. I guess that I am going to have to put it in writing. What I really need is a written policy. Any ideas of where I might find a policy already written that I might get some ideas from on correct wording and other policies that I may need to have in writting.

Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, this is an awesome site. Just reading through the threads has helped me with several issues. Keep up the great work. Thanks!

[[Admin] osborn4]

I would tell them before the service, if they can't ignore their cell phones, turn them off, not silent but off.

I you continue to have problems, you may need to designate a drawer where each of them puts the phone in before service and can get it back after.

And it may help to explain the "why". You need their FULL concentration on the task at hand, not lunch plans after service. I know "why" goes a long way with me.

[shayward]

I'm with Joel - you need to explain why.

Make sure you praise them during the conversation - start and end with it. Sort of like, "You guys are doing a great job and I really appreciate everything you are doing. We just have one issue with cell phones and so we have created a written policy, here it is, an hour isn't too long to be without texting. And again, I really appreciate all of the hard work and dedication."

- Shaun

[Paris MkVI]

We seem to have developed a culture where we must be connected at all times.

They may look at you like you have lobsters crawling out of your ears when you require them to turn their phones -gasp- off.

Perhaps remind them that they would turn their phone off, or leave it away from them for quiet time with God, wouldn't they? Their time of service for His Glory - and that is what it is - deserves the same level of devotion as prayer time.

[tedanderson]

Make sure you praise them during the conversation - start and end with it. Sort of like, "You guys are doing a great job and I really appreciate everything you are doing.

What I don't like about that kind of praise in this context is that I perceive it to be somewhat disingenuous when it is directed towards me. Not that I think it's untrue but it sounds as if they are saying it just to be saying it.

The way I see it is that if you tell me how great of a guy I am and then tell me that you are unhappy about something I am doing, then really the whole point of the conversation is really about the problem you are experiencing with me and everything else you are saying about how great I am becomes irrelevant.

I think that it's more important to get directly to the point of the matter and tell them exactly what's wrong and what actions you plan on taking. And it has to be in the right setting and right forum so that you have their full undivided attention when you explain this to them.

Once tactic that we use with youth and adults alike is that if they seem to be too distracted to concentrate on the job at hand, they are dismissed from their post for the day and encouraged to take a seat in the sanctuary so that they can listen to the sermon.

Another tactic that worked was when I had one 14 year old working under me who was listening to his iPod while mixing the audio board. I warned him a couple of times. The third time I told him to step out of the way and I will mix. He said, "Wait! I got it!" and I said, "No.. no problem.. go ahead a listen to your ipod. I'm not mad with you. I'll just take over from here so that you aren't distracted from your music."

I never had a problem out of him again.

I later explained to him that if you go to a job interview with you head buried in that screen, you will not get the job...let alone many other things you can miss out on because your smart-phone was taking priority.

[cw4u]

I don't really use my cell phone that much during church besides to talk to some of our ministers if a change/problem occurs.

I see that it causes problems especially if someone on stage is trying to communicate with you non-verbally. But, for me texting is all that big of a distraction when I'm working.. I make a point not to, but if my parents or a friend needed something during church or a show, I have no problem texting them back at an appropriate time...like after I just advanced to a new cue that'll be up for some time.

I think that if you can be responsible and keep it to a minimum, than it's not much of a problem. But that doesn't seem to be the case here.

[Steven]

I have attached two files: one is what we use for the staff, the other for volunteers. Hope they help!

*note: I most likely shamelessly plagiarized a dozen or more sources for these documents, so if I happen to have borrowed something of yours... thanks!

[KevinSlark]

Steven,

Would you mind emailing your documents to me? I'm in the process of rewriting, well, everything as I'm attempting to get us away from a "Tech Team" mentality to being a true ministry area.

I'm looking everywhere for inspiration and rewriting to what will fit our congregation.

Thank you!

Peace,
Kevin

[bugmedic]

Thanks everybody for taking the time to help! It's good to know that I am not the only one out here with issues. I do appreciate all th good info. Hope that I may be able to help some of you in the near future!! Thanks Again

[churchsoundguy]

Seems to me that leading the sound "team" is like so much else ought to be in the church: it's about mentoring, discipleship. We're training people, not engineers, when you think about it.

[churchsoundguy]

... Uhh. Not to suggest that engineers aren't people too. . . .

[BobM]

I found this thread rather interesting as it's the tech director himself in our church that won't shut off his cell phone.