Organizing Principles

Here's part 2 of the class I'm teaching, Leading Change in the Congregation.

Because the environment in which we do ministry is both complex and constantly changing, there is not a simple and straightforward movement toward goals.

What we often need from God, and what our congregations often need from their leaders, is not a quick map to the final destination, but bread for the wilderness – sustenance and strategies to help us find our ways.

Before we begin to look at the stages of development, it will be helpful for us to look at 4 Organizing Principles that form the DNA of the Life Cycle. A major element in understanding the life cycle of a congregation is to understand the pattern of the organizing principles that form the DNA and make up the various stages of the congregational life. This life cycle is principle driven.

Vision: The current understanding of God’s spiritual strategic direction for a local congregation that is cast by the leadership and owned by the membership.

Relationships: The relational processes by which persons are brought to faith in God and through Jesus Christ; become connected to a local New Testament church; are assimilated into the fellowship, life, and care ministry of the church; have opportunities for spiritual growth and leadership development; and utilize their gifts and skills through Kingdom involvement.

Programs: The functional attempts to provide services, activities, and training for people connected to the congregation by membership, attendance, fellowship or through relationship processes (These are the things we do for us. Sunday School is an example of a program.)

Management: The administration of the resources of the congregation, the decision-making structure of the congregation, the formal and informal culture of the congregation, and the openness of the congregation to change and grow.

Look at these 4 organizing principles as one approach to the assessment of a congregation. To empower our observation, reference 2 Corinthians 5:7, which admonishes us to “walk by faith rather than by sight.”

Congregations that focus more passion on Vision and Relationships are growing younger and more proactive every day. Younger does not necessarily mean the age demographics of the congregation are growing younger, but that may be a by-product. It means that, as a representation of the body of Christ, they appear younger or more vital. They are proactive in their actions and regularly seize the opportunities God is placing before them.

Congregations that focus more passion on Programs and Management are growing older and more passive every day. As a representation of the body of Christ they daily appear older and less vital. They are passive in their actions, and regularly seek to maintain past gains, an effort that leads to less satisfying results.

What percentage of Protestant churches do you think place more emphasis on Programs and Management than they do on Vision and Relationships? What percentage do you think place more emphasis on Vision and Relationships? What do you think is the result on placing more emphasis on Vision and Relationships?