What’s Your Church’s Biggest Strength: Management or Leadership?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, March 10, 2008
- Viewed 347
- (34) comments so far
The percentage of churches in decline is America is substantial. (I’ve heard as high as 90%!) It’s my hypothesis that each of these churches (and if you take the conservative church count in the country of 200,000 churches, 90% would be a whopping 180,000 American churches!) have to be ‘doing things right’ to some degree. Doing things right means things like conducting weekend services, maintaining property and facilities, making payroll, and caring for their attenders. In essence, as long as there are still people attending most churches, the churches, by and large, are ‘doing things right’, at least from a management standpoint.
But what about the other 10% of churches in America that are growing and vibrant? Could it be that they have moved beyond ‘doing things right’ to ‘doing the right things’? Every single one of the growing churches I’ve seen are very outwardly focused. They reach out and specifically target reaching their communities. They move beyond ‘management’ to dare to try new things; new programs; and new approaches. They are not afraid of change. They are not afraid to confront the culture. The are leaders. And the result is a growing and community-changing church.
FOR YOUR INPUT: What’s your church’s strength? Management or Leadership?
Leadership and management guru Peter Drucker once said, “Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things.” When I read that recently, I thought that this statement could be very true in today’s American church. Here’s my theory: Could it be that while most churches are ‘doing things righ’t, a smaller group of churches are ‘doing the right things’?
Comments
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Jeremy on Wed, March 12, 2008
Well, let me first say that I feel that God led me to the John Maxwell book or this article, not to critique my senior pastor, but to improve my own leadership skills. I forgot about the book, until God prompted me to read it (as He did this article). Now I agree that I can’t treat these books and articles as I do the Bible, but they offer excellent ways to improve my own leadership skills.
We, as pastors, are called to equip the saints for the work of the gospel, not merely to preach. The results of this would be a church that adheres and acts out the Great Commission. I don’t think we can simplify the work of a pastor to just preach salvation and/or grace (although completely necessary), it is much more involved than that, and therefore takes more than mere managing what exists. It takes the implementation of new ideas, building excitement, meeting the needs of the community, etc., in order to preach that message in a relevant way.
I believe that my church in particular has a lot of people in the seats just being fed, and doing nothing with what they receive. I believe if there was a vision, or something exciting for them to be a part of, then they would get out of their seats and reach people for Christ. But, I believe that this has vision has to be cast from the leader, and it simply isn’t being done. So if that isn’t being done, the message of salvation will be taught to the people who have been filling the pews, and not to the people who really need to hear it.
I don’t think we can just expect people to show up because we are a church. Jesus did His miracles outside the church, and we are called to GO, not to church, but into the world and proclaim the Good News.
Jeremy on Wed, March 12, 2008
Eric—
It is nice to know I am not alone. I have searched out some Godly counsel on this matter, and I believe what you are saying 100%. I am TOTALLY committed and submitted to my Senior Pastor. I respect his position, and him as a head of the church that I believe God has entrusted him to. I will be committed and submitted as long as I need to, and fulfill my vision as best as I can, and I will NEVER speak poorly about him. I haven’t found a way to mesh my vision to his lack of vision. Any suggestions??? You can email me if you want: [removed]
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Thanks for the input!!
liliputian on Wed, March 12, 2008
this post has been plagiarized at the following blog URL.
hooked on grace
Rita on Mon, February 23, 2009
I am deeply in love with every single piece of information you post here. Will be back often to read more updates!
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