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Imagine several young men gathered around a table discussing management and leadership practices. Several of them quote the newest books on The Wall Street Journal’s best seller list and others discuss the newest book published by the Harvard Business school. Typical strategic session in corporate America? Perhaps, but it is just as likely a conference for strategy for the local church or perhaps a church planting conference seminar. Sadly in these meetings, the Word of God seems to be mentioned very little except to a token degree so those involved won’t appear unspiritual.
I recently attended a two-hour leadership seminar on “Leading Your Churches Arts Ministry” at an Arts conference by a key Christian organization where not one scripture was referenced.
Are my friends in ministry well-intentioned? I’m sure they are. But the dangers of trusting in leadership and management theory to lead and shepherd our churches far outweigh the costs.
What is management theory? Management theory can be defined as applying management principles and organizational behavior for businesses to optimize the performance of the organization.
Now few pastors and church leaders would ever claim to trust in such management theory, but their actions speak louder than their words. One example is church planting. Most church plants are modeled after the “best-practices” other churches (in some cases just one) use. Like many small businesses, the success rate is very small (say 1 of 8 survive). I believe many times this is because the approach to ministry is shaped by the world, rather than by a burning desire to see lost people redeemed. A better question the church planter should ask is – what is the heart of God for my local church?
Their leadership styles may have little to do with Spirit-led leadership, instead relying on motivational practices which appear highly effective, but in reality may just lead people to be well-disciplined in the flesh.
With the increase of second-career pastors (including myself), we are seeing an increase in management theory seeping into the church under the guise of strategy. From $3000 a day capital fundraising campaign seminars to strategic church conferences, management theory (sometimes under the guise of “leadership development”) is becoming a big business in evangelical circles.
Dangers of applying Management Theory to the local Church
1. CONTEXT
The objective of management theory is to optimize performance by individuals so as to increase the bottom line: profit. Few would disagree that the ultimate goal of management theory is to optimize the business to make as much money as possible. Yet Jesus clearly said we can’t serve both God and money. So why do so many pastors use principles designed to lead an organization to maximize profit rather than to shepherd and lead people into knowing God? Additionally, MT ignores that the church is a body – a living organism whose genetic makeup is radically different from the corporate world.
2. PERFORMANCE-BASED
In most cases, modern management theory has little to do with the well being or spiritual growth of the individuals involved, usually the opposite, seeing them as a means to an end – growing a larger organization (in this case, church). Not only are the pastors inevitably a slave to worldly standards of performance, but they in some cases subtly lead people into performance-based walks with Christ. Grace is trampled on while we create converts with well-disciplined flesh.
3. CIRCUMVENTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Even partially relying on management theory inevitably circumvents what the Holy Spirit may try do in the church. Why is this? It places reliance on man-made models rather than Christ-like principles. Are these necessarily diametrically opposed? Many times.
4. NOT THE SCRIPTURES
Modern Management theory is not scriptural, and is rarely scripturally-inspired. Much of effective management theory the church is paying big bucks to learn can be summed up by a few key scriptural principles, in the same manner that we have 89,000+ laws on the book to apply the basic ten commandments. It is much better for the pastor of the local church to spend time on his face before God discerning the Heart of God for his congregation through Spirit-led direction. Sadly, it is easier to read principles in current books whose shelf-lives will evaporate quickly.
5. PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE MINISTRY
Trusting in management theory is a part of the larger professionalization of the ministry. As John Piper has written in his recent book, Brothers We Are Not Professionals, “There is no professional weeping, no professional Christ-likeness, no professional love…”
6. IN MANY CASES, INEFFECTIVE
From my time spent in business school reviewing Harvard Business School case studies, I find that resolving the issues presented in the studies are typically radically different than the challenges facing the average local church. The players and motives are different. Thus, management theory is not effective in the long-term.
Can the Holy Spirit work through applying principles learned in management theory? Yes. However, it is similar to how the Holy Spirit can work through evangelists with very poor theology.
All scripture is useful for leading and guiding a church. Let's make Bible needs to be our primary source in planning to grow a church.
Jay is the Executive Pastor and co-founder of CrossPointe Church in Orlando, Florida. He has an MBA from Baylor University, so he has been through his share of business seminars.
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