I was at a meeting today of clergy and laity talking about the decline in many of our congregations and what we can do to help turn the tide. I did not say much, but listened quite a bit. What I heard was intriguing.
All of the solutions put forward for our problems were set in business terms and used business terminology. There were plans and programs and models and coaching. This made me think back to several presentations my students made during a church history class I taught as a one-week intensive at the seminary. Many of those students also drew heavily on business models for their understanding of church organization and leadership.
While I think there is a lot we can learn from the business world, this trend has me very concerned. When our leaders think in business terms, we ought not be surprised when they act like corporate executives and our parishioners act like consumers. We are not peddlers for God. Neither are parishioners people who ought to be shopping for the next best experience.
I don’t think the Apostles had a one, five, and ten year plan for ministry (except for, perhaps, to preach to as many people as possible before the authorities killed them). I don’t think Paul made sure every new church he founded had a mission and vision statement and staffing needs congruent with those statements. How did we get to the point where a church’s life is dependent upon vision casting and measurable goal setting?
This trend is so pervasive, I would be extremely open to ideas of how to move from a business mentality to something more.
Steve,
Glad to see you’re back to blogging again. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts.
As to your question, I’m not sure what the solution is. Business is the language of the free market economy, much as horticulture is of an agrarian economy. Jesus talked about planting seeds and pruning vines. We talk about advertising and selling the church. Certainly, there is fair room for that kind of language, but as you point out, if we persist too far, it becomes a problem.
I’m interested in what you think is the solution.
Thanks again for the post.
Lauren
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Hi Lauren,
Thanks for the complement. The blog had to take a back seat while I finished my thesis.
I understand exactly what you are saying about the “language of the day.” My problem is when it becomes so encompassing that the language ends up defining the thing. When Jesus told a parable, it was obvious he was using language to allude to something deeper. Our situation today seems to allow the deeper reality of the Church to be subsumed by the shallowness of the language.
I’m still not sure how to rectify this situation, but I think a healthy dose of “mystery” would help. If we could somehow focus more on the mystical connection between a congregation and the Body of Christ, then perhaps we can move away from the business model.
Steve, thanks for your concern.
In fact I found your blog googling the subject. I am speaking on Laity Sunday for about 20 minutes in the Methodist church of which I am a member. Apart from hopefully encouraging more individual ministry I want to touch on this issue in a positive way.
Our church is growing well and while we do have visions of our preferred future our two pastors both see the church at large as over organized. We are moving toward reduction of debt more than leveraging assets to increase program and capacity.
While I’ve used business words here our church is much more focused on spiritual transformation than any business model.
Could you pint me to any writings or your own thoughts that could value to the notes and outline I am currently writing for a presentation on Sunday October 16?
Hi Bill,
I still struggle with this issue myself. One of the better books I’ve read that addresses this issue, even obliquely, is “Introduction to Liturgical Theology” by Alexander Schmemann. He deals with the more mystical identity of the Church as the Body of Christ. Here is, I think, the key. While the Church has an aspect to it of organizational structure and business-type needs, it always remains above and beyond this, the Body of Christ. We are connected in a real and tangible way to Christ and to each other through worship and the sacraments. This is not simply metaphor since we are united to Him in baptism and receive Him in the Eucharist.
Hope this helps!