Leadership In Systems

 

The various systems that exist within a church or ministry can be extensive depending on its size. Obviously, there are common ones such as financial, communication, leadership, staff, marketing, and resource management. Additionally, though, each separate branch of an organization or ministry of a church will also have its own system. Each of these systems may not make or break an organization but all will contribute towards or hinder its success one way or another. I want to highlight one negative and positive way systems intersects with organizational change. First, systems can impede change when some or all other systems are reliant on that system. For instance, say a ministry wants to build new wing onto their facility, the financial system could have an impact on if that is able to move forward regardless of how all the other areas are functioning. If gathering funds is an issue, maybe the system within marketing needs to be addressed or maybe there’s updating that needs to be done in how funds are allocated. On the opposite side, one system has the potential to boost all other systems too. Communication would be an example. If there is a good communication system that has prepared all other facets of the organization ahead of time, when changes occur the transition will be much smoother.

A core way that visionary leaders can anticipate disruptions is simply by always being prepared. This seems like a really simple answer but there are multiple components to preparation that give that answer some depth. Pilots, truckers, and sea captains are examples of people who plan their route, check for obstacles, research weather and environment concerns, and have back up plans should something fail. Visionary leaders within churches and ministries should also do their due diligence as they plan for the future and for implementing any changes. It is never a good idea to rush into anything and good preparation will allow for avoiding any rash decisions or mistakes that could be made otherwise. Another good practice is simply communicating when there is the potential for disruptions or changes if the leader knows about them ahead of time. Change is hard to begin with for most people, surprise change is usually even harder.

The most essential way an organization can structure itself to be adaptable and responsive to change is by building systems around principles, not a person. While this seems like a common-sense statement, it’s surprising how many small churches and ministries are reliant more on a person or group of persons rather than a system that anyone can plug into. I have two personal examples that reflect this statement. A close friend of mine served as the worship leader of a small church in rural America. I had the privilege of attending there on two separate occasions and then my brothers and I had the honor to perform a Christmas concert there. We were blown away by the experience, though a small community-centered church, their love, support, and generosity were incredible. From the moment you entered the building, you would be surrounded by enthusiastic, servant hearted individuals who had a passion for welcoming others. The pastor was at the heart of it, taking us to dinner following the concert and then paying to fill up our van for the drive back to Wisconsin. Sadly, in the year that followed, controversy arose within the church and the pastor resigned over differences with the other church leaders. Within a matter of months, the church was in complete shambles, over half the church left, and what remained was a shadow of what had been. The problem was the church was putting way too much stake in the leadership, life, and legacy of one person. As soon as that person was removed from the situation, nearly every system in the church failed. The second story has nothing spiritual about it but there’s a reverse picture of what was just displayed. The 2018 Philadelphia Eagles were a team built to succeed at every position, especially at quarterback with rising star Carson Wentz. However, in Week 14 of the season, Wentz would tear his ACL which ended his potential MVP season. For anyone, expecting the Eagles to continue their dominance, especially on offense, would be very generous. But, despite the odds, Nick Foles would take over at quarterback and lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. The thing was, the Eagles hadn’t built their system around a person, instead, they had built their systems for winning around the principles that would make them a good football team. I am convinced the same thing must true of any church or ministry system. It has to be built around a vision, principles, and empowerment, not just the leadership and ministry of one person.