Over the years, I’ve observed that the pastors and leaders of healthy churches operated daily with these five insights uppermost in mind:
1. The church is an organism.
All the ministries of the church are intimately tied together. Decisions that affect one, affect all. It is no accident that Paul extensively uses the imagery of the body. There are no “isolated ministries,” nor should there be.
2. The church is about supporting/serving people as they pursue the primary purpose of the church, making disciples.
The role of staff and leaders is to help resource people as they follow God’s call on their life. The church, as an organization, puts people first.
3. The church is about accountability, not control.
The pastor leader helps to set the direction and then dedicates time to making sure people have the resources to get things done. Decision making is “pushed downward” and intervention occurs only in emergencies.
4. Pastors treat staff and leaders with dignity, not as “dumb sheep.”
The majority of the church is comprised of adults, not children. Congregants are peers and fellow-servants, not children who need to be “taken-care of.”
5. Motivation comes from love, not guilt.
People work harder and are more motivated when they understand the love of God behind the mission and vision given to the church.