Tuesday, October 16, 2007
leadership
Here is a question that has come up recently. What, if any, is the difference between business leadership and ministry leadership? I don't want to influence anyone's response with my own comments at this point. I know what my opinion is but I really would like some feedback from others. Feel free to make a comment here, e-mail me (theodude@juno.com) or just give me a call. I'm looking forward to your responses.
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7 comments:
Running a business and running a church is vastly different. True, both have similar goals and desire to see growth either financially, or in membership respectfully. That is the similarity and there it ends. To equate business proceedings with church procedures is like comparing apples and oranges. They both are fruit and grow on tress but yet cannot be expected to be nurtured and pruned and fed the same way.
Business is primarily there to offer a service whereby they eventually will get paid and make somewhat of a profit. The church who uses that analogy with the emphasis for church growth has lost it. The church is here for servicing the world with a task to which it gains no recompense except to prepare, encourage the world with the challenge to become citizens of God's Kingdom. Church growth in itself is of no value. People for the Kingdom of God is everything. When we emphasize church growth and look at it as merely a business function, then our emphasis will be centered on the here and now benefits we can receive. Our church services will be tailored to attract and entertain people with great things and activities that will encourage church attendance. Children programs, and youth programs will compete with what the business or secular world is offering them. We will candy coat everything to attract and keep folks in the church. We inadvertently are making this world the higher kingdom of God that He is preparing for us right now. We need to forsake the world and it's attractions and look to God for a Kingdom not made with human hands.
Can a church be run like a business. No! For one factor alone prevents this. A business is operated by individuals who are paid for their services. They have unions and laws to protect the employees. All the church has is volunteers. People, who against the natural mode of the business, actually pay the church to operate and win souls. People who will willingly suffer loss, abuse, and even their lives to ensure that the church survives and goes forward. Business offers a product that is temporary, the church offers truth that is eternal. Business offers compensations for the here and now to it's employees, the church offers compensation that is for the life hereafter.
To be a business leader is far easier, just dangle a wage packet in front of people to get them motivated and moving. When they comply, reward them with a bonus, or salary increase, or a variety of benefits. All the church leader has are volunteers, with not incentives except their love for God and what Jesus has done for them. No salary to offer, no benefits to dangle over heads, except some far away hope instilled for a kingdom they cannot see, but accept in faith because of a hope they have in a caring God they know and love.
I don't think there is any comparison between a business leader and church leader. It is as different as apples and oranges.
Thank you for your comments. I think more of my thought process surrounds the actual actions and approaches of the leader as an individual. I know one person asked recently if we are talking about Christian business leaders and church leaders. I would venture to say yes since that would place the desire to follow God in both realities.
You are by no means required to but would you mind letting me know who you are in order to dialogue further? If you would like to contact me by e-mail my address is theodude@juno.com.
chris
I agree with anonymous as long as he/she is comparing a non-christian's leadership to a christian's leadership in running a secular business. However a Christian's leadership must have similarities whether he/she is leading a church or a secular business. That leadership must come about as he/she follows Christ and therefore will be manifested as servant leadership.
To compare a non-Christian's leadership of a secular business to a Christian's leadership of a secular business would be like comparing apples to oranges.
Chris, Great Question
Padre aka Frank
I agree with what anonymous and Frank wrote. As Christians, leaders or not, we are called to follow Christ all the time (like Frank said). The Bible is essential for any Christian in the business community. However, the reverse is not true, business training is not essential for leadership in the Church, because the Church and business are two very different things (like Anonymous said).
I believe Christians make a mistake when they think they can look to the business world to see how a church should function. A business is an organization, the Church is an organism. A business is run by a CEO, the church is lead (should be lead) by Jesus, who is not a CEO, but the Head of the Body of Christ--the Great Shepherd of the Sheep. In Matt. 23:10, Jesus said that he is our one Leader (different translations use other words such as Master or Instruction, but leader is the most literal translation). That's not to say that people don't have leadership roles, but the point I'm making is that the world, who doesn't know the Leader, cannot teach us how to be leaders in the Leader's on body. It's a sad thing when churches replace our perfect Shepherd with a flawed CEO--this is exactly what the nation of Israel did when the wanted a king.
It's only when churches operate like organizations rather than organisms that the clergy benefit from the business model of leadership. If we treat the church like a business, we may grow something, but is it really Jesus' church? Jesus said that He will build His church, my heart's desire is that we trust Him to do it and not try to do it ourselves.
Love and Blessings!!!
Well stated Chad, you understand exactly where I am coming from. Christian business leasdership and leadership of Christ's body cannot be compared.
This response is intended more for the responses to the original posting than they are for the original posting itself. But I am also interested in replying to TheoDude’s original question.
There can be some comparison between how a Christian organism (the Church) is operated and how a Christian business is conducted.
One comparison involves Christian business leaders who operate non-church organizations understanding that many of those who work with and for them may not be Christians. In a church, if there are individuals who work within the church who are not members of the Body of Christ, then their mentoring and expectations are different than the mentoring provided to or expectation of those who are Christians, just as there would be different expectations for mature versus new Christians. Even Paul, within his ministry writes of feeding babes milk, while expecting mature Christians to move on to meat – and there is also reference that indicates that if it is sin for some, a mature Christian would refrain from participation so as to not thwart the growth of a new Christian or to alienate a non-Christian.
In a Christian business there are expectations that are held by their employees as well as both the Christian and non-Christian communities that there be openness, honesty, good stewardship, accountability and respect for their customers (those they serve), the community and employees.
Second, to insinuate that there are no comparisons is to assume that the business world has nothing to offer for the learning in a Christian atmosphere. Amazingly enough a church run enterprise such a daycare or school will adapt many processes and policies from the business world once a wrongful termination or any such lawsuit is filed.
Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Although Christians, we still live and operate in the world and it is not our world - yet. We must remember that what is Caesar’s is in fact due to Caesar. We have no claim to it, nor should we wish to.
TheoDude, great question.
In my humble opinion, there is considerable difference. But what if the ministry is only a ministry in name or concept? What if the operation is more closely related to a business than a ministry? In this event there is no difference and therefore no need for it.
A ministry would have very distinct structure and goals geared towards the cause and calling of Christ. Those who are in leadership positions would be clear on those goals and would be in synch with the overall object of the ministry. Ministries generally incorporate some method of service extended to a group of people with the goal of winning souls to and for Christ.
In the business world you can decide to hire with very specific qualifications for a position in mind or you can hire at an entry level and make the decision to mentor the individual into a position of responsibility and leadership. In ministry you can also do this, but at a very different level and with very different goals in mind, and with a greater risk to the individuals you intend to serve through the ministry.
If your ministry was a school or a church for instance, you may not want to place into leadership positions (teachers, deacons, elders, etc.) those who did not meet the very specific qualifications that are provided in the Bible. Compare, for instance, Hebrews 13:7 and 17 and 1 Thess. 5:12. These verses suggest elders should be very mature in the Word and in their walk with the Savior.
Since a ministry is established to serve a group of individuals, I believe it is valid then to ask “What benefit or danger can result in placing someone into a position without meeting the minimum criteria necessary to ultimately lead them to Christ”?
In closing I think that the main differences between business leadership and ministry leadership involve risk, desired outcome and accountability to those within the ministry. The things of this world will pass away (Business), but the things of God (Ministry) will have eternal ramifications.
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