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MANAGEMENT THEORY AND THE CHURCH
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....

...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....