Faith & Filing

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Hands up all those who were surprised the first time they saw administration mentioned in the New Testament as a spiritual gift. Or is it just me? It just doesn't have the glamour of some of the other gifts, does it? But after being in ministry for as long as I have, I know it is vital. In fact, I probably worked that out in the first year of being a minister, if not the first week!

 Practising the gift of administration is one of the key ways in which a church fulfils its calling – by ensuring that instead of having a stressed elite running themselves into the ground while the rest of God's people are denied a role in His work, everyone is fully and satisfyingly employed. But how do we get from one to the other?

Decisions – the church and its leaders need to be convinced that both structures and organisation must change. Next, we have to decide what changes are needed – and, first and foremost, we have to pray. Not to ask God to rubber stamp what we have already decided to do, but to find out what He requires of us. We forget that God is the best Administrator, just as He is the best in all the other roles we are called to play.

Next, we need to listen to the people of the church – even those we don't like, even those whom we habitually avoid or evade. Unfortunately, God isn't half as choosy as we would like Him to be in who He chooses to speak through. Finally, we also need to listen to what other leaders are saying.

What might all this look like in practice? Possibly starting with prayer and fasting; giving the church opportunity to comment and make suggestions, then the leadership needs to outline the proposed alternatives, which should be presented to the congregation. Then, after reflection, feedback and more prayer, decisions can be made.

Another key issue in any church is how are the structures set up, and are they working? Too often we continue to do things in the way they have always been done, often because there are people who are very attached to those methods! But no church will be able to implement changes effectively if they don't take a long hard look at their structures from time to time.

Every meeting, organisation and activity needs to be scrutinised and the following questions answered:

• What was the original purpose?
• What is the aim now?
• Is it being accomplished?
• If so, how? If not, why not?
• Could anything else accomplish these aims more effectively?
• What are your dreams for this meeting at its best?

To minimise resistance from your congregation during this process, a good leader will

• Give a clear explanation for why it is being done
• Ensure the congregation understands that everything, including the leadership structure, is being examined
• Involve the congregation in analysing their areas of work
• Be as positive as possible in the feedback stage
• Discuss the programme, not the personalities

Jesus insisted that the religious structures of His day would have to change, in order for the Kingdom to be established. As God moves in our churches today, we need a similar renewal. Our structures must adapt to fresh life, or give under the strain. And as our society changes, we must keep up. Not for the sake of keeping up, but in order to be relevant and to make sure the way we 'have always done this' does not get in the way of what God wants to do now. Baptising our ways of doing things, and believing that our preferences must therefore be God's desires, are both dangerous. We have to hold things loosely.

While we must never replace dependence on God with mere efficient administration, we have to see that both are vital. It is not an either/or situation. We must recognise the value of this gift, try to identify those who have it, and then encourage, train and put them to work. Despite appearances to the contrary, a disorganised, inefficient church does not honour God.

(first published in the Baptist Times April 2010)