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Recently a friend loaned me a book on the history of industry and management in North America. The changes over the past century have been dramatic.
In many ways it is good that the Church has not just followed the other segments of society. The Church has too often tried to model itself on the Army, the Civil Service or Business.
On the other hand there are important learnings we can take from this huge quantum of human experience.
1) Volume matters! We have something good to offer but we need to do it on a much larger scale.
2) We need to create mass public awareness of who we are and what we offer. Generations have grown up without the Church and we need to re-kindle public awareness.
3) We need to believe that what we have can make a valuable difference in the lives of people and move forward on the basis of that confidence.
4) We need to be ambitious for the kingdom so that next year’s reach exceeds this year’s reach.
5) We need to increase our connectedness to the public by moving onto their ground and by making their contact with us more convenient.
6) How can we make the best use of our facilities and personnel?
7) How can we be aware of the flows in church systems? Rather than just thinking about evangelism, pastoral care, and program as separate components, how do we create a flow between them?
8) Are there services and activities that can be standardized or centralized?
9) Good things happen when several different elements come together. How can we recognize and make space for the managerial skills that can recognize and bring together the necessary elements of positive change.
10) How do we move from the small pockets of class and culture to deal more broadly with the entire population base?
Item XLVI
©2002 Ronald C. Ferris
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