Corporate Culture & How We Do Church

Here are my thoughts about the role of corporate culture in the local church.

I am not suggesting that these three points should be the corporate culture of your church—every church needs to figure out what corporate culture serves their unique vision and values—but these three help us do what God has called us to do.

1. The passionate vision of a world-wide mission movement—a missional culture.
It all starts with a vision to reach our world and our neighborhood, to plant churches in every nation and small groups in every coffee shop, to send missionaries around the world and across the street. This is what we are called to do. Vision. Mission. I love both. But God loves people, so we must develop. . .

2. The caring atmosphere of a church family—a relational culture.
Now it gets difficult. How do I run with the vision and not run over people? It is common for visionary movements to leave a trail of body bags dotting the path of their world-changing activities. It is also common for highly relational ministries to accomplish little. Is it possible to be visionary and relational at the same time? Vision & family—we have to be both, while also developing. . .

3. The organizational excellence of a multinational corporation—a professional culture.
Corporate excellence. Professionalism. In every area—accounting, IT, HR, graphics, facilities, communication—we must operate by the same standard as other institutions in our community. And that standard is different in every context. We reject the worn-out idea that giving God leftovers is acceptable. He deserves and demands our first and our best.

But, how do we keep a family/relational atmosphere and maintain professional excellence as we run with the vision and fulfill the mission?

I must admit—it’s hard to hold to all three at the same time, because sometimes they seem to pull in opposite directions. But, I know that our success is, in part, dependent on creating and maintaining the right corporate culture. Yours is too.