Management techniques

Returning to the subject of management techniques in 'real' or 'authentic' church we have to go back to the subject of MAPs, where management tools are already in evidence in that we have asked ourselves:

• Why are we here (the mission)
• What are we seeking to do (the vision)
• What do we believe (the values)
• How will we achieve what we're called to do (planning, strategy, etc.)

These are all valid elements in the process of emerging church, fresh expressions, boring church and anything else you'd like to engage in within a church -based setting. This is using management tools and it's still not only 'spiritual' but it also leads us in to informed prayer and effective and efficient strategies (because here in St Francis' we can't afford to spend money on stuff for no reason!).

Moving back to the days when I was an Industrial Engineer, we used a simple mnemonic SREDDIM to assist us in our daily tasks.

Select - what area are you looking at - in a church setting could also be people group, time of day, day or venue.

Record - What happens in this area - in a church setting could be how many people are free, passing by (parents going to or from school to pick up/drop off perhaps), is the result consistent or are there days when there's more people around, less activity in the community, etc.

Examine - Having done your research is there a trend developing? Can you see an obvious need for something, or are there more people at a loose end during certain times on specific days?

Define - Define the needs that might be remedied by action or change. Could a drop-in with tea and coffee give parents somewhere to stop and chill before picking-upo or after dropping off? Is there an opportunity for this to have a spiritual component such that it becomes 'church' for them and they themselves become the living stones that make it?

Develop - Taking the areas that have been defined as modifiable, in a church-based setting we pray about them and see how we might engage in something (a fresh expression perhaps or something that makes a difference and builds relationships).

Install - Go make it happen! This is the exciting bit, the razzmatazz and bring in the Pointy-hat moment which ignores all the work behind the scenes and makes it look like it was just something that happened. That 'swan' moment where gliding gracefully no one notices the flapping beneath the waves!

Maintain - See what's happening, examine the results and make the changes that bring the whole project into line so it sounds like a sewing machine, never missing a beat. Revisiting, praying constantly (and intelligently) and being aware of changes that come about in the people and the locality that need to be responded to.

Successful church plants, fresh expressions, authentic church all need sound management skills to ensure that they are focussed, efficient (in terms of time and money - after all, which churches have unlimited money to throw at things to make them work?). Management models are a tool to underpin and support the spiritual tasks before us, they should never rule the church but they should support it. Spiritual people who fail to use management tools  are merely foolish virgins in disguise.

There we go - a bit more thinking for you . . . we'll start looking at some questions you can ask others soon.