Systems Analysis

At our last Beta Vitality meeting we discussed Church Systems (the apostle Paul would probably talked about the body and its parts, and whether they were functioning well.)  Church Systems are areas of ministry such as Evangelism, Finance, Youth Ministry; to think of these as systems is to consider how they work – is there good communication?  Are things taken care of?  Is it a sustainable system?  Does it invite new ideas and new people into its ministry?  As one might expect we were given a set of criteria by which to assess if a system in the church is working – from Christian Schwartz:

1. Fruitfulness:  Does this system produce visible fruit for the Kingdom of God?
2. Multiplication:  Does this system contribute to the multiplication or merely to addition?  (And the difference is…?)
3. Interdependence:  How does this system affect other areas of life?  (Does it run independently?)
4. Symbiosis:  Does this system foster a fruitful cooperation between different activities?
5. Energy Transformation:  Does this system take advantage of the resources in the environment?
6. Sustainability:  Do the results of this system have built-in mechanisms to sustain themselves?

I always feel like these kinds of lists are a mouthful – at the same time that I know they are needed.

The next step for the Beta Vitality Committee is to use these criteria to assess our Church Systems.  I  have identified these systems:  Church Council, Finance and Stewardship, Congregational Care (Caring Committee, pastoral care), Children, Youth, Adult Spiritual Formation and Discipleship Making, Evangelism, Worship, SPRC, Leadership Development, UMW, Communications (webpage, facebook, Crossings, etc.), Trustees, Mission Outreach, Preschool, Fellowship (Saints & Sinners, Spotted Cow, etc.).  Let’s look at a system that is working well:  The Trustees.  They may be spending over budget but they are getting things done – they are a good group that genuinely like each other; they have regular meetings; they communicate well with the Church; they look ahead; they even met once at McMineman’s, now that’s a good system!  (Of course we all know that this is working well largely due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the Chair… one of those Larrys I think.  A system that is less than perfect is Adult Spiritual Formation and Discipleship Making.  Most significantly there is no committee for adults as there is for youth and children.  Every year we are asked by our Superintendent, Rev. Daniel Forster and our Bishop whether we have discipleship making systems.  It is appropriate for them to ask considering that the mission statement of our denomination is, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.  This is a system that needs more attention and energy.  To that end, I would invite anyone who would like to be a part of a committee committed to the transformation of our adults to let me know.

I invite you to consider the systems I have listed above.  The Beta Vitality committee welcomes your feedback.  I welcome your feedback.  Please share with us about any of these systems – are they being fruitful?  Are they communicating well?  Is there a focal point for the system?  Is there energy in the system?  Is it set up to grow or just exist?  Is it sustainable?

I just thought everyone ought to know.  P.Jim