Systems Theory and Church Health
Quick, easy fixes are the antithesis of systems thinking. It is challenging, “because it is
much harder to integrate new tools than simply apply them separately” (Senge, 2006, p.
11). This is an all encompassing discipline: the individual disciplines being like
instruments in an orchestra, the fifth discipline being the orchestra. “By enhancing each
of the other disciplines, it … reminds us that the whole can exceed the sum of its parts.”
(Senge, p. 12).
This process of systems thinking parallels “Natural Church Development” (Schwarz,
2006, p. 10). Senge writes, “…vision without systems thinking ends up painting lovely
pictures of the future with no deep understanding of the forces that must be mastered to
move from here to there” (Senge, 2006, p. 12). Natural Church Development call this
“passionate spirituality” (Schwarz, 2006, p. 28) without “effective structures” (Schwarz,
p. 30). Healthy churches are characterized by strength in eight earmarks.
This discipline is useful in current and future church leadership roles; otherwise, one is
always putting out fires rather than effectively managing. The goal is, “to equip his
people for works of service” Ephesians 4:12 (Today’s New International Version) and to
bring them to maturity.
References
Holy Bible (2005). Today’s New International Version.
Schwarz, C. A. (2006).
Qualities of Healthy Churches (7th ed., Rev.).
Resources.
Senge, P. M. (2006). Fifth Discipline: the Art and Practice of the Learning
Organization.
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