one plus one equals three or more

Moving from the more theological perspectives on Eph 4Open Link in New Window ministry, let us take a quick look at the church as a social system to explore further the impact of differing leadership styles based on APEST. When we do this, we discover that Paul’s basic template for ministry and leadership is affirmed by current best practice in leadership and management theory and practice.

“In most human leadership systems it is acknowledged that there may be one or more of the following leadership styles:”

In The Shaping of Things to Come, we comment that the

Various social scientists use different terms for the above categories but recognize that these represent vital contributions that different types of leaders bring to an organization. In most leadership management theory it is assumed that the conflicting agendas and motivations of the above leaders pull them in different directions. However, imagine a leadership system in any setting (corporate, government, political, etc) where the entrepreneurial ground breaker and strategist dynamically interacts with the disturber of the status quo (the questioner). Imagine that both these are in active dialogue and relation with the passionate communicator/recruiter, the person who carries the message beyond organizational borders and sells the idea/s or product/s. These in turn are in constant engagement with the humanizer (HR), the carer, the social cement and the systematizer and articulator of the whole. The synergy in this system would be significant in any context. Clearly the combination of these different leadership styles is greater than the sum of its parts. (174)

These reflections on the dynamics of ministry callings takes us directly to the model proposed by Paul in Ephesians 4Open Link in New Window; Here we are presented with a dynamic synergy involving diverse interests and motivations held together in a profound harmony aimed at the building up of the whole. A possible socio-dynamic view of the APEPT matrix can be represented as follows:

Just as the various systems in the human body (e.g. the circulation, nervous, digestive, systems) work together to sustain and enhance life, so too in all living systems the various elements in the system inter-relate and serve to augment each other. Dysfunction is the result of a breakdown between various components or agents within the system. When each component operates at peak and harmonizes with the other components, the whole system is enhanced and benefits from synergy—that is where the sum result is greater of the individual parts. So it is with APEPT. When all are present and inter-related in an effective way, the body of Christ will operate at peak. To use Paul’s terms in Eph 4Open Link in New Window, it ‘grows’, ‘matures’, ‘builds itself up’, and ‘reaches unity in the faith’.

Furthermore, in living systems theory the way to move an organization into adaptive organic mode requires that we (1) develop and enhance relationships, (2) cross pollinate ideas from different specialties and departments, (3) disturb equilibrium by moving to the edge of chaos and, (4) focus information according to organizational mission. Developing a fully functioning APEPT system in a local church, mission agency, or denomination will go a long way to achieving these ends.

July 7, 2008 | Filed Under APEST, apostolic environment, the forgotten ways |  

Comments

3 Responses to “one plus one equals three or more”

  1. Tim C on July 7th, 2008 3:17 pm

    I like the idea of synergy and being a healthy functioning body as a by product of APEST. I think a lot of times we approach this idea of health and end up trying to manufacture the fruit without dealing with the root of the issue. Health is when the different body parts are functioning with their intended design. To have a community where the apostolic and the pastoral gifts have room to operate and a distinct voice is one of my dreams. So far I have seen it on a macro level where certain churches take on a predominant flavor of one of the giftings. But the trick is to make room for all the gifting in a particular community. In an institutional context, this requires some very intentional structuring and organizing to provide pathways and venues for people to do tis, both individually and as sub groups in the community. However, in an organic/house/simple church context, I am finding out that it happens a lot more frequently without any intentional prodding or prefacing with organization. However, I am wondering if a little structure could help us facilitate this interaction a little bit more and even create some synergy.

  2. Jeremy Griffin on July 11th, 2008 1:29 pm

    Alan,
    Another great post on this topic. I really appreciated your article in Christianity today on the same topic. I read it through a couple of times. I have really only been in churches where there are teachers and shepherds and I find the system within those churches quite unbalanced. There is little room to challenge the status quote. There is little room to be innovative.
    Practically speaking, does this system work better with 5 guys or 5 couples or 3 couples or 10 people? Or is there really no specific dynamic, in that it is just fine if there are at least 5 on the leadership team who have different functions?

    Jeremy

  3. Alan Hirsch on July 13th, 2008 6:38 am

    Jeremy, I guess it could work in all the above. I certainly believe there should be a gender mix. Men and women just approach things differetly and we balance each other. How the mix happens….well,…

Leave a Reply




Comment spam protected by SpamBam

Copyright © 2008 The Forgotten Ways • Linear WordPress Theme • Powered by WordPress • Maintained by Noble Design