(part 1 of 3)
Every business, including the church, has its own organizational structure, priorities, hopes, dreams and levels of influence—no matter its size.
Your job, as an outsider, is to discover as much as you can in the dating process before committing to the job—even if you’ve been a volunteer within the system for a long time.
Let’s begin by taking a look at the Organizational Chart (aka “Org” chart).
The Org chart may be handed to you during the hiring process. If not, it’s always a good practice to ask for a written copy and check its accuracy with those you encounter.
The purpose of the Org chart is to show you the direct lines of authority and how the organization is structured. It divides ministries into departments and displays levels of responsibility, power and influence.
However…rarely does an Org chart tell you the whole story.
Look at the sample below.
Let’s say, the job you are seeking is the Children’s Ministry Director position. To your left sit the Middle School Director and the High School Pastor. The three of you fall just below the Family Life Pastor who shares the same level of authority as the Financial Director. Both the Family Life Pastor and the Financial Director report to the Executive Pastor who sits just under the Senior Pastor.
Our tendency is to assume that all things are equal on horizontal lines and that authority, permissions and influence are displayed vertically.
What we fail to acknowledge is that organizational charts are greatly influenced by three things: circumstances, individual ability and relationships.
For instance:
- If the church is experiencing financial challenges, all final decisions and power may actually sit with the Financial Director as a means of survival during a particularly tough season.
- If the church has grown up and the children of long-time members and staff are now approaching their teenage years, new emphasis and priority may be given to Youth Ministries.
- If a staff member becomes ill or encounters a family hardship, he/she may require a period of respite. Organizational lines may become blurred as those with abilities fill in the gaps and permissions may suddenly seem random. What is meant to be a temporary fix may actually re-establish itself into a new unwritten structure that may become long-term practices.
- If a highly effective member of the church or staff takes on a new ministry such as Fun Family Activities , there may be a shift in priority and support for that ministry even though the ministry and position may not originally sit high on the Org chart.
- And then there’s the pull of relationships—relatives, best friends and favorites who have kept the staff going, had their backs and have their ear. These are the unwritten power holders and influencers who are just as important for you to know and understand.
Remember, the church is both a business and a family. It values relationships, giftedness and organization as it seeks to make godly decisions. But it is also very human. Discover the important relationships on and off the Org chart to the best of your ability. Take it with you and ask individuals how it works. Then listen carefully.
It is in your best interest to discover the story between the lines!
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