Bad Words in the Church: "Strategy"

This is the fourth in a series on “Bad Words in the Church.” The word “strategy” may immediately lead you to think of strategic planning, and that may trigger a knee-jerk, negative reaction. For many pastors, “strategy” tops the list of business concepts to be avoided. To address this reaction, we must understand the common misconceptions about strategy and a kernel of truth within these concerns. Strategic planning is a process that allows an organization to clarify its future priorities and to allocate resources (money, people, etc.) to accomplish those priorities. A well-designed strategic planning process helps an organization recognize new opportunities and threats on the horizon and avoid the trap of incremental thinking. Some of the common misperceptions are that strategic planning is:

• Highly structured and driven by facts and data, thereby leaving little room for spontaneity or the movement of the Holy Spirit.
• A lengthy, tedious process.
• An inflexible straight-jacket that results in the ministry serving the plan rather than the plan serving the ministry.

The kernel of truth is that all of these negatives can be true if the process is not well-designed and executed. Many ministries have had bad experiences with some type of planning process, but before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, consider the alternative. An organization without a plan is one in which people have no clear sense of direction and set their own priorities. Resources are allocated in an arbitrary manner or perhaps based on “how it’s always been done.” When this happens, these ministries fail to come close to their God-given potential. I believe we have to be careful in applying business concepts – including strategic planning – in spiritual organizations. But I’m also convinced that good stewardship requires us to make the best possible use of the resources with which we’ve been entrusted. Effective, Spirit-led strategic planning is one way to do so.]]>