Mike 
The construction project at my friend’s church was almost finished when they discovered a problem with the stairway. The top step was about half an inch shorter than all the others. No big deal, right? But according to the experts, that small difference would greatly increase the likelihood for people to stumble as they took the last step. So the stairway was completely torn out and replaced (at the contractor’s expense).
A little misalignment can have big consequences. You’ve probably experienced that truth first-hand in a church or ministry. All the small groups are asked to use a common curriculum as part of a church-wide emphasis on generosity. But a couple of the group leaders don’t like the material, so they do something different. Other group leaders eventually find out. It doesn’t take long before the generosity initiative loses traction.
I don’t mean to suggest that we will ever have perfect alignment in a church. They are messy organisms that can’t be precisely measured and constructed like stairways. But I am pointing out the importance of working toward alignment. You can do this through:
- Clarity of direction. More than a “vision statement,” you need to know what the vision means. This kind of clarity speaks to what is being emphasized and what is not. It guides resource decisions.
- Thoughtful design. Many churches have programming that changes very little from one year to the next. Those that are serious about alignment use the annual program planning cycle to see how every program, event, and job can be better aligned with the vision. It takes time, but it’s the best way to improve alignment.
- Meaningful and measurable goals. When the first two elements are in place, you can create goals that reinforce alignment. “Meaningful” means that the goals relate directly to the vision and to the ministry area, and “measurable” means that an outside observer could tell whether the goal has been achieved.
