The Purpose-Driven Church

What if organizations in the life of the church were to organize themselves around a stated purpose, one that distinguishes them from social and fraternal organizations? What would that mean, and what would it look like? It would mean, I think, that every group within the life of the church would be aimed at embodying the will of God in Christ in whatever the groups do.

The church today must acknowledge that, because of trends that were established long ago, there are groups and organizations within our churches that are aimed exclusively at the interests, entertainment and pleasure of those who are a part of them. The purpose of such organizations is to protect the activities, interests and preferences of the group. Change things and current membership will be alienated from a group that has long been important to them.

How do churches help groups that have been guided by personal and group preference to become more closely associated with the purpose of the church of which these groups are a part? How do churches help their groups be involved in the ministry of Christ, which is necessarily directed outwardly, instead of serving themselves?

Over the past ten years or so, I have developed a workshop that is intended to assist groups within the Church of Jesus Christ. It is entitled "The Purpose Driven Organization." The intent of the workshop is to assist churches and other organizations to ensure that every body within the larger institution is working toward the same goals. Since I work primarily with Christian churches, the intent is more direct. Churches have a responsibility to assist groups and organizations within them to be faithful to the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ, even if groups and organizations won't necessarily appreciate the effort. The purpose of every group and organization within the Church of Jesus Christ must be the ministry and mission of Christ.

I am painfully aware that this concept flies directly in the face of what many members of these groups and organizations have been taught. I am fully cognizant of the fact that a purpose-driven organization within the church suggests a path other than the self-service that had been pursued in the social gospel approaches of the 70's and 80's, and even the small group approaches of the 90's and early 2000's. This is about embodying the work of Christ Jesus, not about making people socially or logistically comfortable. It is not about entertaining ourselves, but about serving Christ by serving others.

Churches will encounter opposition to the notion that everything that they do can be Christ-centered and Christ-purposed. Ironic, isn't it? Congregations have to struggle with groups within them to ensure that Christ is served in everything that they do. As the spiritual evolution progresses, moving toward a more authentic Christian purpose for the Church, it will be increasingly difficult for those who have been grounded in former articulations of the Church.

Let's keep our eyes on the ball! Keep moving toward that evolutionary step. Keep becoming the purpose-driven church!