Organizational leadership is a part of any growing church. After all, the larger a church grows, the more complex it becomes organizationally. Thankfully, Scripture is full of valuable principles that can help us lead more effectively.

Some of the most common ingredients in organizational leadership are vision, strategy, teamwork, culture, funding and metrics. This is true for businesses as well as churches. However, healthy churches don’t function exactly like businesses; they keep eternal realities in focus.

1. Spirit-Inspired Vision

Vision sets organizational direction. It defines the future and serves as true north for making decisions and spending money. But in churches, vision isn’t just a big goal emerging from one leader’s ideas or a group brainstorming session. Instead, vision is Spirit-inspired.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Notice, it’s not just vision here. It’s “revelation.”

When vision is born of the Spirit, it’s more than just a good idea. It’s a future that God intends to become a reality. Yes, that vision may come to life in personal times of reflection or in group planning meetings, but we should be following the lead of the Spirit by taking time in prayer to welcome His direction.

2. Outcome-Based Strategy

Strategy should move an organization closer to its vision and goals. While that’s true for churches as well, the healthiest churches ensure strategies are outcome-based.

In other words, the aim of the strategy isn’t simply to generate activity. Activity doesn’t necessarily mean accomplishment. The strategy should focus on outcomes that matter most, like loving God and others (Mark 12:30–31) and fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20).

3. Holistic Team Development

Good organizational leaders develop great teams, and team building always involves recruitment, training, coaching and empowerment. But in churches, the focus of team development extends beyond leadership skills. It’s holistic in nature.

The goal is to develop leaders of character and competence. Psalm 78:72 says, “David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”

When vision is born of the Spirit, it’s more than just a good idea.

Leaders need “skillful hands” — the competence side of leadership, which includes such things as planning and communication. They also need “integrity of heart” — the character side of leadership, which includes values and spiritual formation.

4. Kingdom-Shaped Culture

Every organization has a unique culture. Some drift into their culture, while others are intentional about creating culture.

Healthy churches create life-giving cultures aligned with the principles of God’s kingdom. As pastor Mike Burnette observes in Parable Church, “The kingdom of heaven has a culture, and this culture is what Jesus continues to unveil through his parables. They show us what the kingdom of heaven feels like — and thus what the culture of our churches should feel like.”

Kingdom-shaped culture should be our aim.

5. Wise Stewardship

No vision becomes a reality without funding. However, in healthy churches, the focus is not only the acquisition of funds, but also the stewardship of those funds.

Wise stewardship involves discipling people in generosity, managing funds with integrity, and using funds strategically to advance Spirit-inspired vision.

The Parable of the Bags of Gold illustrates the importance of stewardship (Matthew 25). The master entrusted three servants with a certain sum of money. Two servants managed the money wisely, while the third servant managed it foolishly. The parable makes it clear that stewardship matters more than size. How much you have doesn’t matter as much as how you steward it.

6. Story-Based Metrics

Organizations that care about impact always measure results. For businesses, metrics are usually numerical and focus on sales, money, customers and traffic.

While healthy churches do pay attention to numerical metrics, they also include story-based metrics. Church leaders should ask themselves, Are we hearing stories of life change? Are we hearing stories of connection? Are we hearing stories of transformation?

Stories of life change focus on people finding Christ and experiencing breakthrough in their lives. Stories of connection focus on people becoming connected in spiritual community. And stories of transformation focus on the impact the church is making in the city or surrounding community. When you stop hearing stories, it should be a red flag.

Every church has an organizational side to it. However, we must align organizational leadership with spiritual values. When we do, our leadership increases in impact with eternity in mind.

See also Making Progress in Ministry.