© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

Living System Ministry

The Horse and the Cart

Living Systems & Manmade Constructs Working Together

How does this work?

© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

To be effective in ministry, we need to pay attention to both the people systems and the non-living organizational systems. When a horse and cart work well together, it gets the job done!

In a church or ministry

© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

People systems Relationships Personalities Giftings

Systems Policies Procedures Programs

A broken cartA broken organizational system hinders healthypeople from being effective.

© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

Healthy people System:People are being cared for, relationships are nurtured

Unhealthy Organization:

Programs are chaotic, bills are not

paid, building maintenance

is neglected

A sick horseWhen too much emphasis is placed on the organization, the living system is neglected.

© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

Unhealthy people system:No attention is given to the people

Well-builtorganizational

System:Strong

structures,organized programs,

bureaucracy

Using appropriate methods

To nurture and maintain the horse and cart requires different sets of: Skills Methods Ways of

thinking

© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

Caring for the horseWorking with people systems requires primary

culture skills such as: Using oral communication Learning by modeling Relying on interpersonal

relationships to meet needs

© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

Caring for the cartWorking with organizational systems involves secondary culture skills such as: Using written communication Formal learning Relying on technology

or other non-living objects to meet needs

© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

“Don’t put the cart before the horse”Why doesn’t this work?

Living systems must take first priority in our thinking and action. The organization serves

people, never the other way around!

© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center