Christian Management Report
February 2004 Issue (Vol. 28, No. 1)
Focus: Operational Processes
Title: Like A Swiss Watch
Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh ideas. –Proverbs 18:15, The Message
In this issue… we look at the operational side of ministry. What’s the key to improving internal operating processes—reducing waste, improving efficiencies, and increasing ministry effectiveness? The key, says Kevin Scheid, is in the manager’s hands. ► It’s easy to lose focus in the daily grind of the urgent in four strategic areas, contends Curt Swindoll: a kingdom focus, customer focus, operational focus and personal focus. ► In the debate over the differing roles of manager and leader, Olan Hendrix says they’re not mutually exclusive. Good managers must be good leaders (and vice versa). ► Be sure to read John Pearson’s article on the new strategic direction for CMA (and this magazine) in 2004. —DeWayne Herbrandson, Executive Editor
Note: Unless stated otherwise, the Bible translation used throughout is the New International Version (NIV).
CONTENTS
MANAGEMENT FOCUS
Like A Swiss Watch
The Key to Running an Efficient Operation
By Kevin Scheid, Partner, Best Christian Workplaces Institute
A lean operation that works like a Swiss watch is something all good managers aspire to. Improving internal business processes by eliminating waste and inefficiency has always been viewed as a key to improving ministry effectiveness. Yet adding bureaucratic procedures, processes and policies to improve operations can crush employee initiative and decrease job satisfaction. What’s the key to improving operations and increasing efficiencies?
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MINISTRY PROFILE
Outreach, Inc.
Using Marketing Savvy to Bring the Unchurched to Christ!
Interview with Scott Evans, President/CEO, Outreach, Inc.
Scott Evans shares his passion for empowering churches to reach their communities for Christ. As he states, “I love equipping the church and finding new tools for them to use in the outreach ministry.”
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CEO/LEADERSHIP
A Leadership Challenge!
Four Essentials for Effective Stewardship of a Ministry
By Curt Swindoll, CEO, Cool Strategies
A new CEO writes a memo to his leadership team, sharing four essentials that are equally important to being effective stewards of the resources God has entrusted to their ministry. The four areas cover: kingdom focus, customer focus, operational focus and personal focus. Fail in any one of these areas and their ministry will fail to have the kind of kingdom impact it could have.
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MANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP
The Manager Who Leads
Exploring the Unique Qualities of Management and Leadership
By Olan Hendrix, CEO, Leadership Resource Group
There’s been an ongoing debate over the differences between leadership and management. Hendrix contends that it’s more about the integration than the separation of the two words. A leader, to be effective, has to be a good manager, too. And an effective manager must have good leadership skills. Yet, understanding the distinctives of leadership and management will make us better leaders and managers.
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FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The Audit Committee
Looking at Its Expanded Role
By Andrew R. Dorantes, CPA and Consultant, Capin Crouse, LLP
In July 2003 the federal government enacted legislation, known as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to govern the accounting profession. This legislation does not currently apply to nonprofits, but many nonprofits are voluntarily adopting some of its provisions, and several states have made proposals to do this. This article looks in detail at the provisions in the Act related to the audit committee and how they can be applied to nonprofit organizations.
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COACHING AS MINISTRY
Growing a New Generation of Learners
A Mentoring Model for Preparing Future Leaders
By Anita Schamber, Senior Associate, Global Learning Partners Team, World Vision International
Many new employees have learned that their only sustainable advantage is to learn faster than their colleagues and that lifelong learning is their only insurance for employability for the future. Schamber believes that most leaders and managers benefits from having mentors and coaches from the point of hire throughout their careers. Yet the traditional mentoring model, she says, needs an overhaul by moving to a reciprocal mentoring model.
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COACHING AS MINISTRY
Are You Being Generous With Your Leadership Knowledge?
By Josh Maynard, Student, Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Biola University
The reason there’s so little mentoring of the next generation has less to do with generational differences than with our leadership culture. This article explores several roadblocks to giving away to others what we have learned.
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HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
I’m Just a Volunteer, NOT!!!
How to Manage an Effective Volunteer Program
By John R. Throop, President, The Summit Planning Group
Volunteers are essential to the delivery of services in the work of ministry. And volunteer management is a key measure of nonprofit effectiveness. This article asks several key questions that can help a ministry audit its management of volunteers.
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FUND DEVELOPMENT
10 Fundraising Tips
What to Do When Funding Is Difficult…And When It’s Good!
By Christopher J. Doyle, President/CEO, American Leprosy Mission
Any charity can face difficult times at any time. So how does a ministry cope with challenging times? Here are ten suggestions that will help ministries to do more than just survive, but to come through them better and stronger than before.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Ideas for the IT Department
9 Ways You Can Bless Your Ministry in 2004
By Nick B. Nicholaou, President, Ministry Business Services, Inc.
Nearly every ministry team expresses the need within their organization for improved internal communications. This is an area where the IT department can really help. Other areas it can help are in staff training and in improving the speed and reliability of its infrastructure.
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LIVING WITH INTEGRITY
The Originality of Jesus
How Jesus Simplifies and Transforms Everything, Making All Things New
By Rod Handley, Founder/President, Character That Counts
There are many things we can learn from the life of Christ, but one significant thing is looking at all of life with fresh eyes and originality. We don’t need to be mired in the past, crippled by stale ways of doing things. As Christians, we should walk in the newness of life we’ve been given, celebrating our originality.
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MANAGEMENT RULES OF THUMB
Reaffirming the High Calling of Management and Administration
By John Pearson, CEO/President, Christian Management Association
Yes, leadership is crucial. And God-honoring leaders are crucial to every ministry. But Christian organizations and churches must reaffirm the high calling of all those who faithfully serve in management and administration.
