On a recent post, Revisit Your DNA, I was asked by Kevin Rossen if it's worth even stating values. I wish this was a silly question, but it's not. It's easy to run into weak examples of values articulation and more importantly, feeble efforts at developing leaders. In such a context it is worth examining the whole idea.
Placed in context of vision and clarity, values, or what I call missional motives, define 1/5 of the equation. Of five things we must be clear on, the question of "why we do what we do" is critically important. I think of values as springboards for daily action, the glue of the team, and collective soul of the church. Why should you state what you value?
- Enable your ministry to do more of what it does best
- Define the basis of good decision-making in order to release leaders
- Free your church to say no to things other churches do
- Connect people emotionally to the stuff that never changes
- Facilitate change easier because the core ideals are clear
- Attract more people (staff, leaders, members) who share your motives
- Filter out people who don't share your values (blessed subtraction)
- Demonstrate God-honoring unity AND collective personality
- Increase trust by making what's most important more concrete
- Create enthusiasm because everyone knows "why we are going to win"
The technical definition of values in Church Unique is "shared convictions that guide decision-making and reveal the strengths of the church" Remember, a river without banks is just a large puddle. What matters most in your church or ministry?