12 Axioms for Christian Organizational Health

1. Never forget your purpose: the clarity issue. Define your purpose quickly and live by it.

2. Collins’ (book, From Good To Great) “bus analogy” is critical -> get the right people on the bus; don't settle for just anyone who comes along or just becuase thy have been there for a while.

3. The “right seat” on the bus is important but secondary. The real question is deciding who is driving the bus. It should be the leader.

4. Understand what internal factors hinder the accomplishment of the purpose: the movement issue. The quicker you can ientify them the quicker you can get the bus moving.

5. Good leaders surround themselves with superior people. Don't be afraid of getting people who are smarter than yourself around you. It's the smartest thing you can do.

6. Good leaders seek to deflect recognition: Collins’ Level 5. Level five leaders know that it is the people who have gotten you where you are; praise them.

7. Ask the question: Does everything in my organization align with the purpose? If it doesn't, remove it.

8. Understand one of the greatest mistakes of Christian organizations: not focusing on stewardship. It is not just the stewardship of your finances, but of time and most of all your people.

9. Organizational health demands that you regularly stop doing some things: the focus issue. It is easy to add to and difficult to remove...good stewardship demands that you take away those things that are encumbering the mission.

10. Christian organizations must have a clear understanding of their accountability to God. If you succeed in man's eyes but fail in God's eyes, you have wated your life.

11. Christian organizations must have a clear understanding of their accountability to human agencies. We are a living witness to men of the inward reality of our relationship with Christ therefore we must be honroable in all of our dealings.

12. The most successful Christian organizations grasp Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

(Thom S. Rainer initiated the axioms and I the commentary)