From the President
Managing Risk Prudently
One of the responsibilities of church leaders is to protect their flock, and one piece of that protection involves managing ministry risk prudently. This has always been the case, but in our litigious society it is all the more important.
We are well aware, for instance, of the need to do background checks on those who will be working with our kids programs. This is all about protecting our children. Likewise, well-written HR policies protect employees from lack of due process and protect the church from lawsuits as well.
Many churches, both small and large, do not understand that their lack of such policies can be a danger to their people and staff, putting them in jeopardy of lawsuits. While we don’t live in fear, we do have the responsibility to act prudently.
All ministry is a balance between faith (stepping out boldly), fear (holding back) and folly (being imprudent). Managing risk is about being bold in our ministries but being prudent in how we do it.
All good ministries take risks! Moving forward requires us to try new things and engage new strategies. There is always risk: People may find change difficult; there are usually finances involved; and sometimes we don’t know for sure that the strategy will work.
Without risk, though, there is no forward momentum, and risk-averse ministries eventually die. At the same time, we must always be asking the question: What are the unintended consequences of what we intend to do?
My hope is that this issue of EFCA Today will help you think about how you manage risk in your ministry without living in either fear or folly. Be willing to risk for the sake of the gospel, but do so prudently.
Letter From the president
One of the responsibilities of church leaders is to protect their flock, and one piece of that protection involves managing ministry risk prudently. This has always been the case, but in our litigious society it is all the more important.
We are well aware, for instance, of the need to do background checks on those who will be working with our kids programs. This is all about protecting our children. Likewise, well-written HR policies protect employees from lack of due process and protect the church from lawsuits as well.
Many churches, both small and large, do not understand that their lack of such policies can be a danger to their people and staff, putting them in jeopardy of lawsuits. While we don’t live in fear, we do have the responsibility to act prudently. All ministry is a balance between faith (stepping out boldly), fear (holding back) and folly (being imprudent). Managing risk is about being bold in our ministries but being prudent in how we do it.
All good ministries take risks! Moving forward requires us to try new things and engage new strategies. There is always risk: People may find change difficult; there are usually finances involved; and sometimes we don’t know for sure that the strategy will work.
Without risk, though, there is no forward momentum, and risk-averse ministries eventually die. At the same time, we must always be asking the question: What are the unintended consequences of what we intend to do?
My hope is that this issue of EFCA Today will help you think about how you manage risk in your ministry without living in either fear or folly. Be willing to risk for the sake of the gospel, but do so prudently.
