After discussing this topic with a number of leaders from Christian organizations, I have concluded that some leaders of Christian organizations believe that project management and strategic planning are in direct opposition to the concept of being led by the Holy Spirit. This is simply not the case. In fact, the Bible illustrates these disciplines for our advantage.
First, some terms for those that are not familiar with the project management area of study.
- A project is simply work that has a definite start and end.
- Ongoing work, operations, does not have a definitive start or end.
- Strategic planning is the excercise of formally documenting the answers to the questions: 1) where do I want to be? 2) where am I now? 3) how am I going to get there? 4) how will I know when I've arrived?
In project management, there are five (5) primary process groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring/Controlling and Closing. All of the activities of a project will fall into one of these five areas.
Examples of these activities demonstrated in the Bible...
Initiating
Initiating a project is the act of defining the scope of a project and gaining executive sponsorship and support for the project. In Genesis, we see the Godhead agreeing to initiate the "project" of creating man. In order to do so, a suitable environment also needed to be created. The project had a definite start and end date (six earth days to be exact) and the Triune God was the sponsor.
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." ~ Genesis 1:26
Planning
The planning phase consists of the activities associated with scheduling, budgeting and answering the "how are we going to do this project" questions. In 1 Peter we see an example of God performing planning activities.
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." ~ 1 Peter 1:18-21
Executing
Executing contains the activities in which the work actually is performed. Jesus, speaking to His mother Mary, indicates that the timeframe for His ministry on earth, which had been alloted during the planning phase, had not yet come. Jesus was intimately familiar with the "project schedule" which had been developed by His Father.
"And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" ~ Luke 2:48-49
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." ~ John 2:4
Monitoring and Controlling
Monitoring and Controlling consists of those activities, performed over the life of the project, that focus on ensuring that the project is meeting the intended objectives. Activies can include status reporting and quality assurance.
An interesting example of a Monitoring and Controlling activity is found in the book of Job.
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. ~ Job 2:1
Here we see God calling his subjects, including Satan himself, to give an update as to the status of the project which God has begun executing!
Closing
Closing a project consists of ensuring the project team members are transitioned off the project, closing contracts and any other final activities that need to be performed. Some examples of closing activies are:
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross..." ~ Colossians 2:14
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." ~ Revelation 21:1
When discussing the need for project management practices within Christian organizations, one leader indicated to me that he did not want his organization to be "institutionalized". He supported his statement with, "you cannot use the same concepts here that you use in the business world."
Really? The vast majority of Christian organizations have offices with telephones, computers, copiers, fax machines and a host of other items that have been developed by the business world.
I am suggesting that it was not the business world that developed the disciplines of project management and strategic planning, rather that these concepts originated in the mind of an incredibly organized God.
So what do I think this leader meant by his statements?
Suppose a minister gets called at 3AM to visit members in the hospital or intervene in a difficult family situation. In his mind, these were unexpected opportunities to serve his membership and were impossible to plan.
So, how do we build flexibility into the planning process when the nature of someone's work is unplanned? Simple. By keeping a log of past activities, it becomes easy to estimate the amount of unplanned work that occurs within a month, quarter or year. In a short time, it will become evident what percentage of unplanned work can be expected for certain activities. As a result, hours can be dedicated to unplanned activities and the remainder of the hours can be dedicated to projects and planned operational tasks.
If you would like to discuss these or other topics further, feel free to contact me.
