Does growth need management?

Aug 15, 2016 by

by Ian Paul, Psephizo:

Over the weekend, two articles appeared in the Guardian by Harriet Sherwood, citing Martyn Percy’s disagreement with the direction the Church of England is apparently taking.

The first cites comments from the conclusion to a forthcoming book, which appears to express Martyn’s overall discontent.

One of Britain’s senior theologians has warned that the Church of England is in danger of becoming a narrow sect “driven by mission-minded middle managers” who are alienating clergy, congregations and the general public.

His concern appears to be in two directions: an intentional focus on mission as a goal; and the use of management techniques in the delivery of that goal. It’s worth pointing out that these two do not automatically go together; for many years evangelicals have complained about anyone who appears more concerned about management than about mission. And many who have focussed on mission have hardly been competent managers.


On mission, Martyn seems to be concerned that this is increasingly becoming a central focus—though this is quite difficult to disentangle from his worry that the Church has a focus at all.

Read here

Read also:

Crisis in the Church? from FutureShapeofChurch

See also: Martyn Percy implicates Justin Welby in ‘secular sorcery’, by Archbishop Cranmer

 

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