What do they look like?
HEALTHY CHURCHES
A SYSTEM IS A PATTERN OF
INTERACTION THAT PERSISTS.
Three Types of Agreements
Formal
Informal
Unspoken
HEALTHY
CHURCHES DON’T
HAVE A BUNCH
OF UNSPOKEN
AGREEMENTS.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF UNSPOKEN
AGREEMENTS IN A CHURCH?
RULES
ROLES
RITUALS
What are the
unspoken/unwritten rules in your
church system?
What are the
unspoken/unwritten roles in your
church system?
What are the
unspoken/unwritten rituals in
your church system?
POLARITIES IN A CHURCH
AUTHORITY
1
2
3
4
5
6
Rubber Band
Zone
7
8
9
10
POLARITIES IN A CHURCH
PROCESS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
POLARITIES IN A CHURCH
PASTORAL LEADERSHIP
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
POLARITIES IN A CHURCH
LAY LEADERSHIP
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Lay/Clergy Leadership Issues
Pastor
Church
1. Become aware
2. Keep appropriate tension alive
3. Capitalize on new things
4. Re-contracting
5. Interrupt Interaction Pattern
6. Transformational Leadership
7. Disturb Equilibrium
8. Change through education
or training strategies
 are intentional about speaking and writing
unspoken/unwritten rules, roles, and rituals so
everyone is on an equal playing field.
 minimize blame of individuals and focus on
the entire system that needs changing.
 require work from EVERY person in the
system.
 need to constantly be open to the leading of
God’s Holy Spirit.