G Notes

All organizations have stated core values - organizational ideals communicated to be of paramount importance. However, often is the case that an organization's stated core values are not reflected the life of the organization. The result is a disconnect between stated core values and actual core values. So the question before all organizations is this: Are the stated core values the same as the actual core values? When there is a disconnect between stated values and actual values the result is confusion. It's the same as telling someone that you're enjoying kung pao chicken when you're actually eating a pepperoni pizza. Both are good, but each represents a different culture. And that's what core values are all about. Core values are indicative of an organization's culture. As a church it is paramount that all of our members foster the same culture. Confusion works against our mission. Therefore, we want everyone to hold the same values. As a church we want f...

What is a core value? Let's start with what a core value is not. In the business world, "making money" isn't a core value. Clearly, a business exists to make money, but so does every other business. In the church world, "making disciples" isn't a core value. Clearly, a church exists to make disciples, but so does every other church. My point is that a core value isn't something that is true of everyone else. A core value simply the bottom line (making money or making disciples). An organization's core value(s) isn't what it makes but rather how it makes what it makes. Core values are the characteristics that define the manner in which the organization makes what it makes. Core values are not to be confused with methods, strategies, or tactics. Core values are the glue that give an organization's methods, strategies, and tactics uniqueness and distinction from other organizations. So for example, you have two churches, both with the same...

This past Sunday we celebrated our ONE YEAR anniversary since beginning Sunday morning worship services in Angier. This is huge given that not every church plant survives its first year. But Anthem Church isn't just surviving; we're thriving. Why are we thriving? There are four reasons. First and foremost, it's because God's favor rests upon Anthem Church. This is His doing. This is His show. He is blessing us, growing our church, and providing everything we need. The Lord gets all the glory, honor and praise. Second, we are thriving because of continued support from outside of Anthem Church. Our sending church Explore Church continues to support us financially and continues to send volunteers to serve in various ministries (i.e. praise team, children's ministry, building work). We also receive much needed financial support from the Little River Baptist Association and from the NC State Baptist Convention. If not for their commitment to church planting, we would...

In working toward my doctorate I have read numerous books on church leadership and organizational structure, and there appears to be much confusion as to what defines a core value. There is a lot of ambiguity, disagreement, and contradiction on the subject, and that is partly due to the fact that individuals are blurring the lines between an organization's core values, and an organization's purpose, mission, vision, strategy, and methodology. This confusion is prevalent in our churches. For example, churches often list activities such as worship, prayer, Bible reading, fellowship, etc. as their core values. However, in my personal (and as humble as possible) opinion, I would argue that those activities are not core values. Those are spiritual disciplines that should be valued and should be characteristic in the life of every individual believer and every church but they are not core values. A core value refers to an organization's behavioral values. It's a church...

All organizations, including churches, have core values. A core value is what gives an organization its own distinctive flava. It's what gives a church its unique culture, feel, and vibe. Our mission is what we are here to do. Our strategy is what we do in order to accomplish our mission. Our core values are how we do what we do. In other words, our core values are our operating system. These are our organization's behavioral characteristics that determine the manner in which we do what we do so that we may fulfill what we are here to do. At Anthem Church we have eight core values: Celebration Excellence Responsibility Teamwork Alignment Vision-Focused Ministry Gospel-Change Urgency of Mission These core values are the parameters that delineate and delimit what we do and how we do it. Thus, it's vital that we keep our core values in front of us. It's important that we read off the same sheet of music (we are Anthem Church after all). So this week, here...