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A
policy governs decisions and directs procedure independent of a
situation. Policies are inherently limited because there can never be
enough rules to cover every conceivable circumstance.
A few years ago the federal government bought hammers with a
specification that was thirty-three pages long. Why not just trust the person to go out and buy
hammers?
Another problem with
policies is that they can become an end unto themselves.
Rather than the policies serving the organization, the
organization begins to serve the policies.
How things are done has
become far more important than what is done...Process now has become an
end in itself. We have imposed an American form of government on the church
and, as a result, most churches are as bogged down in bureaucracy as our
government is. It takes
forever to get anything done. George
Barna simply asks, Suppose your church had an opportunity to implement a
ministry that had a high potential for positive impact, but needed to
get started immediately. Could
your church spring into action within hours or, at the most, a few days?
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