Church Planting

The Value of Values, Part I - Core Values
By Dan Reiland

Six years of trotting around the country to "I've lost count of how many churches" has given me some interesting insights about values in the local church. Personally, I'm a believer in identifying your church's core values and intentionally pursuing their positive impact. What I'm not interested in is one more retreat to "reconstruct the values" if they will be changed every few years, or ignored, or even lost. No kidding! One church told me they had invested months on forming their core values and when I asked for the list, the response was, "we can't seem to find it."

If you "can't find the list," they are not core values! The fact is, if they are truly core values, you won't need the list. But most of us find the list helpful as a reminder, and certainly to teach new people.

I see core values similar to the divider lines on the road. They are a reminder of when we get out of bounds, and therefore help keep us on track. Another word picture is that your core values are like the banks of a river. They don't impede the flow (of life and ministry) but they do guide it in a certain direction.

Core values are a declaration that what you believe is important. If you declare that everything is important then, automatically, nothing is important. You cannot focus on everything.

INSIGHT ONE:

There is often a difference between the printed core values and the true core values. For example, a husband and wife can say they love each other, but their behavior reveals their true hearts. A church can say they believe in a certain set of core values, but the habits and behaviors of the church will always reveal the truth.

If you have not yet written your core values, I would urge you to first write what your core values currently are, before you write what you want them to be. To do this, think through questions like the following.

What gets the most attention?
What gets the most money?
What will you "get in trouble" for if you don't do or if you mess up?
What gets pulpit time?
What gets the most energy?
What gets measured?
What do the people get most excited about?
What are the people willing to stand and be counted for?
What are the deep convictions?
What is accepted and what is resisted?
What seems to capture a sense of urgency?

The answers to these questions will give you insight into your real core values. (They will also serve you in knowing your true mission.)

INSIGHT TWO:

Without intentional effort, you will not maintain the core values you desire. One of the many things I learned from Andy Stanley while I was a member and elder on the board at North Point Community Church was the practice of asking one tough question attached to each core value.

The simple but profound act of asking a probing question eye to eye and heart to heart will do more in a moment to instill the value than preaching the core values for months on end. Asking the question does several things. First, it declares that the issue (value) is important. Second, it says you care. Third, it says you expect results. Fourth, it gives you a kind of "prompted permission" to give guidance, correction and encouragement in alignment with each core value.

INSIGHT THREE:

It's better not to have declared and printed core values than to have them and ignore them. I believe every church should know, live and pursue in depth their core values. But to declare and print them and then "forget them" is poor leadership. It undermines your leadership integrity. Though unintentional, you subtlety communicate that you don't live out what you teach and therefore don't mean what you say.

INSIGHT FOUR:

If you will measure the results, the impact of living your values will be exponential. Repeatedly asking the tough questions is how you drive the value into the fabric of your congregation. If you then measure the results, the outcome will be significantly strengthened. For example: The value is - people matter to God. The question is - who are you sharing your faith with? The measurement is - how many people have been saved?

We've been working on our core values at my current church, Crossroads. The following is not the final draft, but may serve you well as a good example.

People matter to God and therefore matter to us.

Scripture
Ezekiel 18:32
Luke 15
2 Corinthians 5:14-20

Explanation
We believe that people are the object of God's affections, and that He has asked His church to carry His message of love into the unbelieving world.

The Tough Question
Which of God's lost children are you actively sharing His message with?

Intimacy with God is the power source for personal transformation.
The church should be culturally relevant in order to connect with the spiritually unresolved.
Spiritual growth happens best in an authentic community.
Biblical truth is our final authority.
Serving others with a humble heart is our expression of gratitude to God.
The next generation is of utmost importance.
I hope this is helpful to you, the next edition of The Pastor's Coach will cover the topic of ministry values.

Contact Dr. Dan Reiland today to arrange for a personal consultation at your church by emailing ChurchConsulting@INJOY.com.

The Value of Values, Part I - Core ValuesBy Dan Reiland

The Value of Values, Part I - Core Values
By Dan Reiland