Enact Roles and Structures that equip and support faithful living in God’s world. Pastors and lay leaders must evaluate congregational effort and activity by asking: “Does this meeting, budget, process, etc. equip the saints for ministry and build up the body of Christ? (Ephesians 4:12)”

Pathway Description
Reorient the congregation’s foundational roles and structures from maintenance to mission. Identify and adjust the institutional habits that detract and distract from the work of God’s people in the world.

Pathway Destination
The work of all people in the congregation is seen as complementary and interdependent. Their daily ministries are recognized, encouraged, and supported.

Pathway Detours
Existing roles and structures frequently imply that God’s work only occurs inside the church building. The negative ramifications are considerable.

§ People are led to believe that the church is just a place for worship and that commitment is measured by the amount of time and money contributed to its programs, functions and maintenance.
§ People are led to think that the job of members is to help the pastor run the congregation. Full-time secular ministries are not acknowledged by the structures.
§ Pastors feel overburdened when ministry is synonymous with what happens only through formal structures. Pastors then appear responsible for the entire success of failure of the church rather then the responsibility residing with the whole congregation.
§ Members who are called to significant involvement in the church may feel angry at those who are less involved and feel that their own contributions are not appreciated.
§ Members who are engaged in service to God in the secular world may feel that their efforts are neither understood nor appreciated.

Where are you? (navigational helps from the assessment)
My church offers classes that give me good ideas about how to apply my faith in God to my everyday life.

§ The daily work of church members is regularly celebrated and valued in my church.
§ My church offers many ways for members to get connected with others.
§ The organizational structure of my church is designed to support ministries outside as well as inside the church.
§ My church is organized in a way that helps build support and encouragement among church.
§ My church uses its staff and budget in ways that help members serve God in their everyday life.