Earlier I briefly mentioned the culture here.

I realise this really won’t apply to any other organization, since I work for a large (100 staff) church.

Just to go back a bit. Until about 3 years ago we were a ‘small church’. Everything was fly by the seat of our pants, take it as it comes, slack off if you want to, ‘oh, aren’t you special’.

About 2 years ago, a “CEO” was hired. He changed things to be much more corporate. In fact, wholly corporate. From extreme to extreme.

Both had their benefits, but the corporate atmosphere is definitely getting to people. 6 months after the last layoff, people still feel unvalued, discouraged and hate their ‘jobs’.

Ideally we never really wanted anyone to have ‘jobs’. They are working for a church, it should really be more than a job. Really.

So, I’m quickly realising that any change I make actually affects this atmosphere. Any action I engage in. Anything I say. It’s not that I see myself as overly important, trust me. It’s just that it’s true.

Every action, word and decision will either reinforce a ‘church’ (caring) culture, or it will reinforce a business (uncaring) culture.

Our culture is currently hanging in the balance, and not very well. Hopefully it doesn’t break us apart.