Since God’s Word compares the Church to the human body (1 Cor. 12), consider this: The human body is designed to function a certain way and has systems within it to help it do that. If there’s a blockage or some sort of problem, the body will shut down or try to compensate for it in ways for which it was not intended, thus becoming unhealthy or dysfunctional.
Body Life Provides Parameters for Policy Making
God similarly designed the Church to function a certain way. We need systems, or parameters, that help us function as the Body God intended for us to be. — The guiding factor then, in making policies, should be what is needed to keep the Body properly functioning according to God’s design.
A fully functioning, healthy Body enables us to reach our potential. Policies with the right kind of parameters should therefore not be restrictive but rather simply guidance on how to best function as a Body. Policies should not be stifling ministry but rather promoting and enhancing it.
The Steering the Church Toward Body Life Leadership Guide contains this info on policy-making and considers what some parameters might be based on God’s design.
All Posts about Policy Making:
- Policy Making Objectives
- Policy Making Parameters
- Policy Making & the Big Picture
- Policy Making & Freedom in Christ
- Policies with No Hidden Agendas
- Policies Reflecting Both Grace & Truth
- Church Policies & the Next Generation
- Don’t Let Policies Take on a Life of Their Own
- Spiritual Gifts in Determining Policies
- Spiritual Gifts for Writing Policies
- Spiritual Gifts Suited for Implementing Policies
- Turning to God or to Church Policies?
- God’s Your Defender, Not Your Church Policies
- Policies Shaped by the Gospel
- Policies Reflecting the Gospel
- Policies Shaped by Grace
- Policy-Making Safeguarded by Grace
- Why Policies When We Have God’s Word?
- Power to Maintain the Proper Focus in Policymaking
- Policies Reflecting the Resurrection
- Church Policies Done in the Name of the Lord Jesus
I still struggle with how a church policy can be drafted, please can you assist with an example of a church policy to look at. Rev Bandera
Hello, Rev. Bandera. This practicum is about helping us run all we do through the grid of the basics of life in Christ, for us to stop and think about what we do rather than simply follow steps 1, 2, 3 …. It’s about looking at the Church God wants us to be and functioning accordingly. We should all be following this basic framework but what that looks like for each church in various locations around the world may vary. For example, what specific policies are needed in my church may not be needed in your’s. Yet, we both need to function in accordance with what God’s Word does give as His purpose, mission, and design, exercising Christ-like character and pulling on His power.
As to how to format policies, there isn’t one set way you have to do it. Typically it can be sufficient to give a broad heading, maybe a brief paragraph about the intent, and then as many sub-topics as needed under that with a sub-heading and the policy you’ve developed about it either as a paragraph or list. There are plenty of samples of formatting of policies if you do a search of “church policies” like some you can find at FreeChurchForms.com. But, if you are going to follow samples beyond their formatting, let me encourage you to just use it for ideas and tailor your actual policies to the needs and setting of your church. And, let me also encourage you to run it through the grid of the basics of life in Christ. You’ll find all the articles to date that help us think through these basics in light of church policies in the Policy Making category with more posts to come.