Archive for category Church Articles
Administering the Local Church Through Organization
Introduction
To understand church organization, we need to firstly consider the definition of organization. Several definitions have been stated: H.W. Byme, defines organization as “the breaking down of the responsibility of the group as a whole into parts which can be assigned to individuals and committees.”1 Arthur Merrihew Adams defines it as ‘the process of defining the activities of an enterprise, establishing the responsibilities and relationships of the persons involved, in order to accomplish the ends of the group.’2 Lloyd Perry puts it as “the strengthening of those human processes or organizations which improve the functioning of the organization so that it achieves its objectives.”3
The three definitions of organization lend insight into the constituents of church organization. It is the establishing or defining of the responsibilities of the church. It is the equipping of human resources in the church for the undertaking of responsibilities, with the scope for improvement in functioning. It is the delegating or assigning of responsibilities to equip responsible individuals and committees. It is the planning, organizing and controlling of activities for the achieving of a specified end.
Catholics and the House Church Experience
A RECENT SCENARIO: An Hispanic man attended a House Church gathering
with his wife and family. He loved the fellowship and could feel the presence
of God during ministry moments. He has examined the fruits of those who
attend and he has no doubt that this House Church his wife is occasionally
dragging him off to is definitely of God.
Problem? He’s enjoying it far more than he ever imagined he would. He
admitted that he’s attending Mass less frequently and is even feeling guilty
about his spotty attendance at the Catholic Church. He confesses that he has
entertained thoughts that he is a poor Catholic father and husband for not
insisting that his family attend Mass. He’s worried about what his Catholic
relatives would think.