Don't Tell Me Your Church's Core Values

For years, I've wanted to score cool points with a paperless office, and I've proudly announced my ambitions. So far, I've achieved it at my Catalyst gig (largely due to the fact that I can't connect to the printer =). But if you looked inside the computer bag that I tote back and forth from the office... it's filled with paper.

I actually love paper. The feel of it. The sound of it. I'm Greenpeace's arch nemesis.

The truth is, we don't ever have to say what our core values are because our actions reveal them. In fact, if you HAVE to say them, they're probably not your real core values. True values expose themselves.

At every church I visit, I don't have to peek at their website to see their core values. I can see them at work. I can sense their influence. Real core values can't help but be lived out...

...how long people stay after church
...what the announcements include
...the target audience of the messages
...what is asked or not asked of me
...how the church's money is spent
...and on and on

Comments

[Jason Roberts]

Welcome back Ben.

I agree with this to a point. I don't think you can judge a church plant in this way. It takes some time for the church planter to cast vision and call a group of people to live out core values. It takes some time for the church plant to begin embodying the core values. And it takes time for a church plant to have enough people with "buy-in" to begin helping to create the core values of a church.

So I would say a church plant needs to "tell you" their core values for a period of time. Don't know how to quantify how much time to give but there is a development period necessary for embodiment.

But I agree there is a point where a church shouldn't have to tell you because they are showing you.

[Travis Thompson]

I'm so glad your back from vacation!

I can see Jason's point, but I also think that's cause for a plant to be slow to identify "x" core values. Pick a few that you already embody and begin there. You can tell them for a little while, but the proof is in the pudding . . .

[Scott Fillmer]

Great post... you should be able to always see a church's beliefs and values by actually seeing them in action. As for the paper thing... I went paperless about 10 years ago and never looked back, I almost never have a stitch of paper anyway except one single notebook which is my one paper item.

[daniel d]

Have you read "IT" from Craig Groeschel yet? Finished it this weekend and loved IT. This post reminded me of IT. :)

Actions really do speak louder than words.

[Ben Arment]

You know, I actually had to change RCC's core values on paper after a few years because what I set out to become wasn't a true value for me. It was a borrowed value, I admit.

What started with 7 actually became 3 or 4.

[Bob Bickford]

Right on Ben, I agree. Here's what I'm wondering-how does this work as an organization or church grows, hires staff, multiplies departments etc. Seems that there's a need to reinforce values through consistent conversations, communication and clarification. New people bring their "little suitcase" of values with them and want to begin unpacking them in your context. I doubt your values on a piece of paper or webpage would suffice-sometimes it requires a caring conversation that says; "I don't think handbells are something we're going to value." :)

[Terrace Crawford]

Ok... that felt like 3 weeks. Glad ur back bro. I've mentioned that your blog is probably my favorite to read, so we need to keep these vacays and blog haitus' to a minimum, k?

As far as your post goes, I couldn't agree more.

[Pete Wilson]

Hope you had a great vacation Ben. I totally agree with this post. Our values are communicated through our lives daily!

[Jason Sheffstall]

Ben, I may look back on this post and say you were right on target, but since I recently recorded our Core Values on my blog I would have to disagree with you. :-).

Here is my reason for disagreement...if Core Values answer the "why" we do what we do, then, written values can help outsiders "see" on paper what we value before they ever attend our services. Core Values will attract some, but will repel others. This is simply my two cents...

[Ben Arment]

It takes an outsider to help us see what our true core values are. I think it was Gary McIntosh who said that every church thinks they're the friendliest on the planet... when really, they're just friendly to each other.

[Dawn Carter]

"True values expose themselves"

What a gem. Company's values are exposed by how they treat employees and customers. A parent may say, "I value my kids" but never make time to get to know them or actually listen to their little hearts.

Thanks for an awesome post.

[Mike]

Great stuff, Dave. I have to say there is value in Jason's comments though - declared values help assimilate new people into a culture.

[Ben Arment]

Dave?