Making Good Decisions

A Process for your Church Leadership Team

How does your church make decisions? Who makes the decisions? How timely are decisions made? 

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We have seen that making decisions is difficult and that many churches do not have a process to help them.
In fact, the decision-making process is so poor that I now ask churches, "What is your process for making decisions?"
​Most often these leaders do not have an answer.

Step 1: Values

Your core values give your church its sense of individual identity, provide direction, and are foundation upon which decisions are made. Run the decision through your core values. Ask these two question to help you discern whether you can say yes to a decision.
 
1. Is this decision consistent with and connected to our core values?

• If yes, write a statement that describes how it is consistent and connected to your core values, then move ahead.
• If no, stop. Write a clear statement of why the decision does not meet your core values test and clearly communicate the reason to the person who brought the decision in question.

2. Do our core values warrant spending dollars on this decision?

• If yes, are those dollars available in the regular budget or would it require extra-budget funding?
• If no, what is it about the decision that makes it not reach the level of importance for funding? Write your statement and present it to the person bringing the decision

Step 2: Mission

Now you are looking at how this decision connects with your church's mission, the statement that describes why your church exists. Your mission statement answers the question, Should we say yes to this decision?

• If yes, write a clear statement of how this decision moves you ahead in your mission.
• If no, stop. Write your statement describing why it does not connect with your mission and communicate the reason.

Step 3: Vision

Your vision is what you wish to see come to being in the next few years. Ask the question, Does this decision contribute to accomplishing our vision? At this step you are answering the final question of, "Will we say yes to this decision?"

• If yes, write your statement that describes how a positive decision substantially contributes to accomplishing your vision. Clearly describe what you will gain by a positive decision.
• If no, write your statement describing why it does not and clearly describe what you will lose by making a negative decision.

This decision-making process runs your decisions through your core values, mission, and vision. By writing your reasoning at each step it will help you be more clear and more certain about your decision and will help you have clear communication to give to your church.
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