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June 10th.
2009
SPIDER OR STARFISH
One of the most popular management theories presently in
vogue is differentiating between organizations that function like a
starfish versus a spider. Wikipedia describes it this way: The spider
and starfish analogy refers to the contrasting biological nature of the
respective organisms, starfish having a decentralized neural structure
permitting regeneration.
Strong, centralized leadership characterizes “Spider management”. So
central is the strong leadership that if the spider looses a leg it is
crippled for life or if it looses it’s head it dies. “Starfish
management” on the other hand decentralizes leadership. Consistent with
a starfish, if an appendage is damaged, rather than causing the creature
to become permanently lame it simply regenerates a new one.
From our conception as a faith community we have described ourselves as
a ministry-centered faith community. The primary way this is lived out
is by the continuous invitation for folks to discern their gifts and
then use those gifts for ministry.
A significant number of the ministries that we are engaged with from the
Prayer Ministry to Fabric Arts from Daughters of the King to many of our
Team ECOR outreach activities, such as this weeks Relay for Life, were
prompted by someone or group in our church.
Likewise, when the season for a certain ministry has come and gone,
rather than forcing it to continue, we let other new ways of ministry
“regenerate.”
So as both the church year season of Pentecost – characterized by a time
of growth and the summer season – be prayerful about our church as a
starfish. What present ministry are you being called to use your gifts
for ministry? What new ministry are you being called with others to
bring to our community and or the larger community?
Thanks for being a part of the starfish!
Blessings,
The Rev. Brian N. Prior, Rector
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