Balancing the Entrepreneur, Manager and Technician in Ministry

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber

This is not the typical book that I read because I have never been that interested in business till now, and because I was always frustrated by business practices in the church setting.  They have a place, but sometimes you have to ask yourself the question if you are running a business or a church?  I was never quite sure how they might go hand in hand.  That being said, this book has really presented to me some innovative ideas as far as how to approach not only a business, but the role of pastors/ministers in the Church.

In this book Michael Gerber basically makes the case that every business owner needs to balance three roles within their business if they are going to succeed.

1. Entrepreneur
2. Manager
3. Technician

This may not seem very innovative to many of you, especially those of you already running your business.  But I have tried to apply it more to the church setting, especially in the specific role of a pastor.  I believe (a lot from my own experience) that many pastors are gifted in 1-2 of those areas, but it's hard to find a pastor gifted in all three.  Are there exceptions?  Certainly.  Can a pastor learn to be all three? I think so.

Let's think about it in the context of the church and in the role of the pastor.

1. Entrepreneur--I think a lot of pastors are gifted in the role of being enterpreneurs.  Many thrive on brainstorming, dreaming, collaborating, etc.  They like casting a vision for the ministry, often thinking about how it will be carried out.  If a pastor is to be an entrepreneur it's more than just casting vision, but it's seeing where the ministry needs to end up, and then beginning the ministry in such a way that it can get there.


2. Manager--I think this is the one area that most pastors struggle the most, which is why you see the important role of executive pastor in many churches.  Pastors dream and cast vision, but are often unsure of the day to day necessities of the church, often leaving the details to those who are more detail minded.  Obviously the size of the church plays an important function, often dictating what jobs the pastor will or will not do in his or her role.


3. Technician--This is what most pastors love doing.  This is the pastor who gets up and preaches, meets with people.  It's often what drove them into ministry in the first place...which is the love of people and working with them...the gift of sharing the gospel and playing a part in the transformation of people's lives. 

According to Gerber, these three roles must be performed if a business is going to succeed. 

And I'm wondering if the role of the pastor needs to function in these three areas.  A pastor may delegate certain responsibilities out to others, and they may often work in teams.  But I'm starting to believe that a pastor needs to understand and have a sense of all three roles, finding a balance of the three in their own lives and ministries.

I think the book has some very innovative principles for business (and obviously this isn't a new book), but I think a church and/or pastor can apply these same innovative principles as well.

What do you think? 

Have you read the book?  What did you think about it?

How do you see the 3 functions of a small business owner being applied to a pastor?
Rhett Smith

Comments

[Bobby Burns]

Having been involved in a church setting for the last 23 years as a layman and briefly as a pastor, I can concur that the ideal pastor would function in all three roles that Michael Gerber puts forth. I can also say that from my own work experience at E-Myth Worldwide it has become increasingly evident to me that the parallels between "running" a church and running a business are striking. As an aside, however, we must remember that the vision and goals for a church differ significantly in that the "bottom line" is souls - not dollars!

[John Reece]

Eventually, an entrepreneur surrounds himself with people having other skills and abilities. While the need for balance in all three areas is accurate, one person typically does not possess all three in such a way that negates the necessity to have help from others. It is unfortunate we place an expectation on pastors to be successful corporate business leaders and entrepreneurs, in some cases. There are parallels in running both a church and a business. It would be wise for the corporate world to stop and take notice of a Biblical approach to running organizations and equally wise for churches to stop assuming the corporate business approach should be brought into the church environment full-force.

[Chris Albany]

Hi, I think you guys are missing the point. Fact is it is not about business OR ministry it is about being EFFECTIVE:

1.There are the 5 Offices that serve the Body of Christ - of which Pastor is only 1

2. There are 7 Ministry Gifts for the edifying of the Body of Christ

3. Then there are the 9 fruits of the Spirit

4. There are also then functions performed by Elders and deacons and others such as "Helps"

Why on earth (or in heaven) should the Pastor do it all? Fact is most do, that is why so many suffer from Burnout and leave the ministry. It is a crying shame that the Body of Christ fails so dismally in applying the wisdom which is freely available to those who ask.

Instead of cramming the church into the E-myth (wonderful teaching as it is!) maybe we should introduce Michael to God's model and he will most probably find that this works far better and he could expand the e-myth concept to address all aspects of business and not just the entrepreneurial aspect.

Now that I think of tit this is borne out by Meredith Belbin's Model which has 9 Team roles which is awesome for putting teams together and managing them. I use this tool for all appointments and management of staff, and have great success. This is a more complete view of roles and it seems that Meredith Belbin is spiritually aware, which explains the revelatory power within his approach. Google Belbin to learn more.
Enjoy the journey....

Thinking of entrepreneurship I would say only the Evangelist falls into this category - think of Paul quoting Greek philosphers on Mars Hill - Epimides wrote to his Sun god 'in him we live and move nad have our being' - just like an entrepreneur to use what he has and apply it - Paul then ascribes this to Christ and wins the greek audience!

Mostly let us not limit the church to our current thinking but expand our thinking to embrace God's concept of church - the body with MANY members and myriads of functions.

Finally Michael clearly points out that 1 person cannot do or be all 3 - this is true - they all have different mindsets and personalities. They are different 'animals'. The 3 functions cannot exist in 1 person.Fullstop. Do what you were created to do - you will be good at this naturally - and get others with different giftings to do what they were created to do. If you dar e to blow your mind look at the Redemptive gifts of individuals - there are 7 which are different to the Ministry gifts - Google Arthur Burk or go to www.plumblineministries.com - it will change your life!

Enjoy the peace that passes understanding and the joy that that cannot be described (unspeakable) and which is glorious.

Chris

[Norma Morris]

Chris - Thanks so your comments, I am developing a school prototype near Dallas Tx and have the same types of leadership issues that seem to have come up about the "E-myth ministry" book (probably due to the spiritual aspects of human development that schools, as well as churches, encounter and should be addressing!I have not read it, however I will.. as well as google Belbin & Burk to see what they have to say...
Thanks for your comments.