If, therefore, those called to office and leadership roles in the church remain content merely to organize and manage the internal affairs of the church, they are leaving a vacuum exactly where there ought to be vibrant, pulsating life. Of course Christian leaders need to be trained and equipped for management, for running of the organization. The church will not thrive by performing in a bumbling, amateur fashion and hoping that piety and goodwill will make up for incompetence. But how much more should a Christian minister be a serious professional when it comes to grappling with scripture and discovering how it enables him or her, in preaching, teaching, prayer, and pastoral work, to engage with the huge issues that confront us as a society and as individuals. If we are professional about other things, we ought to be ashamed not to be properly equipped both to study the Bible ouselves and to bring its ever-fresh word to others. N.T. Wright
About This Quote

The idea that Christians are called to "organize and manage the internal affairs of the church" is a bit oversimplified. While it's true that the maintenance of the organization is important, so too is making sure that there is a vibrant pulse within it. The question remains, what does an organization look like when it's managed properly? When you have too many people working for too long in an organization without proper leadership, things are bound to get out of hand. And when you have leaders who are only interested in the management, rather than the mission of the organization, you risk becoming complacent and falling into mediocrity. The question then becomes, how do you know whether or not your church is free from complacency? One way would be to make sure that there are leaders both in the pulpit and in the pews who are passionate about helping others find Christ.

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