When you hear the phrase “church culture,” what do you think of?
A church’s culture is like the personality of a church and can be felt in the church’s atmosphere and environment. Culture is largely influenced by the church leaders’ (and thus the members’) mission, values, behaviors, goals, and ethics.
Some churches have an outreach-based culture, while other churches might be focused on growth and community. Some large churches are still able to maintain an intimate church culture through small groups and classes, and some small churches are able to impact their community in a big way through intentional programs and relationships.
Why does culture matter?
Each church has its own strengths and weaknesses. If the church is healthy, there is room for a myriad of church cultures in a community. Some positive things you might see in a healthy church culture include:
- A celebration of growth and discipleship.
- Decentralized leadership—meaning that everyone has a role in leading the church.
- A community built on respect and trust.
- A sense of interdependence among the congregation.
- A clear and obvious vision.
Culture, like anything else, is subject to the laws of entropy. If energy is not poured into a culture to keep it vibrant and healthy, it slowly begins to break down. Maybe ineffective ministry leaders stay in positions too long, or they start to avoid disagreements and tensions, resulting in fractures in the church. Complaining slowly becomes a natural occurrence, and people begin to argue over positions and turf.
When a church culture becomes unhealthy, it shows up in unresolved conflicts, unhealed hurts, and unaddressed problems. It becomes easier to motivate people through guilt, shame, or threats. And even if the vision and mission are still championed, the members are beyond caring.
If something does not change, the culture flips from unhealthy to toxic. This is the last stop on the culture spectrum. Leadership becomes more dictatorial than collaborative, and every decision has to be reached through a complex political system.
Coming to grips with your culture.
As a church leader, what goals, behaviors, and ethics are you pursuing that you hope will catch on with your church culture? What areas do you need to address in your leadership to avoid fostering dysfunctional culture? In the same way that a fish cannot tell how dirty its aquarium is, it may be hard for you and other church leaders to see these areas of weakness within yourselves. Challenge yourself to seek out and receive feedback with humility for the health and benefit of your church culture.
