Each process interacts with all others. Too often church leaders obsess on recruiting. But in systems thinking, the results of recruitment reflect the interaction of the other processes. To address recruiting we must also pay attention to discovering gifts, designing creatively, supporting and supervising, and so forth. This systems model is depicted in the graphic at the right.
Churches are also well served by stopping their search for the perfect gifts-discovery instrument.
Only a certain percentage of members fill out forms. Some who fill them out do so more out of habit or obligation than because the tool genuinely helps them discern their special gifts and call to ministry. Gift inventories have their place as one tool in a whole menu of approaches to gifts discovery. A central focus of the mission and ministry of every congregation should be to help all members discern gifts and calls to ministry in the various arenas of their lives. No single method helps all members do so.