Serve as an advocate for church staff or volunteers who suffer the burden of too many bosses. Help clarify their organizational accountabilities and job descriptions. If we decide to put more of our energies in one activity, it will inevitably reduce our effort somewhere else, unless additional resources are forthcoming. It is essential to set priorities, even in church settings, and to achieve the most critical things first. Ethical businesses will include qualities beyond financial profit in their bottom line calculations, making the job more complex.
Evaluation exercises force discussion of performance objectives and indicators of success.
That discussion is a positive outcome in its own right. Evaluation that goes beyond simple affirmation of efforts is essential for developmental improvement to occur. Clear identification of areas for improvement, if done in the spirit of concern and helpfulness, is consistent with the ethic of building a stronger church community. James M. Harder is associate professor of economics at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas.