Understanding Your Congregation As a System: The Manual

Parsons and Leas have created an important tool for congregational leaders in this application of systems theory to evaluating a congregation’s life and readiness for change. Church leaders can explore the forces at work and examine the systemic implications in seven key areas: strategy, process, pastoral and lay leadership, authority, relatedness, and learning. The Manual provides an overview of systems theory, complete instructions for administering and scoring the Congregational Systems Inventory (CSI), and guidance for interpreting and explaining the inventory results using sample scores. The Congregational Systems Inventory is a survey designed to sample the perspectives of church staff, governing board, and key lay leaders. Be sure to order some packs of the CSI along with this valuable resource.

George Parsons, a former senior consultant with the Alban Institute and a Presbyterian minister who has served local congregations. He has advanced degrees in counseling and psychology and is trained in conflict management and organizational development. Speed B. Leas, a former senior consultant with the Alban Institute, began his affiliation with Alban in 1977 and has served congregations throughout California. He has done advanced work in organization development and systems theory and works in the area of conflict management with congregations.