It is important to understand how governance helps organizations move toward living out their ministry goals. The Manual, Section B.2.3.7 states simply and clearly, “The governance structure must free people to live out their commitment to God and to each other.” Research has shown that organizations with a weakly or poorly defined and poorly communicated and/or understood governance structure suffer from distrust, anxiety, and lack of vision. Any decision made is challenged, motives are questioned, distrust runs rampant (often underground), people feel their voices aren’t heard, anxiety rules. Organizations that have a clearly defined and understood
structure easily make decisions that support their defining vision. Having a well-defined structure does not eliminate all the issues arising in human interactions but does provides a framework in which to work through them.
