“I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of “Admin.” The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid “dens of crime” that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the office of a thoroughly nasty business concern.” *
* Lewis C. S. Preface to his book Screwtape Letters
Hi Pete,
I have often reflected on the difference between the Roman Catholic monastic model and the Celtic monastic model in church history. The Celtic model was spontaneous, living and dynamic, changeable and lacking in rigid organisation and administration. It did not seem to be organised from the top down. However, a lot of things that happened did not remain because of this lack of order. The Roman Catholic model was much more organised, rigid at times and authoritarian. It was administered much more strongly. There was less room for spontaneity. At times this meant that change was slower, but change often lasted far longer and ground that was won was maintained.
This may be a generalisation, but I have often wondered which one was better, and which was more in line with the Spirit of God. Which one should we try to emulate more?
good point Mark. It’s a delicate balance. To not do something out of fear of what might happen is never a good idea. If we are to not do the organisational thing it must be for a positive reason: what I mean is it must be about some other strong reason other than ‘not having organisation’. I can’t agree with those who argue for ‘not leading’ and ‘not being in organisation’, to do that is to allow yourself to be defined by a fear. It’s the same problem for those who talk of ‘trying not to be like church’. The fact is that there are plenty of good things about the rituals and so on that are used in church —- our probem is identifying exactly what it is that needs to change, otherwise it is like cutting off your head to fix your ear-ache.