Systems-Sensitive Leadership: Empowering Diversity Without Polarizing the Church

Dr. Armour documents the levels of life-system complexities in his book. Using the research of Dr. Clair Graves and Don Beck, Armour guides his reader through six systems of social complexity giving insight to how people respond to complexity and how the leader can empower that system to excellence. Reader's might notice the similarity between Graves'research and Abraham Maslow and his Heirarchy of need. These men were academic peers. This read is not complete without considering another Armour book: Leadership and the Power of Trust. Dr. Armour is a scholar. This is not a shallow study but will provide great tools for leaders.

Armour and Browning apply the Gravesian Theory of Intrapersonal Systems, named after the late Dr. Clare W. Graves ([...]), who before his death in 1986 taught at Union College in New York. They describe the eight distinct systems identified by Graves that shape human values and account for much of our diversity in faith communities. These "systems within us" have an immense bearing on the "systems between us." Differences in our intra-personal systems conspire to create problems in the inter-personal systems of our churches. The theory suggests that as we experience life individually, we encounter increasing degrees of complexity which require adjustments to our way of thinking. We move to new "systems" of thinking that alter our views of life, security, significance, family, spirituality, learning styles, likes, dislikes, etc. on a fundamental level. If the system we are in helps us make sense of the complexities and realities we encounter on a regular basis, then our lives are balanced and we do not move to a new system of thinking. But as complexity increases, whether through difficult life circumstances or the broadening of education, travel, diverse communities, etc., these new realities may overwhelm our current way of viewing the world. We thus have to revise our models, our intrapersonal systems, to integrate the new external events. We continue to modify our intrapersonal systems until we either find life circumstances that are stable enough to not upset our core, or until we reach such a balance point that we no longer feel compelled to adjust to that which surrounds us. The authors suggest that our churches often experience the clashing of systems 4, 5, and 6, and this clash is at the core of many of our differences concerning worship, leadership, learning, relating, and achieving significance. This book is dense, and it is not the first place to start in knowing how to manage congregational diversity. But those who read it will never see life or church in quite the same way. It will give the reader a much deeper understanding into why some people want change and some resist it, and how churches with members from competing systems can survive and thrive as diverse communities.

Churches are made up of people with diverse preferences in worship styles, communication methods, ministry priorities and leadership approaches. These differences often result in conflict and division. In System-Sensitive Leadership, Michael Armour and Don Browning present a model of eight thinking systems for mapping diversity. Individuals have one dominant system. This system will determine how we solve problems and think about life, while influencing our attitudes and behavior. Each system defines our sense of self, organizes our lives, groups our priorities, structures relationships, gives us a grid to analyze ideas and determines how we respond to innovation and new initiatives. The book's purpose is to assist church leaders in maintaining congregational harmony in the midst of pronounced diversity. Hope is given that the various systems within a church will draw on the other's strengths and live together in Biblically commanded harmony. System-Sensitive Leadership is a gift to those desiring to understand the mindset of a congregation. It would be extraordinarily useful for a Pastoral Search Committee or a pastoral candidate endeavoring to determine if a pastor would be a "good fit" for the congregation and what challenges a new pastor and his church would be facing in the transition to his leadership. The book would also assist church leadership in the objective of fostering congregational harmony and in achieving effective broad based ministry.

"System Sensitive Leadership" uses a model that helps identify the "thinking systems" that determine values within communities. It is the thesis of these authors that leaders of religious communities (congregations) can learn utilize these "thinking systems" to embrace diversity without creating polarization. This book is offers credible theory and great practical application. I recommend it for pastors, seminary faculty, and leaders in the church. It could be of equal benefit for those who lead non-profit organizations.

To say that the church lives in an age of rapid change and increasing complexity defines "understatement." This book deals with how the church comes to terms with the changing ways that its congregation, formerly homogenous in their outlook on dealing with life's challenges, now views the world, the church, their role in the church and themselves as individuals. While the subtitle raises warning signs to those taught to mistrust "liberalism" and "political correctness" (by use of the word "diversity" for those of you not so indoctrinated), when taken as a whole the book offers a biblically-sound methodology for evaluating the dominant "thinking system" within a church (or any organization) and within individuals, then prescribes ways that the church can respond by re-structuring programs, facilities, and ministries to reach and serve people in meaningful ways. That is, ways that are consistent with their thinking system. If you feel trapped in a church that teaches rules and regulations without answering your "why?" questions; if you feel uneasy about changing styles of Christian music and worship; if you're uncomfortable in a setting where group leaders encourage you to share your feelings about what the Bible says (instead of just telling you what it says); or if you are leading a church through these questions, this book has much to offer. It will at least help you see why good people can differ so much on what the "right" form of worship and Christian service amounts to