Is a Church an Organism or an Organization?

Some churches lack administrative leadership desperately needed to multiply the ministry and reach people effectively.

This often frustrates church members who have executive skills in management and leadership. They may have loving and caring pastors, but if those pastors don't know how to build a team, train leaders, and motivate people to action, the church can quickly become a self-absorbed organism that goes nowhere. 

For good reasons, many refer to churches as "organisms" rather than "organizations." And there is truth to this because the church is the people, not the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The church is a form of life with interdependent parts that make up a Christ-centered community. However, as true as this may be, many who call the church an "organism" wouldn't dare install a leader with executive skills in fear that he may "secularize" the church or turn it into a cold-hearted organization that treats people like chess pawns. 

Every church is an organism, but not only an organism. Whether we like it or not, a church has to be an organization as well, otherwise, resources won't be maximized, growth will be slow if it happens at all, and the leaders may get seriously overworked because they aren't reproducing themselves. To lead, organization is necessary. So to call a church an "organism" only is overly-simplistic, not to mention that it must be an organization if it is to obtain non-profit status. 

Yet it functions as an organism first, an organization second. One could have an outstanding organized structure for his church yet lack the power of the Spirit, the life-transformation of the Word, and effectiveness in evangelism. The organization side of ministry is there to serve the organism, and when it fails to do this, it must be re-structured or started over completely.