Governance focuses on boundaries, direction, and big context, while management focuses on choosing, making, and connecting.
Governance. Governance guides toward a goal by mapping the big picture of this particular organization. It sets boundaries and develops criteria with which to measure success and provide direction. It focuses on the trajectory, defining it clearly for others, then evaluating alignment and providing feedback. It influences as a partner, talking with the other and providing accountability.
In the context of a church, governance is accomplished by the council of leaders in a given congregation.
Management. Management is about action. Like running a race or going on a journey, it is concerned with facts on the ground. It is concerned with behavior and making things. It is concerned with providing command and control in the dailies. It focuses on motion and doing, moving the team toward creating and connecting. It instigates and supervises action through conversation with the team and its members.
In the context of a church, management is accomplished by ministry leads, whether paid or unpaid.
Question to Consider: How do these two functions relate to the biblical roles of Elders and Deacons? What does that look like?
