Drafting the values is the last stage in this five-part process of identifying core values for a church or ministry. To read the full series of blog entries, do a search for “identifying core values” on the Logan Leadership blog.

Drawing from the exercises that have gone before, compile a listing of 5 to 7 core values that represent your ministry. Define them if necessary. Then write bullet point lists of behaviors under each so everyone can see what types of specific, concrete behaviors reflect each value. Finally, make sure each value aligns with scripture and connect it to a specific scripture passage that is important to your group.

For example, one value might be “honesty and transparency.” One of the behaviors exemplifying that value might be “confessing our sins to one another with confidentiality.” A scripture that may reflect this practice might be James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”

When 5 to 7 values are fully drafted, complete with behaviors and scriptural support, people should be able to look at the list and assess the degree to which they are living out those values. They could, for example, point to specific people they are confessing their sins to. Someone could look at each behavior and ask about it: “How are you living out honesty and transparency? What does that look like for you? Tell me about a specific time. Give some examples.” In this way, everyone on the team can proactively grow toward these values, as well as providing a rubric of sorts that allows prospective team members to assess whether this team would be a good fit for them.

If you enjoyed this series on identifying core values, you may also be interested in The Leadership Difference or the Leadership Skills Guides. 

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