Interestingly enough, of all of the eight quality characteristics, effective structures has emerged as the most controversial. At first sight, this observation doesn't seem to make any sense. How could anyone be interested in ineffective structures? The sad truth is that, in many churches, the model of the cart with the square wheels has become so normal that the use of square wheels is even seen as superior to the use of round wheels. I have studied long theological essays that have had no other purpose than to defend a "square-wheel” approach...
The secret of effective structures is (a) to address each of the three directions (upward, inward, and outward growth) and (b) to bring these three dimensions into balance...
Excerpts from Color Your World with Natural Church Development - Christian A. Schwarz
