Over the past month I’ve spoken to many people about the management changes happening here at The Door, and the response has been consistent – everyone is very positive about the move, and impressed at the way our board of Trustees have taken an innovative approach to leading the organisation.

A wise man once told me, honestly but quite bluntly, that there were things I wasn’t very good at. Now this might seem harsh, but it was true. The thing is, its as true of you as it is of me. Each of us has things we’re good at, and things we’re not so good at – that’s what makes us who we are. Over the past three months, we’ve looked very clearly at the strengths and weaknesses of us as a team, and recognised that we’re better off ‘playing to our strengths’ – that might seem innovative or creative to some, but it felt pretty obvious to us. Actually, its not just obvious, its rooted in God’s plan for His people – St Paul writes about it in his letter to the church in Corinth:

The human body has many parts… If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell. If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body… 
But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them…  Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body.

As a bunch of Christians with a heart to meet the needs of young people and their families across the Stroud district, we are striving to operate in this way – as Jesus’ body; His hands; His feet; His words; His actions. Whatever we do it must always be in reference to Him. And as a body we recognise those skills – or gifts from God – that make each of us unique. That means that Graham is fundamentally better suited to finance, HR, policies and processes than I am, and Victoria is more skilled in managing people and creating the best services than anyone I’ve ever met. Leaving me to do the things I’m not too shabby at, like writing blogs, hosting networking events, and selling vision.

So today, as the new Senior Management Team takes up the mantle, we want to recognise that this is a part of a bigger plan – God’s plan for The Door, and also His plan for all people – to work together in harmony “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”