Every leader has a handful of books that change how they see the world. For me, one of those books is Reframing Organizations by Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal. I first read it years ago as an academic text, but it has stayed with me far longer than most books from graduate school. The reason is simple: it taught me how to see my church differently.
“Reframing” is the ability to look at the same situation from multiple perspectives. Most leaders, pastors included, tend to lead through one dominant lens. Some emphasize structure and process. Others focus on people. Some naturally navigate politics. Others lean into culture and meaning. But the best leaders learn to see through all four.
Bolman and Deal describe these perspectives as frames—the Structural, Human Resource, Political, and Symbolic frames. Over time, I discovered that these frames are incredibly relevant for churches. The terminology below is taken from their work. The Bible may not use these terms, but Scripture is filled with stories of leaders who had to structure their organizations, care for people, manage conflict, and inspire through meaning. When pastors learn to reframe, they lead their churches with greater wisdom, empathy, and adaptability.
1. The Structural Frame: Seeing the Church as a Factory
Structure matters. It’s how a church organizes people and processes to make disciples. Bolman and Deal describe the structural frame as “the architecture of an organization.” For churches, that means thinking intentionally about how people grow spiritually.
Too many congregations know what they are doing but not why. They have programs but no process. They have ministries but no alignment. Structure helps clarify purpose; it’s the skeleton that holds the body together. The heart, brain, and spirit are more important, but without bones, nothing stands upright.
A healthy structure gives clarity and direction. It helps the church answer questions like:
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- Do our ministries align around the same mission?
- Do people know the process for spiritual growth?
- What are we doing to move them through that process?
- What needs to be eliminated because it no longer serves the goal?
As a pastor, I’ve learned that structure should always serve people, not the other way around. But when designed well, structure allows the church to make disciples intentionally rather than accidentally.
2. The Human Resource Frame: Seeing the Church as a Family
If the structural frame is about systems, the human resource frame is about souls. It’s how leaders satisfy human needs within the organization. Bolman and Deal remind us that people are not tools to achieve goals. They are the goal.
In the church, this frame distinguishes between treating people as pawns or assets. Pawns are used to accomplish the mission with little regard for their personal growth. Assets, on the other hand, are valued contributors who grow as they serve. The mission matters, but so does the transformation of the people who carry it out.
When churches ignore this frame, people withdraw or grow apathetic. Attendance declines not due to a mass exodus but rather to quiet disengagement. Others stay but lose motivation. Some form alliances to gain influence or resist change.
Leaders who use the human resource frame well understand that developing people is the mission. They hire wisely, protect key staff, empower volunteers, and give individuals real influence. They equip people with tools and authority. They promote from within and see every member as a person God is shaping, not a cog in a ministry machine.
I’ve found that this frame challenges me most deeply as a pastor. Programs and budgets can be fixed with strategy. People require love, patience, and presence. But no church will thrive if it treats people as expendable.
3. The Political Frame: Seeing the Church as a Jungle
The word “politics” makes most pastors cringe. We prefer to think of the church as a sanctuary, not an arena in which people compete. Yet politics (defined as the distribution of scarce resources and the navigation of competing interests) is part of every organization, including the church. Without wisdom, you’ll never find your way in the jungle of church politics.
Every budget meeting is political. Every ministry priority involves choices about where time, money, and people go. Churches are coalitions of diverse groups: committees, ministries, and informal networks, each with different perspectives and priorities.
Here’s a political formula often found in churches:
Scarcity + different opinions = conflict.
Bolman and Deal argue that conflict isn’t necessarily bad. It’s like sandpaper on wood—painful, but it can produce something beautiful if handled correctly. The political frame helps leaders acknowledge reality: there will always be competition for resources, differing opinions, and informal centers of power.
Effective church leaders develop political wisdom in this jungle. They know how to set an agenda that unites rather than divides. They map the informal terrain of influence, build coalitions, and negotiate fairly. They also operate ethically, following principles of openness, fairness, and mutuality. I’ve learned that ignoring politics doesn’t make it disappear. Ignoring the obvious political tug-of-war blinds you to what’s really happening. The political frame reminds us that wisdom and integrity must go hand in hand in every decision.
4. The Symbolic Frame: Seeing the Church as a Theater
Finally, there’s the symbolic frame, the most powerful and often the most neglected. It deals with meaning, culture, and inspiration. The church can feel like a theatrical performance at times, with people dramatically playing certain parts. Driving this performance are symbols.
Symbols give people hope. They remind us why we gather and why it matters. Think about the cross. In the ancient world, it represented shame and death. Yet for the church, it became the central symbol of redemption. That transformation of meaning illustrates the symbolic frame in its purest form.
Every church has its own symbols, myths, heroes, rituals, and ceremonies. The actual pulpit and steeple can inspire a congregation every time they sit in the sanctuary or pull in the parking lot. These things shape culture far more deeply than policies or programs. A vision statement, when lived out, becomes a symbol of God’s preferred future. Even heroes in the congregation—faithful servants, founders, or missionaries—become living symbols of what the church values most.
Symbolic leaders understand that culture is the glue that holds a church together. They don’t just manage ministries; they tell the story of what God is doing among His people.
Learning to Reframe
Over time, I’ve learned that each frame provides part of the truth.
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- When structure fails, I check relationships.
- When relationships falter, I examine politics.
- When politics get messy, I revisit culture.
- When culture drifts, I clarify structure.
Reframing Organizations remains the most influential leadership book I’ve ever read because it gave me the gift of perspective. The church is not a machine to be fixed or a problem to be solved. It’s a living, complex body—an organization that requires leaders who can see through multiple lenses.
Posted on December 4, 2025
As President of Church Answers, Sam Rainer wears many hats. From podcast co-host to full-time Pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church, Sam’s heart for ministry and revitalization are evident in all he does.
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