It was Peter Drucker who once said, ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast.’”This statement highlights the profound impact culture has on any organisation, including the Church. Drucker, a pioneer in management theory, emphasised that the success of any institution is deeply intertwined with its culture. His insights, rooted in Christian values, provide a valuable perspective on the importance of culture within the Church and its role in influencing the world.
What is culture?
Culture encompasses the collective beliefs, values, customs, and behaviours that characterise a group or society. It manifests in various forms, such as language, art, traditions, and social norms. Within the Church, culture shapes how faith is practiced, expressed, and experienced. Richard Niebuhr, in his seminal work “Christ and Culture”, defines culture as “the social life of humanity, the…