ST. LOUIS—Author Tim Kurth has seen the brokenness in church governance and has spent decades helping congregations address the consequences. In Principles for Good Order: Creating Organizational Harmony Through Effective Governance, Kurth introduces a transformative model built on the foundation of John Carver’s Policy Governance®, which Kurth has carefully adapted for Christian congregations, schools, and ministry organizations.
“I confess to being a wild-eyed optimist and overly aspirational,” Kurth writes. “I do believe the institutions of the church can be better and that Principles Based Governance can play a significant role in making that happen. I am eternally hopeful that God is raising up even now the kinds of leaders, lay and ordained, who can implement and execute Principles Based Governance for the sake of a stronger witness to the world. Not flawlessly, for we will never escape our sinful nature this side of glory. But striving for progress, not perfection, with this model as our guide, I do believe better can be achieved.”
Drawing on deep theological conviction and hard-won practical experience, Kurth makes a compelling case that good order is not merely an organizational nicety—it is a Gospel imperative. When boards function as they should, pastors flourish. When pastors flourish, congregations thrive. When congregations thrive, the Great Commission advances.
Visit cph.org/goodorder for more information about the book. Contact Erica Sontag to schedule an interview with the author.
Praise for Principles for Good Order
I wish I had this book in my hands decades ago. In the parishes I served, it would have meant far less wasted time and far more cooperative and coordinated ministry, leadership, and communication. Tim Kurth introduces and teaches Principles Based Governance in an easily accessible way while lacing the text with illustrations that hammer home his excellent points. Your church, ministry, or organization will find help and hope from this book and the principles it delivers.
—Rev. Thomas Eggebrecht, senior vice president of ministry solutions, Lutheran Church Extension Fund
Tim Kurth has written the authoritative book on Principles Based Governance. Principles for Good Order is a must read for any congregation that is serious about implementing a governance framework that leads to missional advantage.
—Kurt Senske, PhD; Author, The CEO and the Board: The Art of Nonprofit Governance as a Competitive Advantage
