Theology-Guided Management Model: Purpose and Values for the Profiling of Diaconal Organizations

The recognizability of a Christian theological profile and the associated credibility of diaconal organizations in Germany represents an increasing challenge for management. This article therefore addresses the question of how theologians, theological reflection and lived faith can regain relevance in diaconal organizations today? This article is an excerpt from the research paper published by the author in 2022 at the Institute for Diaconal Studies and Diaconal Management in Bielefeld-Bethel, Germany. To analyze and work on the topic, the author used theological, business and communication science approaches and combined them with her practical professional experience. On this basis, the author has developed the Theology-Guided Management Model (TGMM). The TGMM unfolds in five steps how diaconal organizations can identify their purpose and incorporate it into their corporate structures and processes using values (theology). The key to this lies in value-led communication processes.