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When Ownership Goes Bad

When Ownership Goes Bad


It’s come into vogue to describe your church members as "shareholders." Ask any CEO who’s ever been ousted by shareholders—this is probably slightly boneheaded.

I’ve been contemplating the nuances of two words—ownership and possession . We talk a lot about "owning" intangibles—vision, purpose, destiny and the like. It’s all good—people have to have a sense that they are a part of the greater scope of things in a movement.

The snag is when healthy ownership turns the subtle corner to possession. Ownership says, "I am responsible." Possession says, "This is mine." The difference is huge, particularly as newcomers began to buy into the vision. Many can be owners, but only a few—perhaps only one—can possess a movement.

A small troop of committed, open-handed owners will outdistance a tightfisted army striving for their own personal possession.

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