Disclaimer: Readers of this blog who are not followers of
Jesus Christ as I am may find this particular blog overly laced with references
to my faith context. This is your chance
to opt out of reading it. A provocative
leadership discussion is embedded here that applies to anyone, but the context
I am speaking to has particular application to my brothers and sisters who
follow the Way. It is to their leaders that I write.
What is the
difference between organizing ourselves to accomplish a task/purpose and institutionalizing
around those same ends?
My
answer: Meaningful and timely impact
“The One who calls you is faithful
and He also will do it”
This
scriptural reference from 1 Thessalonians 5:24 appeared in many of my letters
home and my verbal presentations to supporters when I was an international
worker with my mission agency back in the late ‘80’s. I knew then (and have repeatedly experienced since)
that God often calls us to places, people and tasks that are simply beyond our
ability or comprehension. Once convinced
that it is God who is calling, what that is required by God is that you start
walking in that direction. He will
unfold the map and supply the provisions as the journey progresses. Not that we start out without any training or
ongoing preparation, but we don’t hold back just because we think/feel our
'stuff isn’t together’ in our personal or corporate lives.
I’ve lived
and exercised this personally. While some
paths I took were absolutely awesome and exhilarating, not all were easy. Some still don’t make any sense to me from my
terrestrial perspective. Some gave me
scars. All of them formed my faith,
character and leadership.
Today I am
on the verge of a major step in the launch of a new ministry/organization and I am asking some questions:
- Can the lessons from my personal journey of faith apply to the organization?
- Can this scripture above be a guide for a corporate endeavour?
- Can I be as flexible and nimble when charged with organizing other people and resources toward a specific end?
These are significant
questions because for me, it’s institutionalization of what was
once a person/groups nimble, faith-filled response to the ‘call’ of God that
prevents their ability to respond to any new call for a route change, a new
focus, or even an end to their journey. (God forbid that any ministry or even a
church should have a shelf-life???)
It seems to
me that we Christians are schizophrenic about God’s leadership. He can move individuals freely into new areas of focus, but our organizations (ministries/churches) for
some reason are a different story. People
move in and out of organizations because they don’t ‘fit’ or are not ‘called’ or are called to a new purpose. Has anyone ever thought that perhaps an
organization no longer ‘fits’ or is ‘called’ as it once was?
Institutionalization
occurs when God’s voice is muffled by
other voices crying out for attention such as physical assets, strategic
planning, fund-raising, staffing, structures and a myriad of other things
required to sustain the mere existence (let alone purpose) of the
organization. Perhaps leaders feel too
much responsibility to the reputation, assets and employees of their organization.
I am not being dismissive here. These
obligations are a significant influence on leaders’ readiness and willingness
to hear and respond to the voice of God should He ever say something like:
- “It’s time to pick up the tent. I am sending you and this whole group into new territory”
- “ I have a new purpose for you to accomplish”
- “This was good for its time, but now it’s time is over”
If you are organized
around a purpose, you can respond to these calls. If you have institutionalized around
a purpose, they are a threat to the existence of interests, jobs and
reputations.
As I
contemplate the beginnings of this organization I will lead, I have crafted
this prayer for myself:
Harv – don’t idolize,
petrify or overly cling to this new thing.
It is not yours even though it’s entrusted to you. It isn’t yours & never will be. It is God’s and exists ONLY for His
purposes. Stay attuned to the voice of
God in the further building of this organization. God called it into being and will continue to
do so for as long as it fits His purposes.
He will continue to speak into its development and delivery of its
services. Stay attuned. There is only ONE reason this thing exists –
for His purposes. The moment you
institutionalize it is the point you take it out of His hands. Organize it. Don’t institutionalize it.
Lead whatever you lead for meaningful and timely impact.
If neither is occurring, what are you doing about it?
Harv Matchullis
excellent & encouraging word
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