“This is is my ministry.”
“God gave me this calling.”
“I’ve been in charge of this for twenty years.”
“This is our church.”
“We’ve always done it this way.”
“We built this from the ground up.”
I’ve heard church people say lots of things along these lines. Pastors, board members, congregants. Heck, I’ve said things like this. And it’s not all bad, but it’s certainly a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s said with pride, and other times with gratitude. Sometimes it’s said with anxiety, and other times with love.
But underneath it all is a subtle (or not-so-subtle) posture of ownership and control.
It’s easy to slip into this way of thinking. We care deeply. We’ve poured ourselves into something. We’ve sacrificed. So of course we feel a sense of responsibility. Maybe even a sense of possession.
But the longer I pastor, the more I’m convinced that ownership and control are not the posture the church needs. Especially not now. The way of Jesus looks more like stewardship and collaboration.
Stewardship says: “I’ve been entrusted with this.”
Ownership says: “This is mine.” It’s tight-fisted and hard-headed. It’s possessive and defensive. It vigilantly guards the borders and keeps others in their own lanes.
Stewardship is open-handed. It understands that everything—ministries, roles, buildings, budgets, influence—it all belongs to God. We’re just tending it for a while, so we hold it with care and gentleness. Our focus shifts from preservation to fruitfulness.
Collaboration says: “We need each other.”
Control says: “I’ve got this.” It’s large and in charge. It’s demanding and exclusionary. It rejects feedback and interprets any alternative perspectives as an attack.
Collaboration requires humility. It invites others in. It makes room for new voices and ideas. It shares power. It sits with a closed mouth and open ears. That can feel risky, especially when you’ve led something for a long time, but collaboration brings fresh life and joy. Not to mention a surprising sense of freedom from having to be so damned important.
If we want a truly healthy church culture—for the sake of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God—then we have to believe and act and speak as though stewardship and collaboration really are greater than ownership and control. This goes for everyone in the church, but it’s doubly true for anyone in a a position of power.
In the end, ministry isn’t about preserving what was; it’s about cultivating what could be. And we can’t do that alone.
What if we released our grip just a little?
What if we saw ourselves not as owners, but as stewards?
Not acted not like solo leaders, but like co-laborers?
What if we asked, “Who can I invite in?” instead of “How can I protect this?”