The 8 Levels of Church Ownership / Involvement
Recently while speaking with other leaders I came up with what I call the “Levels of Ownership”. With most volunteer ventures, and especially in churches, there are things left undone because there simply aren’t people willing to do them. Every church I’ve visited or been a part of seems to have a large percentage of pew-sitters who rarely serve or engage and a very small percentage of people that feel ownership within the church and give of their time and gifts. Then there are a bunch of different levels in between. So let’s take a look at them…
- The Blind and Ignorant
This group is oblivious to the fact that it takes actual people to do God’s work. They don’t see the needs in the Church, they ignore the calls for involvement and the concept that each person has a role to play doesn’t even register.
Summary: See no needs, fill no needs. - The Aware and Apathetic
Next we have those that see specific needs that are going unfilled or at least have an idea that it takes involved people to do God’s work, but they simply don’t care to be a part of it. This is often because they don’t feel that they should have to. They think serving is what pastors and other people are for.
Summary: See Needs, Don’t Care - The Caring and Uncertain
At this level individuals recognize that it takes people to do God’s work and they somehow want to be a part of it, but they don’t see their role or how their skills or abilities could make a difference. They aren’t likely to offer to help and even if approached, they may refuse for fear of failure. This is the group with the greatest untapped potential.
Summary: Care, but clueless (how to help) - The Conveniently Involved
This is the first level of serving. This group wants to be a part of ministry and will give of their time when it’s convenient and perfectly matches their skills. While they may feel a conviction to support the local church and God’s work through it, they can’t be bothered with regular serving or anything that requires commitment or discomfort.
Summary: Up for easy one-off involvement - The Regular Rigid
So long as they are in a specific role that they want, that they feel makes them look good, that is comfortable and doesn’t require challenge, this group will serve week in and week out forever. Change or challenge could send them packing. This is unfortunately a large segment of active volunteers in some churches. They’re doing it, but for the wrong reasons.
Summary: Dedicated, under perfect conditions
- The Flexible Faithful
Individuals in this group will do whatever is needed, whenever it’s needed. If they see it as part of advancing the kingdom, they don’t care what it is, just set them loose. This is a good group to look for cross-ministry leaders. Unfortunately, they are few and often hard to recognize, because they don’t usually stand out in a specific area.
Summary: Will serve anytime, anywhere, in any way - The Servant Specialists
This group is filled with individuals that have answered the call to a specific ministry. They may be wisely hesitent about serving long-term outside of their calling, but are flexible in the short-term and open to challenge and growth. Most ministry-specific leaders will be raised from this group.
Summary: Faithfully serving in specific calling
- The Servant Leaders
Servant Leaders are gifted in leadership, know and use their other gifts, serve in response to a specific calling, model Christian discipleship and are discipling others by example. They are also flexible faithful when needed. This classification could apply to any role within the church, whether senior pastor or a member of the grounds crew.
Summary: Actively modeling servant leadership
Of course these categorizations are not hard and fast rules. There may be people who are “regular rigid” in one area on Sunday’s and “conveniently involved” otherwise. Or someone who is “conveniently flexible”, serving as needed when it works for them. There may even be people who are “flexible faithful” not because they really get it, but because they are trying to work their way to Heaven.
Also, while it may seem like the levels are more “preferred” as the numbers increase, I would consider 6, 7 & 8 on equal footing. It really boils down to gifts, calling and situation. In fact sometimes if you just have “flexible faithfuls” for a particular situation, then a “regular rigid” could be an answered prayer, because they know the specific ministry inside and out. Additionally, I didn’t mention tithing in the levels because I don’t believe it directly correlates.
Perchance you’re curious, I would classify myself as a “flexible servant leader”. While I am gifted in leadership, in a leadership position, aware and using my gifts, I have not received a specific calling (role) within this church, other than that I’m to support the vision through creative leadership. So for now, as lay staff, that means I’m involved in just about everything, serving at the discretion of the pastor as needed.
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This is a great post in that it gives you so much to think about. What if a church could think deeply about how to communicate and inspire within each of these 8 “categories” of people and act on a strategy to coax them to the next level of involvement?