Rejects business model assumptions
by George Lehman, Bluffton, Ohio
Thank you for printing Ernest Hershberger's article, "The Business of Church" (May 5). He makes some important points. I particularly appreciate his emphasis on the importance of grace as an organizing principle in the life of the church.
I disagree, however, with his apparent assumption that there is a single clear model that all businesses follow. For example, many business leaders would disagree with his opening statement, that "the business of business is to return a profit for shareholders or owners." Many leaders would say that profit is a by product of a healthy business that provides a needed good or service.
In a similar manner, I disagree with his assumption that "the vision for the enterprises comes from the person (or people) in control." The best leaders draw out a vision for the enterprise from the people in the organization and hesitate to impose a vision onto the organization.
A third point of disagreement is his assumption that business leaders use coercion to get things done. Effective leaders know there are huge downside risks to leading by coercion. Blind obedience is antithetical to creative problem solving.
Finally I am troubled by the idea that business practice is only applicable to the "congregation's more mundane processes." Maybe I am just a hypersensitive business professor, but I find it hard to believe that many business people see themselves only as having skills and talent to bring to the management of "mundane processes."
I will accept that there are some money-hungry, tyrannical leaders who have, at least in the short run, been financially successful. I will not accept that such behavior is necessary or even desirable for business success. Business practice, whatever that is, cannot be the ultimate authority for the church. In fact, I hope the business practice that Hershberger is describing is not the ultimate authority for business either.
Associated Issue: The business of church - May 5, 2009
Associated Article: The business of church
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