Mission Creep: The Temptation for Every Christian Organization

                                   

                                                                                                           

The term “Mission Creep” is a common expression within military circles describing the organic tendency for campaigns to gradually drift or shift beyond its original goals, often after initial success.   I suspect there are plenty of examples of military engagements throughout history of mission creep.   Just talk to the spouse of enlisted soldiers who get news that what was supposed to be a six-month deployment has turned into a two-year separation, and then the reality of mission creep hits close to home.  The tendency to “drift” is not isolated to militaries and wars.  There are constant temptations for Christian organizations to “creep” away from their original mission.

There are many factors and forces that lead to mission drift, but I want to only focus on one set of dynamics.  Initial successes and new potentials for revenue coupled with an increase in programs and expansion are some of the most potent forces that lead to mission drift.  The increase in programs or expansion almost always requires a “mission” gut check.  It is important to note, I am not suggesting that all Christian organizations are locked-in to policy language and practices established by their founders.  In fact, there are great examples of organizations making redactions to their by-laws, policies, and even programs to meet the emerging needs of our world and their goal of evangelism.  This is almost inevitable with any organization that has a long history spanning many decades of cultural shifts and even globalization.  However, there is a strong argument to be made that shifting in policies and some practices are to be expected, but drifting from one’s mission can potentially lead to a DNA change that fundamentally changes the organization all together.

Christian organizations at one time all shared a common DNA that was gospel centric.   In other words, whether it was Harvard in the early 17^th century, global mission organizations, or churches, they all started with a deep conviction that was probably tethered to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as explained in the Bible.  This is not to suggest that all Christian organizations share the same functions and forms, but it is to suggest that they share the same DNA.  The problem with mission drift is the “success” or “expansion” may require a creep away from the fundamental reasons and convictions for existence for the sake of keeping the machine running.  In these instances, the boards, elders, and stakeholders begin changing their missions to accommodate the strategic plans necessary for continued success and expansion even at the expense of their Christian DNA.

In my lifetime, I have seen major stories of mission drift from very well known Christian organizations that seem to have at least one thing in common.  Donors!  It goes without saying most religious non-profits rely heavily or solely on the generosity of donors.  As a result, an entire career path has been developed around securing major gifts as well as educating donors on ways they can restructure their estate to benefit said organizations.  Professional fundraisers can make a good living in specializing in the “Ask.”  Unfortunately, the “ask” (a term related to the development and asking of money) is not coupled with a deep conviction to organizational mission. 

From my vantage point, it is very easy to allow a big gift to set in motion the fiscal waves that begin the mission drift.  Don’t get me wrong; I am not suggesting that there are not examples of well-intentioned and well-resourced people that offer to write huge checks to Christian organizations with no strings attached.  Some of my own personal experiences of Godly people sharing in amazing ways come with this preface, “God placed your organization on my mind and use this gift as you see fit.”  But for all of the unrestricted gifts, there are just as many, if not more, “restricted” gifts that may or may not fit into the mission of the organization.  It can be a very difficult conversation when someone is willing to write a 6 or 7 figure check and the strings and mission creep that comes with that check potentially changes the Christian DNA or the organization.   When this occurs, the brain’s ability to rationalize kicks into 4-wheel drive and is willing to go way “off-path” to figure a way to fit that donor’s agenda into the mission.  After all, “God must want us to be successful or else He would not have made this funding available?”  Or, “This is God’s way of telling us that we need to change our mission.” 

When major donors are given the ability to change mission, it often starts with innocuous word games.  For example, “I am willing to give you or build you, but in order to get my money you need to be willing to make some changes so I can save face with my constituents.”  As you can see, I am using hyperbole to make this point.  There have been famous slogan changes over the years as a result of mission drift.

There was a time when the YMCA was deeply committed and unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Today, it is just “ the Y” and a place to go and play ball.  Southern Methodist University was proud of her name and religious heritage, but pragmatics led to institutional abbreviation and now SMU is all you see or hear.  I am told in this instance that it is very difficult to recruit students and raise money in other parts of our country with both the terms “Southern” and “Methodist” in the same sentence.  It could be the case that national re-branding campaigns do not necessarily change or alter Christian DNA, but this is certainly a drift point that has implications.  Another example close to home, TCU will NEVER be called “Texas Christian University” by ESPN.  They will always be referred to as just “TCU.”  These subtle changes often come about by well-intentioned marketing firms that almost never share the DNA of the Christian organization, but they certainly specialize in secularization.  After all, it is easier to recruit students, grow programs, raise money, and build buildings when Jesus Christ is marginalized and even removed.  It seems that the Bible reminds us of the world’s desire to mistreat and avoid Jesus.  Why are we surprised that worldly success occurs in tandem with pushing Jesus to the margins?

It is amazing how money and power have the ability to contribute to mission drift.  It takes a great deal of faith and integrity to turn down a major gift or donor.  But be reminded, one of Satan’s greatest tactics is not mission destruction; It is mission drift.  I am reminded of Jesus' own mission inauguration and after fasting for forty days, Satan engages in tempting Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11).  In each of the temptation episodes, Satan doesn’t attempt to destroy Jesus’ ministry; instead, Satan attempts to redirect Jesus’ focus under the pretense of empowering and expanding his ministry.  Some commentators suggest this may have been Satan’s way of verifying that Jesus was indeed divine.  I tend to think differently.  Satan realized that if Jesus’ mission would drift toward, power, popularity, and gimmicks, then Jesus’ authenticity and mission to rescue and redeem humanity would be compromised. 

By the way, the same tactics aimed at the organizational level are even more efficient at the personal level.  Satan would like nothing more than to bring slow spiritual drift to the life of the believer.  C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters illustrates the evil one’s desire to not wage a nuclear holocaust, but instead, to lob small RPG’s toward our mind and heart.  Over time, the spiritual creep that will occur will accomplish the evil one’s desires.  The end game is the same.  Whether we are eaten by a whale or bitten to death by a thousand minnows, the end result is the same.

How to avoid mission creep: 

• First, establish organizational practices and policies around receiving gifts from donors.  Not every gift is a mission appropriate gift and learning to say, “no thank you” in a God-honoring way, while very difficult, may alleviate a lot of organizational angst down the road.  
• Second, develop the habit at the highest level of the organization to continually remind the organization of her mission.  This sounds simple, but get that mission emblazoned in the minds and hearts of your people, and when the time comes to defend against mission drift, it will feel more normal than abnormal.  
• Third, avoid the tendency of rolling in and out of re-brands.  Of course, there are times to do a re-brand.  But make sure that those you are hiring to manage, design, and execute your re-brand share your mission’s DNA.  
• Last, always vet when mega wealthy entities approach your ministry or organization with a desire to partner.  This is especially difficult when they are giving you “free” access, resources, publicity, etc.  Remember, you get what you pay for in these instances.  Free is great, but free may be the very drift point that sets the organization on a trajectory that will lead to mission change.