I recently read an interesting and short piece by Tim Keller on Four Characteristics of a Movement Vs an Institution over at Catalystspace.
While the body of the article is solid, but not particularly surprising, the conclusion is what caused me to pause and reflect:
...part of what makes a movement dynamic is a unified vision, and that always requires some codification and control. As time goes on, to maintain the main engine of movement-dynamics -- a unified vision -- a ministry must adopt some of the aspects of institutions. A strong movement, then, occupies the difficult space between being a free-wheeling organism and a disciplined organization. A movement that refuses to take on some organizational characteristics -- authority, tradition, unity of belief, and quality control -- will fragment and dissipate. A movement that does not also resist the inevitable tendency toward complete institutionalization will lose its vitality and effectiveness as well. The job of the movement leader is to steer the ship safely between these two opposite perils (emphasis mine).
I have felt that tension many times!
(Thanks to co-worker, co-leader, Holly, for bringing this article to our attention!)
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