Institutionalization and What Excites Us

From "Returning to Our First Love" by James W. Moss Sr.

Over time missions become institutions. Institutions strive to preserve their existence at the expense of mission. To institutions anniversaries are more important than conversions. To institutions buildings are more important then new organizations. Very gradually, over time, the Churches of God made the natural transition from mission enterprise to institution. Only with great effort can this natural progression be reversed. Institutionalization comes to denominations, local conferences and local churches. Writers to The Advocate would celebrate the addition of Sunday Schools, Christian Endeavor Societies, Temperance Unions, Ladies Aid and Missionary societies with the same zeal as previous writers wrote of starting new churches. With real excitement people reported building structures. This is a clear illustration of the institutionalization of the Churches of God.