BAM Postures Toward Church Ministry: Identifying Four Common Philosophies

Abstract

Business as mission (BAM) and hybrid organizations with multiple bottom lines have risen in popularity. However, some authors and scholars have noticed a lack of clarity on defining and measuring the multiple bottom lines, especially spiritual bottom lines. This article seeks to spark conversation through the author’s attempt of suggesting four distinct methodological philosophies that arise as authors express their understanding of faithfully pursuing business and mission together. Through a literature review, the author offers a continuum of understanding how a business cooperates with a local church in a missional setting. These postures are described in the article as “platform,” “partner,” “peer,” and “province” with the hope of clarifying the businesses’ philosophical approach to how they conduct business and mission for the purposes of communicating to shareholders, employees, and the marketplace.