Yours, Mine and Ours: A Matter of Ownership

Synopsis
Rights and responsibilities are tricky things, especially when it comes to who maintains ownership of what is produced. When ministries embark on major capital improvements, they will always benefit from the wise counsel of experts. This is never truer than when it comes to interacting with all the various professions related to construction. The Real Estate Solutions (RES) team at LCEF is just one example of the expertise available to all LCMS ministries. 

Article
“Put your feet up and let me read you a little copyright law.”  

I’ll never forget those words from Joel, a friend in the publishing industry, as I navigated the process of getting my first book published. I had been approached by someone about distributing my writing through their ministry. It sounded like a great opportunity, but something told me I should check in with an expert. Joel helped me understand that if you write something of your own, you own the copyright and should never give that away. A publisher pays you to publish your work and when they decide to stop printing and distributing the work, the rights come back to you. On the other hand, if someone asks you to write on a particular topic, that’s known as a “work for hire” and the copyright belongs to the one who hired you. 

This article isn’t about copyright law, but my experience exemplifies the importance of wise counsel when you’re working in an unfamiliar field. Up until 1997 I had never been a published author. I had never worked with a publisher, an editor or a production team. If I had not asked Joel for help, I most certainly would have given up the rights to my written work forever. Not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t know any better. 

Building a new sanctuary or adding onto your existing school engages numerous disciplines. From architects to engineers to contractors and sub-contractors, there are intricacies to the construction process that few, if any, ministry leaders know anything about. Things like rights of ownership, profit centers and other standard practices in construction cost ministries thousands and thousands of dollars and can become a source of sleepless nights and many headaches. I’ve spoken in a previous article about the LCEF experts available to you across multiple disciplines. 

I have been blessed to work with some of the most talented people in commercial real estate development at LCEF.  Let’s dive a little deeper into the particular skills found on our Real Estate Solutions team. When it comes to building, I’m convinced that no church, school, camp or other RSO should move forward without first touching base with the LCEF RES team. 

Something as simple as a signed contract with an architect has hidden dangers. One ministry we worked with had already signed with an architect before asking for our help. Unfortunately, the relationship soured, and the ministry decided to end the relationship with the architect. Unbeknownst to them, the agreement they signed gave all rights for the product of the relationship to the architect. That meant tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of drawings and conceptual models were lost. The ministry was stuck starting from scratch. This isn’t an anomaly.  

This is just one example of the ways a ministry can unknowingly face cost overruns, setbacks and interruptions. With the guidance of a faithful mission partner who has expertise and the best interests of your ministry at heart, you can proceed with confidence. 

The best time to ask for expert advice is before starting any work or signing any agreements. Striking out on your own, without seeking the advice of a consultant, may seem like a good way to save money. In the end, however, it can cost exponentially more to pursue a project in a field in which you’re unfamiliar. 

Please email LCEF’s Real Estate Solutions team to connect with our experts.