Tag Archives: leadership

Choosing Church Leaders

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votingI’ll be traveling to Cuba soon, speaking about church leadership at the 13th National Preacher’s Meeting. One of the topics that I’ll be speaking on is “Elder Selection: A Spiritual Process.”

During that session, I want to talk about the importance of prayer and fasting in the process of leader identification, as well as the biblical practice of laying on of hands. So I’m curious: to what degree do you see these concepts taught and practiced in our churches today? (I’m obviously focused on churches of Christ, but would love to hear from other traditions as well) It’s interesting to see the political nature of the pope selection process, but I don’t know that we’re in any position to point any fingers. There are a lot of business principles and management techniques that creep into our churches, lots of Robert’s Rules of Order being given equal weight with holy writ.

But I digress. Specifically:

  • In what ways is prayer included in the leadership (elders, deacons, staff) selection process in your church?
  • In what ways is fasting included?
  • Is there laying on of hands? By whom?
  • Beyond what is practiced, what are your beliefs about how these practices should be included?

Leading God’s people

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On the radio/Internet program I do as part of my work at Herald of Truth, I’ve been going through the book of Numbers. There was a section that stood out to me that I hadn’t thought about before. In Chapter 10, Moses approaches his brother-in-law, Hobab, and begs him to accompany the group. In Moses’ words: “You know where we should camp in the desert, and you can be our eyes.” (Numbers 10:31)

Then almost immediately following, we read a description of how God led them through the wilderness with the cloudy/fiery pillar. Among other things, it says, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest.” (Numbers 10:33)

There are more than one way to understand this passage, but I see in it a picture of how God led His people and how He still leads His people. Some of the guidance was solely divine in nature, like the ark (pillar) guiding the people to a place of rest. Along with that heavenly direction, there were also skilled and knowledgeable men that God used to provide what His people needed.

I think that God continues to work in both ways. No, I don’t believe we’ll see a pillar of fire leading us to where we should go. (though I hope I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to refuse to follow it if God did choose that method again) But I do believe that God goes beyond mere human talents and provides heavenly wisdom for the church. And, as Ephesians 4:11-12 says, God provides spiritual leaders that prepare His body for works of service.

We need both: human talents and God-given direction.

Who are the shepherds of the church?

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Since several of my readers are preachers (or have played one on TV), I feel the need to speak to the role preachers play in people leaving a given congregation. Preachers have always had an influential role in our brotherhood; there has been a conscious effort over the last few decades to give them even more power. For the record, I’m against it.

It reminds me a bit of the situation of Israel in the days of Samuel. “We want a king like all the nations around us.” We want to make our preachers pastors, senior pastors! This will help us to be like the churches around us. Just as it was a terrible idea back then, it’s a terrible idea today.

It’s interesting to me that about the time the business world moved away from the “Lone Ranger at the top” model, churches decided that was the way to go. Businesses moved to collaborative leadership; churches moved away.

I support the elder model, where the elders lead. Ideally, the ministers provide biblical teaching, helping the pastors to feed the flock. But the elders remain the ones responsible for the congregation.

A big reason for this has to do with tenure. Preachers come and go. There are exceptions, but by and large, preachers are at a congregation for a relatively short amount of time in the history of that congregation. A healthy congregation will have continuity in the eldership, consistently raising up new men to serve alongside those who are already there.

I remember one congregation that I love that went through a rough time back in the 1980s. A minister came in (associate minister) and pushed for the congregation to create a detailed vision statement. This led to months of committee meetings, with almost everyone in the congregation stating their opinion as to where the church should be going. Discussions became heated and hard feelings were created. Finally, a vision statement was created. I don’t know that the ink was dry on that statement before the minister that started the whole process had taken another job. What he left behind was the heartache and strained relationships.

I’ll say a bit more tomorrow about the role of preachers in congregational dissatisfaction. But for now, I’d like to hear your thoughts on elder-led congregations versus minister-led congregations.

Leadership vs. followship

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chargeDr. John Willis was one of my major professors at ACU. I can’t say enough about his scholarship and his servant heart. He has begun writing regularly on his blog recently. I don’t know if he’ll keep it up, but I’m enjoying it for now.

He had a great post this weekend on leadership in the Bible. The whole post is worth reading, but I especially found the following quote interesting.

It is very revealing that the New Testament NEVER uses the word LEADER in a positive sense. The Greek word LEADER {odegos} in the New Testament occurs only 5 times, and they are ALWAYS opponents of God and his people. Matthew 15:14; 23:16, 24; Acts 1:16; Romans 2:19.

You hear a lot today about the need for leadership in the church. Maybe we need more followers, rather than more leaders.

Dr. Willis closes with these words:

The CRAZE of LEADERSHIP is a human invention, destined for corruption and failure. History has demonstrated this throughout the centuries, and it is still true today. God through Christ is the ONLY HEAD, the ONLY LEADER. Let us strive to be FOLLOWERS.

Wise words.