No Position Available: Rethinking Church Leadership

 

No Position Available: Rethinking Church Leadership

"Sorry, there is no pastoral position available here. We do welcome your gift of pastoring though." Imagine seeing that on a job board. It sounds absurd, doesn't it? Yet, this seemingly strange statement actually exposes a fundamental disconnect between the biblical model of church leadership and the way many North American churches operate today.

The reality is, the concept of a singular "pastoral position" as we often understand it – a paid, staff-driven role with distinct responsibilities – is largely absent from the New Testament. Instead, we find a consistent emphasis on the role of elders, leaders who were deeply integrated into the community life of the church.

The Synonymous Roles of Pastor and Elder

Scripture reveals no clear distinction between "pastor" and "elder." In fact, they were often used interchangeably. To a degree, the two were synonymous. The leadership structure was a collective one, not a hierarchical system built around a single individual.

This is where the idea of a "position" falls short. The New Testament emphasizes the gift of pastoring, not a job title. As Romans 12:3-13 powerfully illustrates, the church is a body with many members, each with unique gifts and functions. "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

This passage, along with 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 12:25-27, and Philippians 2:3-16, underscores the importance of unity, humility, and mutual service within the church. The focus is on the body working together, each member contributing their gifts for the common good, rather than a single
individual bearing the weight of leadership.

Equipping the Saints: The True Role of Elders

The role of pastors (elders) wasn't to perform all the ministry themselves, but to equip the body of Christ to do the work. As we see in Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus commissioned his disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations." This wasn't a task for a select few, but for the entire church.

1 Peter 5:1-5 further clarifies the elder's responsibility: "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." Elders are called to shepherd, to care for the flock, and to model Christ-like leadership.

The Discipleship Deficit

This brings us to a crucial point: the need to post pastoral positions often reveals a lack of robust discipleship within the church. If a church is truly committed to making disciples, as Jesus commanded, wouldn't those disciples naturally rise up to fill leadership roles?

A healthy, biblically sound church should be a breeding ground for leaders, not a place where vacancies need to be advertised. By focusing on equipping the saints and fostering a culture of discipleship, churches can move away from the "position" mentality and embrace the New Testament model of elder-led, community-driven ministry.

Moving Forward: Embracing Biblical Leadership

It's time for the church to re-evaluate its understanding of leadership. Instead of seeking to fill positions, we should be focused on cultivating gifts, empowering the body, and equipping the saints for the work of ministry.

Let's move away from the idea of a "pastoral position" and embrace the biblical model of elders – shepherds who lead by example, equip the body, and foster a culture of discipleship. By doing so, we can create churches that reflect the unity, humility, and service that characterized the early church, and truly embody the body of Christ.

Check out The Exchange Ministries website for more: www.theexchangemin.com


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Grammys, Community, and the Church: A Reflection on Family

The Grammys, Community, and the Church:  A Reflection on Family My wife and I found ourselves watching the Grammy Awards red carpet arrivals tonight. It's not usually my cup of tea, but there it was, playing in the background. As I half-watched, half-listened, something struck me. The language being used by the artists, nominees, and winners was overwhelmingly communal. There was a real sense of shared passion and understanding that music is more than just an industry; it's a community. The emphasis on the MusicCares Fire Relief, supporting Los Angeles communities affected by the fires, further reinforced this. One interviewer even called the event a "family reunion," a time for the music community to come together, encourage each other, and celebrate their shared love of music. It was, in a way, a beautiful thing to witness. And it got me thinking. Why don't we see this same level of unity and community within the church? Of all groups, the church should ...
Read more

The Sleeping Giant: Is It Time to Wake Up?

  The Sleeping Giant: Is It Time to Wake Up? The Sleeping Giant is more than just a catchy phrase; it's a powerful idea, and it's about  you .  It's about the potential within each of us, and within the Church as a whole, to rise up from a state of apathy and embrace a life of purpose and power. The Sleeping Giant is... the Church! But not in the way you might be thinking. It's not about buildings or rituals. Those things can actually contribute to the "sleep." When we talk about the Church, we're talking about Ecclēsia – the people called out from the world and to God. It's the community of believers, the body of Christ. And right now, too much of that body is slumbering. The truth is, many Christians agree that the Church needs to wake up, but they're unsure of how, or worse, unwilling to do what it takes. I've seen two major roadblocks hindering this awakening: religion and cost. Religion: We've inherited a certain idea of what ...
Read more

Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical?

Image
 Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical? We've all been there. The flutter of excitement when an invitation arrives, the subtle sting of exclusion when it doesn't. From childhood birthday parties to adult gatherings, the desire for inclusion runs deep. We're taught that inviting others is a good thing, a way to build community and share experiences. But is this always true, especially within the context of the church? Today, I want to gently challenge the conventional wisdom of "invite everyone to church." It's a practice so ingrained that we rarely stop to question its effectiveness or its underlying motivations. Let's take a closer look at the different groups we typically extend these invitations to: Believers Not Part of a Church Body: Why aren't they involved in a church? Do we really know, or do we even care beyond the surface-level invitation? A casual "You should come to our church sometime!" often overlooks the complex and pers...
Read more