The Christian leader- about the headship of Christ and human leadership in the church

CrieffJanuary 2013

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Some questions:Has God given power to – and does he speak to – certain people

in the church?What do we answer when someone on the church board says:

”God has told me that we should do it this way.”How much power and authority should the pastor have?Should elders lead and the members follow?If Jesus is the Lord and the Head of the Church, how do we know

His will?What is the task of the leader in the church?To whom should the church give its trust – and why?How can we know that what the business meeting desides, is in

harmony with the will of God?Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church need more democracy or

hierarchy?

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ClaimsLeadership exists, operates and is executed as an integral

part of – and in the context of – the whole organism of the body of Christ.

Emphasis is not on the leader as an individual, but on the leader as a part of the community.

Christ is the head of the Church and he leads His people as a community.

The Church should recognize Christ’s leadership through the community as a whole.

Leaders serve to recognize, see, make visible and put focus where Christ is already leading.

Christian leadership helps people take part in the activities - and mission - of God in the world.

Christ – the true leader of the church

Jesus own statements:He would be present by His Spirit among His

followers “till the end of time” (Matt. 28:18-20).

He confirmed that He would “build [His] church” (Matt. 16:18),

that he would not leave his followers as “orphans” (John 14:18),

that the Spirit would guide Christ’s followers into truth and in witnessing. Matt 18:20; John 14:26-27; Acts 1:8.

The early Church saw Jesus’ leadership as real

The head of the body. 2 Cor. 12, Eph. 1:22-23; 4,15-16 Col. 2:19; 1 Cor. 12:27; Rom. 12

The cornerstone of the temple/ spiritual building.1 Cor. 3:10-16-17; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-8

Story of Acts.

The whole church is the body of ChristBiblical thought focus on groups. We are part of a whole

– not individualists.God has given the spiritual gifts to the church as a whole

– not primarely to individuals. (1 Cor 12,7)The Church as a whole is the body of Christ – not

primarily individuals. (1 Cor. 3,16 in its context.) God’s Spirit works in the church as a whole – not

primarily in the individual.The Church has a mission first of all – not the individual.Ministries and leaders grows in the community It is the church that is the carrier of truth – not primarily

certain individuals. (1 Tim. 3,15)6

The individual in the communityAll members are servants/ ministers/ priests and

carry one vote. 1 Pet. 2:9-10

The individual submits to the group.Paul submitted to the leaders in Jerusalem.

(Gal 2,2)When Paul went on his first mission trip it was both the

church and the Holy Spirit that elected him. (Acts 13:1-3)

The group is more significant than the individual. Church Manual   p. 1, 27, 28.

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God’s leadership in IsraelThe government of Israel was characterized by the most thorough organization, wonderful alike for its completeness and its simplicity. The order so strikingly displayed in the perfection and arrangement of all God's created works was manifest in the Hebrew economy. God was the centre of authority and government, the sovereign of Israel. Moses stood as their visible leader, by God's appointment, to administer the laws in His name. From the elders of the tribes a council of seventy was afterward chosen to assist Moses in the general affairs of the nation. Next came the priests, who consulted the Lord in the sanctuary. Chiefs, or princes, ruled over the tribes. Under these were "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens," and, lastly, officers who might be employed for special duties. 5 Mos 1:15. 2 Mos 18:21 {PP 374.2}

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I have often been instructed by the Lord that no man's judgment should be surrendered to the judgment of any other one man. Never should the mind of one man or the minds of a few men be regarded as sufficient in wisdom and power to control the work and to say what plans shall be followed. But when, in a General Conference, the judgment of the brethren assembled from all parts of the field is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be stubbornly maintained, but surrendered. Never should a labourer regard as a virtue the persistent maintenance of his position of independence, contrary to the decision of the general body. {9T 260.1}

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At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general management of the work have, in the name of the General Conference, sought to carry out unwise plans and to restrict God's work, I have said that I could no longer regard the voice of the General Conference, represented by these few men, as the voice of God. But this is not saying that the decisions of a General Conference composed of an assembly of duly appointed, representative men from all parts of the field should not be respected. God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in danger of committing is in giving to the mind and judgment of one man, or of a small group of men, the full measure of authority and influence that God has vested in His church in the judgment and voice of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work. {9T 260.2}

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The leaders’ place and functionImportant biblical texts about leaders:

Eph. 4,11-131 Cor 12,281 Thess. 5,12-13Hebr. 13,171 Pet. 5,1-3

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Leaders are part of the body of Christ

Spiritual gift given to the church. (1 Cor. 12:7)

The election and appointment of leaders.It is God who elects leaders.

The task of the church is to recognize what God is doing.

It is the gifts from God that equips for service. It is not theological education, faithfulness to

the church organisation or formal positions (although significant) that makes a person into a leader in the church.  

The character of the leader is is the most important:1 Tim 3,1-7Tit. 1,5-9

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New Testament terms for leadership:Presbyteros - elder. Points to a spiritually mature person (not

necessarly older).Episkopos – elder. Means ”one who looks after”. Poimaino – shepherd. Means ”know, lead to pastures, watch

over, guide.”

Presbyteros + episkopos. Synonyms in NT Always in pluralNot always an elderly person

Elders share authority with the apostles. (Ap.g.15,23)

NT ”speaks” about functions – not the status of office.

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Leader-teamEph. 4,11-13ApostleProphetEvangelistShepherdTeacher

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Leader teamLeadership in the New Testament is a

group:Phil 1:1 - Leaders in pluralActs 20,17 +28 - The elders in EphesosTitus 1,5 - Elders in every cityA leadership team is stronger than one

individual because they have a wider spread of gifts and talents and experience.

Misuse of authority and power is less likely to happen in a group.

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Eph. 4:11-13“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

This text indicates:• Team leadership – more

than one person• Focus on function more

than person• Ministry of leadership

belongs to the church body

It is not the leader that is important, but Christ and His Church

Teams of leaders“Those who are inclined to regard their individual judgment as supreme are in grave peril. It is Satan's studied effort to separate such ones from those who are as channels of light, through whom God has communicated his will, and through whom he has wrought in building up and extending his work in the earth. To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to bear the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the advancement and spread of the truth, is to reject the means that he has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of his people. For any worker in the Lord's cause to pass these by, and to think that his light must come through no other channel than directly from God, is to place himself in a position where he is liable to be deceived by the enemy, and overthrown. The Lord in his wisdom has arranged that by means of the close relationship that should be maintained by all believers in Christian fellowship, Christian shall be united to Christian, and church to church. Thus the human instrumentality will be enabled to co-operate with the divine [italics mine]. Every agency will be subordinate to the Holy Spirit, and all the believers will be united in an organized and well-directed effort to give to the world the glad tidings of the grace of God.

Ellen G. White, “Separated unto the Gospel” Article in Review and Herald, May 11, 1911.

Teams – leadership in pluralLocal leadership is described as teams: Fil. 1:1;

Acts 20,17+28. The following terms are used about leaders in the

New Testament: Presbyteros, episkopos and more rarely: poimaino.

Presbuteros and episkopos occur 174 times in the New Testament, are used as synonyms

and - significantly – always in the plural. Michael Harper, Let My People Grow, Ministry and

Leadership in the Church, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1979. P. 174-176

Leadership within the dynamics of the Church body.Does Christ lead leaders or does He lead his body –

the Church?New initiatives and understandings will come

forward through the body of the Church.It is one of the significant tasks of leadership to look

for what God is doing. Secondly the leader will have to get in line with what

God is doing.Thirdly, the leader wants to use his/her influence to

make others join what God is doing. (Like in Acts.)

A ”listening” leadershipIn contrast to

”Apostolic” leadership”Technocratic” leadership

The Christian leader does not need to feel alone in finding the strategy and vision for the future.

Christ has promised to build His church. The way forward will be revealed in the

community. Leaders often have a significant part in that process, but can rest in the assurance of the Spirit’s work in the fellowship of the Church.

Leaders’ authority

”Healthy leaders has a spirit of servant-hood and is willing to have himself and his ideas tested bby the whole church body.”

Roine Swensson, Searching for the renewal of the church.

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The authority of the human leader

“Spiritual authority is not a goal but rather a byproduct. It is a delegated authority that comes from God. It is the major power base of a leader who has learned God’s lessons during maturity processing. Leaders have various power bases that give credence to their ability. Spiritual authority comes out of experience with God. A leader does not seek spiritual authority; a leader seeks to know God. . . . Spiritual authority results from a leader’s experience with God.

J. Robert Clinton, The Making of a Leader, Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress, 1988, p.167.

”Apostolic leadership”

What is right/ wrong about this statement?

God has given one person the gift to be a leader or apostle. Therefor this person is carrying God’s calling, annointment and authority. It follows that this person has the right to take the important strategic decisions for the church, make judgements in the interpretation of the Bible and choose the leaders who are second in command.

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Theocracy and democracy Democracy under the leadership of God Teocracy Theos – God + kratein – power Democracy Demos – people + kratein – power

Can theocracy and democracy be combined?  Church demokracy means that God rules through the fellowship of believers,

where every member has equal importance and have a significant influence.  The decision processes of the church is a combination of theocracy and

demokracy. . . . . God has imparted authority to each member in Christ to take part in the decisions and the responsibility which has to do with the church’s life and work. (Prerequisites are spirtuality and humility.) In light of this, the church must be a democratic community where important decisions are made in concensus – based on theological reasoning.

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Biblical example of how the Spirit, the leadership and the church cooperate.

Acts. 15,4-6, 22,27-28aThe question about the gentile Christians and

the law of Moses. The leadership takes on the responsibility.The churches join in the conversation.The Holy Spirit brings conviction through

that wich is happening.

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The role of Church leadership in this case (Acts 10-11) was to recognize what God was doing and then follow and implement that change. Ellen G. White comments in this significant event in Acts of the

Apostles, pp. 141-142: “When the brethren in Judea heard that Peter had gone to the house of a Gentile and preached to those assembled, they were surprised and offended. They feared that such a course, which looked to them presumptuous, would have the effect of counteracting his own teaching [italics mine]. When they next saw Peter they met him with severe censure, saying, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." . . . “Peter laid the whole matter before them. . . . On hearing this account, the brethren were silenced. Convinced that Peter's course was in direct fulfillment of the plan of God, and that their prejudices and exclusiveness were utterly contrary to the spirit of the gospel, they glorified God, saying, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." Thus, without controversy, prejudice was broken down, the exclusiveness established by the custom of ages was abandoned, and the way was opened for the gospel to be proclaimed to the Gentiles [italics mine].”

If Christ is the true head of the Church, leadership in the Church will be about understanding Christ and what He is doing. It will be about recognizing where Christ is working in people’s lives and in communities, and then lead others to join that which Christ is doing.

“So our first responsibility is to position ourselves to welcome and cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit.”

Robert Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro, Culture Shift, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2005, p. 69.

ConclusionsLeadereship is a ministry in and service to the church. This function is described in the Bible as a spiritual gift. This gift is given to the community – not to the individual. Leadership exists and is executed as an integrated part of - and in the context of – the whole body: The body of Christ. The emphasis is not on the leader as an individual, but the function he/ she has I the community. Christ is the true leader of the church and He leads His people as a group. The Church should look for Christ’s leadership in the community. The task of the leader is to a large extent to recognize, see, make visible and put the focus where Christ is already leading. Christian leadership helps others to take part in the activities and the mission God is doing in the world.

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