Leadership
Jason and Ali Shiels
Leadership in the local church
Leadership and teams of leaders were at the core of the emergence of the early church. As new local churches began, leaders emerged, were recognised and set in place. In that time a prototyping occurred with only two obvious leadership offices named for the task of leadership in the local church: elders and deacons.
Local churches were autonomous and elders (in plurality) were appointed to direct the affairs of each church i.e. to "lead" and "oversee" as well as to "pastor" the believers under their oversight. Biblically local churches were eldership
led. Deacons were released to meet broader ministry and serving needs within the church and community. They were people of character, capacity and impact.
It is our understanding that denominationalism was only a later development in church history and was not the intended model. Five-fold ministry giftings: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers worked in local churches to "equip the saints for works of service" (Ephesians 4v11-12). God knows that leadership is one of the most vital keys to the health, stability, assertiveness, growth and effectiveness of local churches.
An important principle . . .
People have had varying experiences of church leadership, some positive and some negative. While God is perfect in every way, man makes mistakes. No church and no leader is perfect, nor should they pretend to be so! This should never be a disclaimer for sloppiness either! Even with imperfect leaders the need for leadership in the church remains.
At SCC we are however also aware that many people in our nation have suffered abuse at the hands of "clerics" and people in positions of authority. Such abuse of authority and suffering imposed on victims is utterly intolerable.
While abuses of authority are abhorrent and can damage people they only underline the need for Godly and effective leadership within churches. Neither an absence of leadership nor an abdication of leadership is the answer!
