Models of Church Leadership and Administration
Congregational Model
In an effort to have everyone involved, the entire congregation votes on all important matters and usually elects a board (sometimes comprised of males and females) to oversee church ministries. This type of leadership typically has a senior pastor who teaches regularly yet may or may not have responsibility for specific areas of ministry or staff. The “final word” in a congregational church is the membership. The congregation can replace any board member through the voting process during church conferences. The elected board usually has the power to fire the senior pastor if he doesn’t live up to church expectations.
The strength of a congregational form of leadership is found in its effort to have every person in a church family join together in ministry, with an emphasis on each adult Christian being a voting church member. However, that is also its weakness. The possibility of immature believers “voting” on vital aspects of church life and ministry can lead to “personal voting preferences” instead of biblically based decisions. A detriment of a congregational form of church government is that board members are often elected on the basis of popularity or business acumen. This structure can foster selfish, political maneuvering since the person or group with the most votes “wins,” potentially fostering divisiveness and factions within the church.
Presbyterian Model
The Presbyterian form of church leadership has a “presbytery” (leadership board) in charge of church matters. The local presbytery is comprised of male (and sometimes female) members of the church family who, like the congregational pattern, are usually elected to office. Generally, the members of the presbytery are selected based on their leadership qualities and perceived ministry effectiveness.
In the congregational model all members have an equal vote, and decisions requiring a vote involve the entire congregation. In the Presbyterian model, however, members give up some of their autonomy to the presbytery, a group that is granted authority to make decisions for the church family. In most instances, the local presbytery is under the jurisdiction of a denominational presbytery (an ecclesiastical board) which has the final word, even in local church matters. A senior pastor in this leadership structure is assigned ministry responsibilities by the local and/or denominational presbytery. He can be removed by the local presbytery, but he can appeal to the higher presbytery in an effort to overturn local decisions that affect him or the church family.
An element of scriptural truth in a presbyterian form of leadership is found in its recognition that there are to be leaders in the church who exercise spiritual oversight (for example, Hebrews 13:17, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. NASB).
Like the congregational model, a member of the presbytery may be one who is highly visible, popular or financially successful, yet not necessarily spiritually mature. There is often an emphasis on “what the presbytery decides” instead of what Scripture says, and majority voting still rules the day. As a result, political maneuvering can still direct church matters, since the group on the presbytery with the most votes prevails. In addition, the final word on a local church matter may not be decided by those in the local church but, instead, by a higher presbytery.
Elder Board Model
This leadership model uses the spiritual qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 to determine the men (not women) who are to lead. Elders are usually appointed by other elders and publicly ordained. Sometimes, however, a few elders are elected by the members of a church family from a larger group of qualified men.
In many elder-ruled churches, decisions are made by a majority vote among the elders. An elder led church may or may not have a senior pastor. Since every scripturally qualified elder can teach, the elders are responsible for biblical teaching in the church and may appoint one or more of their group to teach the whole church when it gathers. In some churches, each elder is responsible to provide spiritual oversight over a specific number of people in the church family. Scripture supports the emphasis of biblically qualified men leading a church family. However, if decisions are determined by a majority vote, there is the possibility for the most persuasive or politically adept elder to “rule.” When voting is the method to make decisions, elders may concentrate more on getting “one vote more than 50%” instead of seeking God’s will on a matter. Also, if worldliness or unbiblical teaching is overlooked or condoned by the group of elders, then the church family can be weakened and led astray.
Senior Pastor Model
This leadership model has many variations, but all focus on the one person recognized as the “leader of the church.” The senior pastor concept is sometimes modeled after a “benevolent ruler” approach, although not usually described in this manner. In other words, a senior pastor decides what is beneficial for the church family, although a senior pastor sometimes has a board of advisors. Very few church family members, if any, can override decisions made by the senior pastor.
A senior pastor is typically a gifted teacher or administrator and, more often than not, comes from outside a local church family. A senior pastor often sets the vision for the church, determines all major decisions including significant financial matters, and is acknowledged as the church leader both in the church and in the community. Usually, a senior pastor is voted in by the membership after a selection process that is conducted by a committee set up for that purpose. Sometimes, the senior pastor is the founding pastor of the church and is seen as the sole leader from its inception.
Some denominations have a two-tiered senior pastor system that incorporates the concept of an area “bishop.” The bishop is the acknowledged head of many churches with a number of church families and senior pastors under the bishop’s authority.
A strength of the senior pastor model is that it typically requires that the pastor be committed to scriptural truth and be able to teach it clearly. A regrettable result of this model may occur, however, when individuals in the church family place their trust more in the pastor than in Christ and God’s Word. Furthermore, if a senior pastor wavers in biblical focus or personal integrity, the power to harm an entire church’s ministry is immense.
House Church Model
This leadership model features a group of believers who meet regularly in a home but often have no recognized leader. Everyone is deemed to be on equal ground before the Lord and one another. All decisions affecting the house church are decided upon by members of the house church. With regard to decision-making, this structure is somewhat like the congregational approach.
Some house churches, however, do have recognized leaders who often are gifted teachers or administrators. These leaders are seen to be “first among equals” but do not impose personal authority over group decisions or ministries. This leadership structure can have similar weaknesses already described in the congregational model in that immature believers (with strong personalities or significant resources) can sometimes impose their will on the group.
The element of scriptural truth most pronounced in this structure is the “one another” ministry that touches almost every aspect of daily life. Relationships are paramount in a house church, and gifted believers have many opportunities to serve as needs arise.
Professional Clergy Model
Some churches hire their leadership with the expectation that the clergy they employ will do the bulk of the ministry.
The professional clergy may preach on Sundays but he (or she) is also expected to chair major church committees, do all hospital visitations, handle all the counseling, and visit all the members in their homes at least once per year. This leadership model recognizes the need for ministry to be organized and accomplished but tends to overlook the biblical model of all Christians sharing in the work of the ministry.*
Congregational Model
In an effort to have everyone involved, the entire congregation votes on all important matters and usually elects a board (sometimes comprised of males and females) to oversee church ministries. This type of leadership typically has a senior pastor who teaches regularly yet may or may not have responsibility for specific areas of ministry or staff. The “final word” in a congregational church is the membership. The congregation can replace any board member through the voting process during church conferences. The elected board usually has the power to fire the senior pastor if he doesn’t live up to church expectations.
The strength of a congregational form of leadership is found in its effort to have every person in a church family join together in ministry, with an emphasis on each adult Christian being a voting church member. However, that is also its weakness. The possibility of immature believers “voting” on vital aspects of church life and ministry can lead to “personal voting preferences” instead of biblically based decisions. A detriment of a congregational form of church government is that board members are often elected on the basis of popularity or business acumen. This structure can foster selfish, political maneuvering since the person or group with the most votes “wins,” potentially fostering divisiveness and factions within the church.
Presbyterian Model
The Presbyterian form of church leadership has a “presbytery” (leadership board) in charge of church matters. The local presbytery is comprised of male (and sometimes female) members of the church family who, like the congregational pattern, are usually elected to office. Generally, the members of the presbytery are selected based on their leadership qualities and perceived ministry effectiveness.
In the congregational model all members have an equal vote, and decisions requiring a vote involve the entire congregation. In the Presbyterian model, however, members give up some of their autonomy to the presbytery, a group that is granted authority to make decisions for the church family. In most instances, the local presbytery is under the jurisdiction of a denominational presbytery (an ecclesiastical board) which has the final word, even in local church matters. A senior pastor in this leadership structure is assigned ministry responsibilities by the local and/or denominational presbytery. He can be removed by the local presbytery, but he can appeal to the higher presbytery in an effort to overturn local decisions that affect him or the church family.
An element of scriptural truth in a presbyterian form of leadership is found in its recognition that there are to be leaders in the church who exercise spiritual oversight (for example, Hebrews 13:17, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. NASB).
Like the congregational model, a member of the presbytery may be one who is highly visible, popular or financially successful, yet not necessarily spiritually mature. There is often an emphasis on “what the presbytery decides” instead of what Scripture says, and majority voting still rules the day. As a result, political maneuvering can still direct church matters, since the group on the presbytery with the most votes prevails. In addition, the final word on a local church matter may not be decided by those in the local church but, instead, by a higher presbytery.
Elder Board Model
This leadership model uses the spiritual qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 to determine the men (not women) who are to lead. Elders are usually appointed by other elders and publicly ordained. Sometimes, however, a few elders are elected by the members of a church family from a larger group of qualified men.
In many elder-ruled churches, decisions are made by a majority vote among the elders. An elder led church may or may not have a senior pastor. Since every scripturally qualified elder can teach, the elders are responsible for biblical teaching in the church and may appoint one or more of their group to teach the whole church when it gathers. In some churches, each elder is responsible to provide spiritual oversight over a specific number of people in the church family. Scripture supports the emphasis of biblically qualified men leading a church family. However, if decisions are determined by a majority vote, there is the possibility for the most persuasive or politically adept elder to “rule.” When voting is the method to make decisions, elders may concentrate more on getting “one vote more than 50%” instead of seeking God’s will on a matter. Also, if worldliness or unbiblical teaching is overlooked or condoned by the group of elders, then the church family can be weakened and led astray.
Senior Pastor Model
This leadership model has many variations, but all focus on the one person recognized as the “leader of the church.” The senior pastor concept is sometimes modeled after a “benevolent ruler” approach, although not usually described in this manner. In other words, a senior pastor decides what is beneficial for the church family, although a senior pastor sometimes has a board of advisors. Very few church family members, if any, can override decisions made by the senior pastor.
A senior pastor is typically a gifted teacher or administrator and, more often than not, comes from outside a local church family. A senior pastor often sets the vision for the church, determines all major decisions including significant financial matters, and is acknowledged as the church leader both in the church and in the community. Usually, a senior pastor is voted in by the membership after a selection process that is conducted by a committee set up for that purpose. Sometimes, the senior pastor is the founding pastor of the church and is seen as the sole leader from its inception.
Some denominations have a two-tiered senior pastor system that incorporates the concept of an area “bishop.” The bishop is the acknowledged head of many churches with a number of church families and senior pastors under the bishop’s authority.
A strength of the senior pastor model is that it typically requires that the pastor be committed to scriptural truth and be able to teach it clearly. A regrettable result of this model may occur, however, when individuals in the church family place their trust more in the pastor than in Christ and God’s Word. Furthermore, if a senior pastor wavers in biblical focus or personal integrity, the power to harm an entire church’s ministry is immense.
House Church Model
This leadership model features a group of believers who meet regularly in a home but often have no recognized leader. Everyone is deemed to be on equal ground before the Lord and one another. All decisions affecting the house church are decided upon by members of the house church. With regard to decision-making, this structure is somewhat like the congregational approach.
Some house churches, however, do have recognized leaders who often are gifted teachers or administrators. These leaders are seen to be “first among equals” but do not impose personal authority over group decisions or ministries. This leadership structure can have similar weaknesses already described in the congregational model in that immature believers (with strong personalities or significant resources) can sometimes impose their will on the group.
The element of scriptural truth most pronounced in this structure is the “one another” ministry that touches almost every aspect of daily life. Relationships are paramount in a house church, and gifted believers have many opportunities to serve as needs arise.
Professional Clergy Model
Some churches hire their leadership with the expectation that the clergy they employ will do the bulk of the ministry.
The professional clergy may preach on Sundays but he (or she) is also expected to chair major church committees, do all hospital visitations, handle all the counseling, and visit all the members in their homes at least once per year. This leadership model recognizes the need for ministry to be organized and accomplished but tends to overlook the biblical model of all Christians sharing in the work of the ministry.*
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*Overview of Common Forms of Church Government © 2013 WordTruth, Inc - www.wordtruth.net |