Church Leadership

Throughout this week I would like to write a bit about what people should look for in a pastor and in church leaders. Over the years I have watched a few pastors bully and manipulate the churches they were called to serve. I have also watched most pastors I know deeply love and care for the churches they serve. I have watched churches misuse and abuse pastors, and I have seen churches deeply love and care for their pastors. There are lots of reasons for these activities. Some pastors bully because that is what they were taught to do. Other pastors bully out of their own personal insecurities. Then there are pastors who simply ignore some of their congregation while fawning over others. None of this is healthy. Some churches abuse pastors because the Lay leadership bully instead of serve. What does it take to be a healthy leader?

Jesus said,

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mt 20:25-28).

Leadership in God’s economy is not defined by authoritarianism, but servanthood. Servant leaders are followed willingly, not forced or coerced. In Ezra 7 the King of Persia instructed Ezra to go back to Jerusalem and set up worship in the temple. He said anyone could go with Ezra that went willingly. Ezra 8 gives a list of all those who went with Ezra. It is interesting that among that group was found no Levites so Ezra sent some men to Casiphia to request that Levites join them.  It was a small contingent of men that he sent to make the request; eleven men. Over 200 responded to his request. This was not coercion, it was a simple request. Leaders call people to a higher commitment, but they do not coerce or manipulate.

So, back to the original question. What do you look for in a pastor and in church leaders? The first thing you look for is a servant’s heart. You look for leaders who understand that leadership is about calling people to follow you into deeper commitment to God, not manipulate you or coerce you into service. You look for a leader who says, “Come and join me in serving,” not one who says, “Come and serve me.” That difference is sometimes subtle, but it is a significant difference. Do you want to be a leader? Learn the difference. Learn to serve. Are you looking for a pastor or a church to join. Look for a leader who has a servant’s heart.