Ministers and Elders are not Servants!!! Stephen Jordan
We live in a wondrous age. An age of knowledge and technology. The entire catalog of the knowledge of mankind is, quite literally, at our fingertips. However, what man knows and what is truth are vastly different. One of the areas of knowledgethat man takes great pride in is leadership theory. These various theories have been given names; Great Man Theory of Leadership/Charismatic leadership theory, Transformational Leadership Theory, Autocratic leadership theory, Contingency leadership Theory, Situational Leadership Theory, Transactional Leadership Theory, Behavioral Theory, Democratic Leadership theory, Adaptive Leadership theory, and Trait Theory of Leadership has been laid out in various formats. Some are easier to grasp. Great man/charismatic leaders with examples of Lincoln, Gandhi, Hitler, Alexander the Great, and Reagan stands out. Transactional leadership is manifested by business leaders all the time. We have a great example in the person of Donald Trump. Democratic leadership is done by attempting to gather 51% support. Adaptive leaders attempt to adapt to their situation. But what leadership theory should the minister and elder follow?
Servant Leadership
For the last 50 years, the leadership theory that has been held up to lead the church of Christ Jesus has been servant leadership. This has caused great damage to the church. Ministers and elders are not servants. (To be fair, this hyperbolic statement is meant to be offensive and cause mighty cognitive dissonance in the reader, so hang in there). The origins and true meaning of servant leadership may shed light and resolve the dissonance you now feel.
The term servant leadership was coined by Robert Greenleaf in 1970. Servant leadership theory was born in response to the authoritative leadership that the children of the 60’s loathed. To be clear, it was the rebellion of the 60’s culture against leadership’s authority that gave birth to servant leadershiptheory. So, with the help of a 22-year-old Hillary Rodham servant leadership was born. (Yes, you read that right). The concept was that leaders were servants of the people first, foremost, last, and ultimately. The church fell in love with this theory. Even now, a search of servant leadership and the church will bring forth a myriad of articles, books, websites, and videos. Even quotes about this type of leadership make it sound like the kind of church we have all dreamed about, “The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible” -Greenleaf. Is this not the summation of the “best churches in America”?
Why Ministers and Elders are not Servants
Paul would say “mē genoito”, “May it never be”. What servant leadership has created is consumer congregations. Modern strategic planning speaks of happy congregants as the goal. Church growth models argue for style over substance. The worship wars have given us questions of congregations liking guitars and drums over organs and pianos while ignoring ignore what pleases or angers the object of our worship. Namely God. The goal of servant leadership is that the leader provides serviceto the people. If he serves well enough, the church will grow numerically and he will have job security. But what happens when a leader tries to exert authority? What happens when a leader attempts to fulfill the calling and to: “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction”? (2 Timothy 4:2). Do servants preach to those they serve? Nope. Do servants correct, rebuke, and exhort those they serve? Not at all. The end of pastoral servant leadership is burnout, conflict in sessions, and elders broken and hurt. After all, we signed up to serve the church. . In fact, if you ask ministers and elders what leadership theories they are most familiar with, they will universally say servant leadership. Servant leadership was touted as progress because it rid the world of autocratic leadership. It rid the church of authority. To borrow from C.S. Lewis, we have seen this progress in an egg, and we call it going bad Ministers and elders, we have inherited that church and their disdain for church leaders showing any hint of authority. To be clear, the authority of the American servant leadership church lies with the congregation. A distrustful and rebellious people crying out that they have rights have muddied the living waters. Congregations demand to be entertained and served by leaders. Any attempt of leaders to deal with grievous sin will be met with the member going across the street to the church that will “serve” them better. Ministers and elders you are not servants of the church, but what are you?
Ministers and Elders are Steward Leaders
The Scriptures teach that the leaders of the church are stewards. We find that concept throughout scripture and explicitly in many places. Titus is one example.
“A steward of God, blameless, above reproach, faithful husband to one wife, temperate, not addicted to much wine, vigilant, sober-minded, prudent, of good behavior, orderly, respectable, hospitable, teachable or able to teach, not pugnacious or quick-tempered, patient, gentle, not covetous, nor the lover of money, leading his house well, having children of respect and faith, not a new convert, of good reputation, not seeking the office for selfish gain, loving what is good, being just, holy, self-controlled, a lover of what is good, and holding firm to the faith as was delivered in God’s Word” (Titus 1:6-9).
“A steward of God”. Stewards were captive war slaves in the Greco-Roman empire. Stewards were slaves of high character that were trained to care for all the master owned. Acts 14:23 points to the answer for leaders desiring to lead the church properly. “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23). Ministers and elders are not servants of the church. Ministers and elders are servants of Christ. It is His interests and His desires that are the goal. It is His glory and His holiness that is to be the object of service. The purpose of leadership is to draw the people toward the service of Christ. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17).
The fruit of servant leadership is apparent and proved costly to the church. The fruit of steward leadership is a people who have the advantage of having their souls watched over by godly men.
The Age of Steward Leadership
Steward leadership theory has begun to be explored in the 21stcentury. Wilson, in 2016, published a book titled; “Steward Leadership in the Nonprofit Organization”. Wilson begins defining steward leadership with personal characteristics as well. Wilson then moves to personal virtues, the absence of vices, the steward’s relationship with the master, the use of resources, management skills and concludes with relationships with subordinates. Rodin wrote, in 2010, “The Steward Leader” and the three foundations of a steward leader: (a) leading in the image of the Triune God, (b) the freedom of the steward leader, and (c) the distinctive of the steward leader. From there, Rodin discusses the four relationships that a steward leader must be cognoscente of to succeed as a steward leader and those are: (a) relationship to God, (b) relationship to oneself, (c) relationship with neighbor, and (d) relationship as a steward of God’s creation. Brinckerhoff, in 2004, published “Nonprofit Stewardship” which also begins with character traits or qualities. For Brinckerhoff, there are eight essential qualities of a steward leader: (a) balance, (b) humility, (c) accountability, (d) integrity, (e) the ability to motivate, (f) thirst for innovation, (g) communication skills, and (h) a quest for lifelong learning.
In 1988, Strauch published his work on the role of the elder. Strauch’s work was a call to restore the leadership of the church by an elevation of the office of the elder. His work had six major aims: (a) Define the Biblical elder, (b) restore the view as an elder to shepherd and pastor, (c) challenge false traditions, (d) revive elders who currently serve, (e) call on new elders to arise, and (f) teach the congregation what obligations they have to their elders. In 2010, Witmer published, The Shepherd Leader. This work covers old ground in that it begins by laying out the biblical and historic foundations of elder leadership within the church. Witmer’s call is for the shepherds or elders of the flock to know, feed, lead, and protect the flock.
The Authority of Ministers and Elders
Ministers and elders hold in trust the Kingdom of God. This is a major argument in Bannerman’s “Church of Christ”. He argues that the elder is the steward of that Kingdom and the people of God. Ministers and elders, you hold a sacred trust for the master.They have been given authority over the sheep. Bannerman clearly states that ministers and elders are stewards of the most precious thing of all to Christ, His bride. In order to care for the bride, they must have authority to direct her steps. This authority was clearly given in Matthew 16 and 18. It was also affirmed in the great commission; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Conclusion
The summation of the matter is that ministers and elders must be stewards of God. Paul’s admonishment to Titus and Timothy is to ordain men who, first and foremost, are men of character who will be good stewards of the church. Stewardship is not a right; it is a responsibility. The culture we live in surrounds us with the demand of rights. It is the American culture's singular focus. God’s call for leaders to adopt responsibility. To deny yourself and to take up your cross (Matthew 22:27-40) involves a conscious understanding of the love that is owed to God and neighbor. It is manifested in the responsibility ministers and elders take for the care of the local congregation.
While the sheep focus on being recipients of God’s blessings, let the leaders of God’s church consider themselves stewards of the mysteries of God’s grace and the givers of glory to Christ Jesus. This is the thrust of steward leadership. Steward leadership places upon the leader the view of being a caretaker of what rightfully belongs to another. We are the Hegai to Christ’s Esther.
Steward leadership is summed up in the parable of the talents as quoted in Matthew 24:14-30. Not only does the owner have a right to demand stewardship of what He entrusts, but he also entrusts differing amounts to different stewards. He will return and demand an accounting. Ministers and elders will be judged by how they cared for the piece of the bride they were given. Ministers and elders who indulged every foolish and fanciful idea that came upon the bride will have to answer the bridegroom on why her wick is not trimmed and she is not ready for the wedding. Ministers and elders who focused on what the bride lacked and trained her for the wedding will receive their reward.
It is not our kingdom, it belongs to the king. It is not our church,it belongs to the one who called it out of the world. It is not our bride, she belongs to the bridegroom. She is His. It does not matter what we wish for it to become, it only matters what He wishes her to be. The only way a first-century steward could do his job was by knowing the master and doing his will. The same is true for the 21st-century minister and elder. Ministers and Elders prepare the bride. Bride of Christ submit to the Lord’s stewards. For "the Lord utters His voice before His army; His camp is indeed very great, For mighty is one who carries out His word. the day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it?" (Joel 2:11).