Some elders have written to the Elder's Digest office asking very pertinent questions: "Why should we support our pastor?" "Couldn't we develop a more independent way of doing our work?" "Aren't there risks involved in the present administrative system of the church in developing a team of politicians that will not respond to the real needs of the congregation?" "Wouldn't it be wiser to have a kind of 'opposition party' to have balance in the church?" "Don't some leaders want to control everything and concentrate too much power in their hands?" "Isn't it true that we are seeing pastors leading people out of a right relationship with our organization?" "As elders, what should be our attitude to protect our flock against these 'wolves' that are coming among us to attack and deceive the sheep?" (Acts 20:29). These are good questions, and they cannot be ignored. Understanding the purpose of our relationship with the local pastor, the administrators at different levels of our organizations, our fellow believers, along with the concept of loyalty, is fundamental in developing a healthy leadership team in the local congregation.
About the relationship of the local elder and the pastor being assigned by the conference we read in the Church Manual, page 47: "In a case where the conference committee assigns an ordained minister to labor as a pastor of a church, he should be considered as the ranking officer, and the local elder as his assistant. Their work is closely related; they should therefore work together harmoniously. The minister should not gather to himself all lines of responsibility, but should share these with the local elder and other officers."
The elder is not elected to become a blind follower of the pastor nor a member of any opposition party in the church. He is elected to use his brain to support the pastor and foster the best resources for the local congregation. Supporting and cooperating with the pastor are essential in developing an appropriate leadership style that will reflect Jesus' ideal for His church.
This editorial will be a little longer than usual because it will present some advantages in developing an attitude of team ministry in dealing with God's business.
Speaking about the mark of good leaders in the church, Ellen G. White states: "God has placed in the church, as His appointed helpers, men of varied talents, that through the combined wisdom of many the mind of the Spirit may be met. Men who move in accordance with their own strong traits of character, refusing to yoke up with others, who have had a long experience in the work of God, will become blinded by selfconfidence, unable to discern between the false and the true. It is not safe for such ones to be chosen as leaders in the church; for they would follow their own judgment and plans, regardless of the judgment of their brethren. It is easy for the enemy to work through those who, themselves needing counsel at every step, undertake the guardianship of souls in their own strength, without having learned the lowliness of Christ" (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 279).
Here are some positive aspects of working together in team ministry as we serve as officers of the local congregation.
1. WORKING TOGETHER MAKES THE LEADERSHIP MORE EFFECTIVE
Today's churches are experiencing a critical shortage of strong leadership that supports ministry. To accomplish anything for God, many leaders feel that they have to be independent leaders of a church. However, God is calling for strong leaders who will blend together to make a team. Those who don't understand their calling to be supportive team members will always be frustrated. The question is not of being superior or inferior in the ministry, but to find God's-ordained function in the body of Christ. Multiplied effectiveness comes when multiple leaders work together as a team.
In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Solomon confirms the principle of team ministry: "Two are better than one...." (v. 9). This passage lists four reasons why team ministry is more effective:
a. Reward because of greater fruitfulness. "... they have a good reward for their labor" (v. 9).
b. Security in times of adversity. "For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up" (v. 10).
c. Comfort in team companionship. "Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?" (v. 11).
d. Protection through commitment. "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (v. 12).
Thus leadership functions more effectively in team ministry by strengthening one another. Elders support the pastor and pastors make room for the work of the elders.
2. WORKING TOGETHER PROVIDES BETTER SAFETY AND BALANCE IN MINISTRY
"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14).
No one person has all the answers or possesses a perfect perspective on every issue. Team ministry provides a check and balance; one-man pastoral leadership does not have this. A leadership team must not be a gathering together of weak "yes" men who give a rubber stamp to the pastor's wishes. Otherwise there is no constructive analysis to point out weak areas, challenge unwise decisions, and provide a steady equilibrium to prevent imbalance. The pastor, on the other hand, gives a check and balance to the elder.
God hates imbalance. It is an abomination to Him. "A false balance is abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 1 l:la). Therefore, the Lord asks the rhetorical question, "Can I condone wrong balances ... ?" (see Micah 6:11). The prophet Micah described the symptoms of a sickness that comes among God's people where imbalance is not corrected.
Imbalance is a contagious disease. It produces harmful effects and destroys the health of the church. The apostle Paul warned, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). According to Kittel's Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vol. 8, pp. 308-309, the Greek word for "sound" means "to be in a state of good health." Balanced teaching and practice bring good spiritual health to an assembly of believers. Imbalance eats away at the spiritual life of the church. So Paul described the imbalance of Hymenaeus and Philetus as a "canker" (in Greek this literally means "gangrene") that made the whole body diseased (2 Tim. 2:17-18). When the previously listed symptoms are found, it reveals imbalance in the local body of believers.
Imbalance in the local church causes negative results:
a. In general, people lose confidence in denominational leadership.
b. People become unstable and try to justify the present state of affairs.
c. They criticize those who have a different perspective or practice toward the church's organization.
d. People feel wounded and soon become disillusioned. Some can be healed and will come back to a healthy relationship to the church. But others will leave the faith and eventually become skeptical of any religious conviction.
e. People get "burned" and are afraid to commit to anything again.
f. People become restless and discontent; this can lead to division.
g. The church eventually loses influence in the community.
h. A narrow-mindedness develops and distorts doctrinal and ethical judgment.
i. This starts the foundation of deception.
Imbalance will eventually affect other areas. It increasingly takes truth out of focus and distorts it. Deception is truth taken out of balance, whether in doctrine or in practice. Thus imbalance automatically moves toward an independent deception.
J. More pressure is put on the pastor or elder.
A ministry of one person bears the pressure alone and shoulders the responsibility for all areas of the church. There is danger that each ministry or department of a local church competes for resources and attention. Department heads often consider their area of labor as the most important ministry in the church. They will follow the leader's model. Pressure is put on the leader to balance these various ministries of the local church. However, teamwork diversifies this pressure and relieves the leader from bearing it all alone.
3. WORKING TOGETHER DEMONSTRATES THE PRINCIPLES OF LOYALTY
A leadership team is a miniature of church body life. Leaders in the body of Christ are called to be examples to the flock, as Peter stated in 1 Peter 5:3. Paul exhorted the churches, to be followers of him (1 Corinthians 4:16), and said,"Ye have us for an example" (Philippians 3:17). If the leadership team cannot unitedly and harmoniously work together, how can they expect the church to do it?
4. WORKING TOGETHER HELPS TO SUCCESSFULLY SHEPHERD THE FLOCK OF GOD
One man is limited in abilities, gifts, and ministries. He is not able to single-handedly meet all the needs of the entire church. In a team ministry, multiple shepherds provide greater strength in times of danger, as the prophet Isaiah stated: "For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him ... so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion" (Isaiah 31:4).
A leader without a team ministry can break under the pressure, be it physical, mental, oral, or spiritual.
5. WORKING TOGETHER HANDLES THE LOAD OF THE END-TIME MISSION OF THE CHURCH
Fragmentation of the body of Christ will not help the church fulfill its mission. As further growth comes, there must be a multiplicity of mature leaders harmoniously working together to handle new situations. Without a broad leadership vision, the church's mission will be cycled in one door and out the other. The sheep's needs will not be adequately met, the world will not receive the message of salvation, and consequently, Jesus will not come to take His people to their heavenly home. So let's stick together as we face the last events and fulfill God's plan for His people.
