The Plurality Principle (eBook)

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A Plurality Primer

It happened again. Another phone call, another crisis, another pastor walking alone. My heart aches for this guy. Leadership has always been a lonely experience for him, dependent solely upon his highly polished gifts. I hope he sees the different path of leadership we discussed—a road less traveled but in keeping with God’s design for flourishing churches.

Human beings are created for community (Rom. 12:4–5; Heb. 10:24–25). We’re made in the image of God just as our God dwells in the delights of eternal community (Matt. 28:19; John 1:1–18). Yes, as God exists in community, we are made to exist in community. We are relational creatures who derive our existence, salvation, identity, and hope from a relational Creator (Gen. 1:26–27; 5:1–2; 9:6; James 3:9). This remarkable experience of community shapes what it means to be truly human. The theme of connectivity flows across Scripture and—to the particular point of this book—informs church leadership. Leaders are called to community, connection, and collaboration.

I would love to tell you that I came to these convictions by seminary study, by analyzing healthy church models, and through examining what’s been most effective in the history of the church. Actually, my convictions began from a spiritual slap more than from anything that might earn me a pat on the back. This defining moment was a sort of holy headlock where the Spirit graciously grabbed me in my sin and pointed me in a different direction. Let me tell you about it.

Years ago, Kimm and I joined a church plant in the Philadelphia area. From the beginning, the church grew rapidly. Within eighteen months, I was invited onto the pastoral staff to help with evangelism, singles ministry, administration, and—well, you know—anything else that needed to be done. A few years later, some issues surfaced in the life of the lead pastor that raised some questions about whether or not that was a good role for him. Through a long and difficult process, it became clear that he wasn’t the guy to lead the church.

These events raised the obvious question “Who should be the church’s next leader?”

At that time, there was another man on staff who had helped to start the church. He was a lovable, pastoral, fatherly guy who had been one of the church planters. Since day one of the church plant, his house became the center of care and community. This guy was a respected voice, and he possessed the love and trust of the people.

As I look back, it seems like a no-brainer that he should have been the guy to lead—at least until the church was stabilized enough to think more clearly about the future. After all, he was thirteen years older than me and far more experienced in ministry. Yet, instead of humbly advocating for him, I made too much of a certain weaknesses in him and resisted his appointment. Looking back, I had what the world might call remarkably high self-esteem. In Bible speak, that’s a prideful and exaggerated self-assessment. I secretly believed that I was more suited for the role. In fact, I was stupefied that my qualifications weren’t obvious to others! Pretty ugly, huh? It is to me. Even as I type these words more than three decades later, I’m still pierced by a stab of shame.

You see, the leadership vacancy gave opportunity for my jealousy and selfish ambition. The reality of my blindness was pretty serious, but my pride made me think my sight was sharper and more discerning than it was. As a result, I competed daily in the verbal trifecta of fools—speak often, listen little, never doubt. Maybe reading about me has you instantly nodding, because you have lived through a situation like this yourself. Perhaps you had a one-man show like Dave in your church. Or maybe you were Dave.

The good news is that God met me in a powerful way. But before I tell you about the experience, I want to tell you about how it drove me toward the Bible and the lesson it planted deep in my soul.

The Biblical Case for Elder Plurality

The Bible rarely talks about stand-alone leaders. Instead, it speaks of plurality.When I use the term plurality, I’m referencing the scriptural evidence that New Testament churches were led by more than one leader. They were, in fact, led by leadership teams. J. L. Reynolds describes it this way: “The apostolic churches seem, in general, to have had a plurality of elders as well as deacons.”1 Alexander Strauch agrees when he writes, “On the local church level, the New Testament plainly witnesses to a consistent pattern of shared pastoral leadership.”2

In the New Testament, the term elder is used to designate an office to which a man is appointed—whether by the other elders or by the congregation—on the basis of particular gifts and character qualities he possesses (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). Various terms are used to describe the role of pastor or elder in the Bible,3 and there are a variety of ways that pastoral teams organize in churches. But one key conviction grounds this book: The New Testament terms for pastor, overseer, or elder are never used to talk about a single leader ruling or governing the church alone. Instead, they are used to reference plural leadership. Here are some examples:4

• Elders (plural) are appointed to every church (Acts 14:23).
• The elders (plural) and apostles work together to resolve a major dispute (Acts 15:6).
• Overseers (plural) shepherd the flock in Ephesus (Acts 20:28).
• Paul writes to the overseers (plural) in Philippi (Phil. 1:1).
• A council of elders (plural) laid their hands upon Timothy (1 Tim. 4:14).
• Elders (plural) direct the affairs of the church (1 Tim. 5:17).
• Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders (plural, Titus 1:5).
• Peter instructs the elders (plural) as a fellow elder (1 Pet. 5:1–2).
• Peter tells younger men to submit to their elders (plural, 1 Pet. 5:5).

Passages like these bear strong testimony toward collaborative leadership within the New Testament church.5

Now, just to be clear: advocating the view that God assigns responsibility to a group of leaders is hardly a pioneering approach to church polity. Our Reformed forebears practiced this form of church government years ago.6 Louis Berkhof suggested that it is precisely the practice of coequality among elders that distinguishes Reformed polity from that of other groups:

Reformed churches differ, on the one hand, from all those churches in which the government is in the hands of a single prelate or presiding elder, and on the other hand, from those in which it rests with the people in general. They do not believe in any one-man rule, be he an elder, a pastor, or a bishop; neither do they believe in popular government. They choose ruling elders as their representatives, and these, together with the minister(s), form a council or consistory for the government of the local church.7

I believe Christ gave the church a plurality of leadership. We receive this plurality as a gift—if we can only accept it.

My Plurality Turning Point

When I felt called to ministry, I had no idea that being a pastor would become an essential means for exposing my sinful heart. Looking back on that early ministry experience that I described above, I can now see that I was undergoing a kind of open-heart surgery. I think what was happening in my heart is well described in James 3:16: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” Just think about it. I had an opportunity to partner with and serve alongside a guy more experienced than me—a guy who was trusted throughout the church and endowed with pastoral gifts. That was a slam dunk if there ever was one. But to my shame, I questioned his leadership and the wisdom of his appointment. My pride confused and corrupted me in an exceptional way. Anarchy reigned within me.

Little did I know these events were unfolding in a way that would profoundly shape my vision of ministry. My first experience of plurality—leading with another guy through a difficult situation—reached in and squeezed my disordered heart. Much to my dismay, what was inside my heart came spilling out. But that was the point. God had a plan.

If you’re new to working with a team, you’ll soon see how often plurality uncovers and forces you to deal with the heroic dreams and fleshly desires you have for ministry. When you think about it, this makes sense. To serve as part of a healthy elder plurality, a pastor must know his role, be willing to come under authority, learn humility, traffic in nuances that are neither black nor white, and be willing to think about his gifts and position through the lens of what serves the church rather than his personal agenda. Leading in community puts us under a holy spotlight. We have to learn to lead under some, alongside others, and over still others.

But it’s all part of God’s plan and protection. In...