Until Plurality

There’s a lot of discussion about eldership and leadership in the local missional church. This post is an addition/response/extension to this excellent post of Drew Goodmanson: missional eldership - leading a transformational community. How does one lead a church before a plurality of elders can be established? A brand new church must still be led, but a plurality of elders cannot be established from day one because of the church’s immaturity. So how do we maintain the tri-perspectivalism of the church with a single leader? Here’s my take on it, with regards to each of the perspectives of the church (see Drew’s post for more info on that, I won’t beat the drum again):

• Corporation: How does a single leader act as a CEO within the church, yet still make sure that essential truths and principles are kept within the church culture, including that of plural leadership? The way we will be doing it here at harmony is to have a board of advisers: a group of trusted, local men that the church planter can bounce ideas off of, run decisions by, and generally be coached by and poured into. The group should include pastors, business leaders, and elders from other churches that are familiar with the way a church runs, yet still have wisdom enough to realize what the planted church requires in order to be missional to the target community. Central decision making still lies within the leader of the church, but it is not a one-man show, and the advisors provide accountability and still retain team leadership within the plant’s culture.
• Community: In the same way as a plurality of elders, the single elder should disciple and develop other leaders to lead the community in pastoral care, mission, and the discipling of believers. They do not have to be elders in order to do this. At harmony church, we will rely on our echo group (small group) leaders to do this. Pastoral care, mission, and the discipling of believers will take place primarily in our echo groups, led by leaders developed by the single elder. This way, the vision, mission, and Gospel can remain true, but the burden is removed from a single leader. This, as in a plurality of elders, is akin to Jethro’s advice to Moses. Once a plurality of elders can be established, the system can grow accordingly, because a single leader will inhibit the growth of the community as per natural laws set in motion by God Himself.
• Cause: This will be more difficult to maintain without a plurality of elders. The church planter, by nature, is a visionary, entrepreneurial, teaching leader and won’t have the same abilities/talents/giftings as an ideal deacon/elder of mercy/etc. However, akin to community, the leader should raise up other leaders with those talents that can serve in those respects until a plurality is established, and deacons can be ordained. Until then, nine times out of ten, the church planter must rely on his leadership development abilities to fulfill the cause of the church. Occasionally, the planter will have the ability to lead the cause himself as far as mercy, etc, but I know I can’t :D.

Comments?