Leadership in the Church.

^ESV 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

In three and a half weeks I shall become the pastor of a church. Does this mean that I will become the leader of the church? And just what do we mean by leader?

The Princeton Baptist Church has been without a pastor for only six month or so. Not a very long time. In this time the church has not fallen apart. The deacons continue to lead the church along with the interim pastor. The church continues to worship, to serve the Lord and to serve each other.

After I arrive on the church staff (the only paid staff member as far as I am aware) the present deacons will continue to lead the church. The interim pastor and his wife have now joined the church and will be a regular part of its fellowship during the nice, warm months of the year. He will be active with the leadership and the teaching in the church.

On my part I look forward to working with these men. They are godly. They have various gifts. I see the potential of a wonderful working relationship as we seek to service the Lord together. We are rich, and greatly blessed.

My desire is not to push these men out of leadership or move them to the back burner, out of the sight of the church. Rather, I hope to keep them before the church as the leadership that the church has confidence in, with the hope that, in the Lord, we will lead God's people in love and truth. Two of several benefits of having multiple people in leadership is that, if the major decisions are made as a group, than the pastor can not be seen as the one running the church. Also, the collective wisdom of the body of leaders may counter some of the short-sightedness, sinfulness, and other failures of the pastor.

All those in leadership and otherwise, must place ourselves under Christ's authority for we all must give an account unto him. As the pastor I have chiefly accountable to the Great Shepherd for my shepherding. Thus I praise God for a wise and godly group of advisers who desire that Christ might be glorified as the Lord and Head of His Body.

May Christ be praised for his wonderful gifts.