Shared Leadership
In this world of changes, the number one notion commonly talked about is LEADERSHIP. But what type of Leadership? There are so many different models of leadership in the world.
1. Monarchy - the oldest and traditionally recognised until recently after the World War last century. This is still practised in some quarters in the world but it is getting lesser and lesser. The last monarch of Nepal was just deposed a few months ago. The remaining ones are mostly constitutional monarchy. The Pope functions like a monarch.
2. Republic - the leader is commonly known as President. He does not have the absolute power as in the case of a king. His power is given to him by the people as described in the constitution. He is elected for a term though there are some staying on for life until a revolt occurs. His leadership is much like a king. The Bishop of the Anglican Church functions like a president.
3. Moderator - this sort of leadership seems good on paper but it usually finds hard to get things done together. Each leader will do according to his own likings or wishes. The Moderator is only there to moderate. He normally does not have any power at all except calling and chairing meetings. The Presbyterians have Moderator.
4. Servant-Leadership - some believe the Bible talks of Servants-Leadership. This is debatable. Some argue that the Bible only speaks of Servanthood. Which is correct? Jesus himself is a servant and also a leader.
5. Clergy - the New Testament has mentioned the offices of bishop or overseer (episkobos), elder or preist (presbuteros) and deacon or servant (diakonos). Bishop Ignatius of the 2nd Century has created the three-tier ministry which has lasted till today. This three tier-system has become the leaders of the church. Many churches today used the name Pastor instead. Basically they function similarly. It has been so effective until it has become an institution.
I am trying to relook at the Bible and see where there is another model of leadership. I call it SHARED LEADERSHIP. It is leadership of both the clergy and laity; or employer and employee; or boss and workers. For all shared leadership, there must be guidelines which are agreeable to all. All must agree to subscribe to one set of goals and vision for the whole group/church/firm. Decisions are made through discussions and sharings. Everyone should subscribe to working on their own as long as it is within the jurisdiction and realm of the agreed parameters. Shared leadership stresses on accountability and transparency.
It is not easy for the modern people to accept this new phenomenon. We are so used to the old style of ‘being told’. Many reject the idea of asking each one to make decision collectively. Generally, new ideas will take a long time for people to adopt and get used.
My idea of shared leadership is for the ministry of the church. This is the sharing of workdone. There is no area in the Bible where people are forbidden to do except sin. Since we still have the three-tier order of Bishop, priest and deacon, we should keep the priestly function to the priest. But the other ministry of the church can be jointly done by all the people. So the idea is shared leadership in preaching, teaching the Bible, prayer ministry, visitation, leading meetings, conducting activites, etc. The clergy should return to the Biblical concept of teaching and praying while the laity together with the clergy to share in the rest of the ministry.
When Jesus left the earth and ascended to heaven, He left the newly found church to his 12 disciples to do the work. They in turn selected many people to jointly lead the churches throughout the then known world. The church grew rapidly then. Many of our churches did not grow very much because we are heavily dependent on one person the clergy. When there is a change of clergy, the vision and pace changes too. This should not be the case if the leadership is shared. Work should carry on as usual because it is being carried out by the same people who are still living there.
Think and pray about it.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Yes Bishop, i agree fully with the notion of sharing leadership. As your comment in SYNOD “Abolation of the Laity”, today, the ministry done by a single person wont bring us anywhere. Laity & Priest need to work together for buinding up the Kingdom. But i believe that we in the crossroad and will achieve soon.
February 27th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Your Grace; I would value your opinion upon the views of Luther and Zwingli regarding the placement of all the laity as priests in the priesthood of all believers. In this respect and in view of your aims, would you agree that the ‘reserved rights’ of priests should be opened to all believers - for example Baptism, Marriage and celebration of the Eucharist? I suggest that this would radically redefine the relationship between clergy and laity by ensuring that respect and support for the clergy is based upon the value of their teaching, guidance and pastoral care rather than upon their exclusive right to administer key parts of a Christian life.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Dear Vincent,
I did not create the clergy - laity divide. It was there long ago. When we return to the Scripture, we will find that there is a role for leadership. In the early church, the church leadership was appointed first by Jesus Himself, then by Apostle Paul etc. I believe the early church wanted to protect the integrity of the church by appointing suitable and sound members for the leadership.
So whether we have clergy or lay leadership, someone still have to be appointed to lead the church and that will involve Baptism, Marriage and Eucharist. This leadership must be people who know the Scripture well, upright life, etc etc as described in 1 Timothy and Titus.
What I am advocating is not the absence of one or the other, rather a realignment of their roles. Doing the rituals or performing the sacramental duties is not the main issue here discussed. It is the role and responsibility that counts. Just like the Apostles in Acts 6, they devoted themselves to preaching and teaching and prayers to seek God’s direction for the church. Now when the clergy doing all the ministry where the laity can do, no wonder the clergy don’t have enough time or do the necessary and some have taken the easy way out by not doing it. Also the laity have thought that doing the ministry does not belong to them anymore so they stay out instead. The example we have from the scripture is from 2Tim 2:2 where Paul is the preacher and teacher to Timothy, then Timothy is the preacher and teacher to the faithful leaders, and the faithful leaders are preachers and teachers to the other faithful leaders, and so on. Today the clergy are been taught and they are the preachers and teachers to the church leadership, but the today’s leadership in the churches are not the preachers and teachers to other second rung leadership. Therefore, the chain has broken and not perpetuating. We need to restore this line of chain reaction.
What I am saying is the clergy must be released to do their essential and necessary role and the laity theirs too. In this sense, the first rung leadership is the clergy (who can be recognised as priest-elder) and the second rung leadership is the church leaders (who can always be recognised as deacons), then the third rung leadership is the faithful leaders (who can be recognised as pastors) etc.
Hope this day will come to us soon. Let’s work towards this spiritual call of God.