Who Runs the Church?
Every organization is run by some sort of system to ensure effectiveness in its goals and mission. The more complex the system, the more confusing, and the less likely for effectiveness to occur.
Regardless of your political affiliation, just think about government for a moment. Many times, the larger the government, the less effective it will be. Do you and I really know where all of our hard earned tax dollars go? Hardly!
Organizations that function with clear structures are most effective. So back to the main question: “Who runs the church?” In short answer, Jesus does (Ephesians 5:23). The next logical question then becomes “how does Jesus run His church?” The Bible refers to a group of men called Elders (1 Timothy 5:17, Titus 1:5, Acts 15:6, 1 Peter 5:1,2). The word elder means shepherd and overseer. In fact you may be surprised to discover that the word pastor only occurs one time in the New Testament, yet the word elder occurs numerous times throughout.
Elders ruled, oversaw, and shepherded the local church in the New Testament. Does this mean there was not a point man or lead pastor? No, but it does mean that the New Testament church was not organized to be run, led, overseen, and shepherded by just one pastor.
The clearest, and most Biblical manner in which the church is to be run or organized is to have a group of qualified men who are called and appointed to serve as Elders of a local church body. As we prepare to make the transition in the future to become an Elder led church, I believe we will see the Chief Shepherd, Jesus leading us and guiding us more clearly than ever before.
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
