Church leaders have power. They have been put in positions of authority. The trouble is not in possessing power but in misusing it. They are called to serve the body of Christ, not domineer over it (1 Peter 5:3). Power does not change you; it reveals you. It gives an opportunity for desires that you have long harbored to surface.
Power is the ability to influence. In his book “The Emotionally Healthy Leader,” Peter Scazzero says, “The best test of a leader’s character is how they deal with power.” He writes this after confessing his many failures in this area early in his ministry.
How can those who possess power use it wisely and well? This was a question I found myself asking while writing my doctoral dissertation. Of course, Christ is the ultimate model of how to use power. He uses his power in ways that benefit others to his own detriment. This remains the standard for church leaders today.
Here is some practical advice for those who find themselves in positions of power within the church.
1. You need to know your own power.
This sounds dangerous, doesn’t it? Isn’t knowing your own power just a recipe for pride and abuses of power? No, it is actually the first step in avoiding those things. Scazzero confessed that most of his mistakes were born out of supposed humility, which he later realized was an ignorance about his power as the leader of a large church.
The pastor who makes a cutting comment to staff or congregants may not fully appreciate how their words are received by those under their charge. They do not know their own power. Knowing your power, plus a desire to live out the fruit of the Spirit, is the key to wielding power well.
2. It is okay if you are the pastor and still not the most powerful person in the church.
Pastors can sometimes feel threatened or insecure when they realize that some congregants or officers have more influence than they do. But there can be good reasons for this.
If someone has been part of the church for decades, building relationships and serving over the long haul, it makes sense that he or she might have more influence than you, who may still be “new” in the congregation’s mind. If your pride can grapple with all of that, hopefully it will give you a longer view of ministry.
The goal of your ministry is not to have the largest megaphone in the church. Your goal is to shepherd the flock God has entrusted to your care. If you do that well over a long period of time, you will undoubtedly increase in influence.
3. Your position influences the nature of other relationships.
Can a pastor be friends with other elders? Yes, but in such dual relationships the boundaries of both relationships must be firmly established through careful communication. And what about a boss and his direct subordinates? How should that relationship look? The supervisor (aware of his power and his ability to manipulate but hopefully too honorable to do so) must be the one that sets and communicates boundaries for the good of the other.
Relationships organically develop for a variety of reasons. You can certainly have meaningful friendships with elders, members, or staff, but you must keep the lines of demarcation clear so you can think and act independently of those relationships when your position requires it.
4. You have been granted your position to benefit others, not yourself.
During my dissertation research, one of my elder interviewees said, “There’s no MVP in the church,” except for Jesus. He recalled his days as a military officer who saw his mission as making sure that the officers under him had the best chance to succeed in their careers.
The venerable John Murray said that elders are “undershepherds serving the arcshepherd.” Stop worrying about your current power, and take the long view of ministry. Focus on how you can serve the other elders, putting them in positions to succeed.
5. You can keep from “overheating” your use of power by taking things slow.
Slow decision making in an elder-led body is a feature of the system, not a bug. Slowing down keeps dictatorial instincts at bay and forces one to listen to his fellow elders. It takes the praise and adulation off of the decision-making group and redirects it to the arcshepherd who is really in charge.
Be slow to introduce your opinion too soon when discussions are taking place. If you present a strong opinion at the very beginning of the process, you can guarantee that others will not feel safe sharing their own. Moreover, withholding your opinion forces you to listen and learn before asserting your own thoughts.
Calm is contagious. When those who possess power can lead with calm intentionality, it ripples positively throughout the entire church. Of course, as author Tod Bolsinger has noted, anxiety and an authority-first approach are also contagious.
We should not be surprised when church leaders desire and misuse power, as unfortunate as it is. The mother of James and John wanted her boys to be a part of Jesus’ “inner ring” (Mark 10:35-45). Peter had to warn early church leaders about lording their authority over people (1 Peter 5). We are not beyond these same temptations to use authority to exalt ourselves and humiliate others. May God give us sober minds and self-control to follow our Savior instead of our impulses as we shepherd his flock.
Matt Giesman serves as senior pastor of Forestgate Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.