Abuse of Power in the Church—Part IV—Jesus Never Intended HIS Church to be Like This!

A senior pastor shields a family member instead of putting safeguards in place to protect the congregation’s children/youth. A wanna-be-famous lead pastor consolidates and misuses power, minimizing the contributions of staff and laity in the process. A head pastor and executive pastor work together to build their own little kingdom, eventually crossing another line into a sexualized relationship with one another—and minimizing it when caught. A pastor has an affair with a woman he is counseling, blames her, threatens legal action if it becomes public, and leaves his post with additional financial misuse questions also following his exit. A charismatic pastor is winsome to his congregation—from the pulpit—but, behind the scenes is verbally abusive to staff and others who cross him.

And, the list goes on.

Jesus never intended His church—and it’s HIS church—to be like this.

In Scripture there is only the emphasis on Christ as Head (and no mention of a “senior pastor”). There is also no “director” “CEO” language. There IS language that talks about shepherding (pastoring), ministering, appointing elders, equipping the saints for ministry, shared ministry, Jesus as Head of the Body—His Church, gifts-based ministry, the last shall be first, foot-washing (leaders humbly washing the feet of their disciples), discipleship, leaders being held to a high/er standard, and personal accountability. The focus of leadership in the Bible is on Christ alone. He is our model.

Our church cultures—and language—and structures (hierarchies)—are often in opposition to Jesus’ intent for leaders and congregations. Language matters. Culture matters. Structure matters. Truth matters. Accountability matters. How have we gotten so sideways to His intent?

Many churches have lived through one or more of the above scenarios…and carry some of that unresolved “We trusted our leader…how could he/she betray us like that?” into the next leadership round and the next. We stuff down our sense of anger, shock, hurt, betrayal—our grief—as we desperately seek the next “more-perfect” leader. We don’t take the necessary time to tell our stories to one another, listen well, find meaning in our experiences, come to forgiveness, and consider reconciliation or releasing these leaders [credit to The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World Paperback, by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu]. We don’t seem to know how to talk about these things in honest, helpful ways.

When we rush into the find-the-next-pastor process, we typically hire people from outside of our church community—who come and “lead” for a short period of less time than the average member of our congregation stays…and who move on (often taking unhealed and unresolved and unadmitted and unforgiven baggage with them to their next posting).

That said, WE are part of the problem. We, like the Israelites in Samuel’s time, want (demand) a king. Now. We don’t like the messiness of submitting to the Lord and to one another in corporate community. We want someone to come in and tell us what to do—to make decisions, to “do” ministry—so that we can have church (faith?) be a side part of our lives, perhaps. A “let’s leave the ministry to the professionals” refrain. We are then surprised (shocked?) when we get Saul as king. Or David (whose leadership and family end in profound dysfunction and decline). Or Solomon who was led into idolatry and led God’s people further that direction.

We also don’t want to do the hard work of working together, submitting to the Holy Spirit’s healing and restoration process—we want to get on with “church” as we know it. We seem to have no interest in reassessing our organizational structure/s, rooting out the unhealth in our culture, shining light into our blind spots, and requiring truth from our leaders.

Power. It can be used for good or for evil. How are we using our own personal power and influence for good in our churches?

Reflect:

·         What language does your church/ministry use for its leaders? What language do you use when speaking of your pastors/ministers/church leadership? Does this language reflect language you see in Scripture, especially from Jesus?

·         Do you constantly hope for the “perfect” leader? Do you get frustrated with those who have been wounded by the church (your church?) who want to talk about it? How might you engage in/encourage the healing process for yourself and others in your context?

·         How are you part of the problem? Where has your devotion to the Lord been sidetracked into devotion to a charismatic human leader instead?

·         Where are you using your own personal power/influence for good?

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been Catalyst for Equipping at her church since 1999. Contact her about growing your self- and other-awareness and life/ministry coaching.

Photo (c) Shirley Giles Davis, all rights reserved.