Early Planting Leadership Models

1 Timothy 5:22 makes it clear that we should never be hasty to appoint elders in the church. This is especially true in a church planting context where a planter has not had the benefit of knowing or ministering alongside people over an extended period of time. In light of this, in the FLD, we expect planters to establish one of the following three forms of transitional leadership (a.k.a. provisional elders) in the early years of planting.

The Elder Loan Model

This model involves appointing a small group of leaders from inside the plant and from established like-minded evangelical churches in the region. The established church elders are “on loan” for this early phase of planting. This model works best with plants that have little to no ties to a regional parent church.

• The advantages of the elder loan model is that it connects the church plant to other healthy evangelical churches in the community.
• The vulnerability of the elder loan model is that there is a risk that the “loaned elders” don’t share the chemistry or culture of the church plant. 

The Parent Church Model

This model involves appointing a small group of leaders from inside the plant and from the parent church. The only difference between this and the “elder loan” model is that leaders are coming from the planting church.

• The advantages of the parent church model is that the church plant is very connected to the resources and influence of the parent church.
• The disadvantage of the parent church model is when the plant is ministering in a different context or with a different philosophy than that of the parent church. 

The Veteran Team Model 

This model involves a church plant where three or more elder-qualified leaders are guiding the church from its inception. Though these elders should have a close connection to outside advisors and district leaders, they have the advantage of providing tested and trained leadership from day one in the planting process.

• The advantages of the veteran team model is that all the leaders are equally invested in the church from day one. An established elder team also protects the church plant from being hijacked by core-team members who may try to steer the church away from its core values.
• The disadvantage of the veteran team model is that there is, at times, a hesitancy to train and appoint new elders in a timely manner. In this situation a veteran team can risk growing too inward in their sense of control and community.

Church Planting Eldership Series

One of the most important steps in transitioning your church plant into a healthy established church involves the identifying, training and appointing of elder leadership. In Acts 14:23 we learn that Paul and Barnabas went from church to church appointing elders and commissioning them with prayer and fasting. The question is, how do we translate this process into today’s modern context? Depending on your tradition, this path may be predetermined; however, for many in the evangelical "free-church” tradition, planters have a degree of freedom to shape this process based on the involvement of a planting church, the size and maturity of the planting team, and the model of the church being established. In an ongoing series of blog posts I will be organizing thoughts and resources based on various topics related to the appointing of elder leadership in a church plant. The topics will include subjects like:

• Elder Planting Leadership Models
• Elder Training: The New Elder's Handbook
• Identifying Future Elders
• Elder Training Curriculums
• The Role of Members in Appointing Elders
• The Value of Elder Candidacy 

This list may grow and change throughout this series but I will organize all of these resources by linking the posts from this eldership series post.

What is True Greatness?

Here are some reflections on true greatness after meditating on Jesus' teaching for His disciples from Mark 10:43-45. So what are some principals of true greatness for leaders?

• To perform humble tasks, out of love and with no need of recognition.
• To always ask the question, "What is best for others?"
• To look for ways to help others reach their full potential.
• To serve, even at the risk of being thought less of by others
• To surround yourself with highly gifted people, with no fear of losing power and no insecurity when their lights shine brighter than your own. 
• The ability to celebrate when others succeed.

This is not how many in our world define greatness. As Christians we mustn't cave, believing that the world's standard of greatness is better than God's. He who longs to be great, must be a servant of all.

A Study in Brokeness

Over the last few days I read Gene Edwards short story, "A Tale of Three Kings" which is a short tale of the three kings Saul, David and Absolom. As a study in brokenness, it helps us to answer the questions, "What do you do when someone throws a spear at you?" For my own benefit, I thought I would document a few of the best quotes below. It's definitely a thought provoking read for those facing a season of brokenness.

• Regarding king David, "God did not have - but wanted very much to have - men and women who would live in pain. God wanted a broken vessel." (12)
• Regarding the school of brokenness, "Because all students in this school must suffer much pain. And as you might guess, it is often the unbroken ruler (whom God sovereignly picks) who metes out the pain. David was once a student in this school, and Saul was God's chosen way to crush David." (15)
• When others throw spears at you you must learn two lessons, "One, never learn anything about the fashionable, easily mastered art of spear throwing. Two, stay out of the company of all spear throwers. And three, keep your mouth tightly closed." (20)
• "King Saul sought to destroy David, but his only success was that he became the instrument of God to put to death the Saul who roamed in the caverns of David's own soul. Yes, David was virtually destroyed in the process, but this had to be. Otherwise the Saul in him would have survived." (24)
• As David hid from Saul's wrath in the dark caves, "everything was being crushed out of him... There in those caves, drowned in the sorrow of his song and in the song of his sorrow, David became the greatest hymn writer and the greatest comforter of broken hearts this world shall ever know." (30)
• After David's season of sorrow, "The truth was that when they did see him, they didn't recognize him. He had changed. His personality, his disposition, his total being had been altered. He talked less. He love God more. He sang differently. They had never heard these songs before. Some were lovely beyond words, but some could freeze the blood in your veins... and so, for the first time, true kingship had its nativity." (33-34)
• "He (God) sometimes gives unworthy vessels a greater portion of power so that others will eventually see the true state of nakedness within that individual... What does this world need: gifted men and women, outwardly empowered? Or individuals who are broken, inwardly transformed?" (42)
• "The passing of time (and the behavior of your leader while that time passes) reveals a great deal about your leader. And the passing of time, and the way you react to that leader - be he David or Saul - reveals a great deal about you." (44)
• Referring to David, "Authority from God is not afraid of challengers, makes no defense, and cares not one whit if it must be dethroned. That was the greatness of the great... of the true king." (48) 
• David regarding his son Absalom's plot to overtake his throne, "Only God knows, and he has not spoken. I did not fight to be king, and I will not fight to remain king... May God come tonight and take the throne... and His anointing from me. I will seek His will, not His power. I repeat, I desire His will more than I desire a position of leadership." (75)
• "The person who wields the rod of God's authority should be the meekest, a broken man, lest his people live in terror." (98)

Leadership Challenges in Planting

In this podcast Daniel Im and Todd Adkins discuss the challenges of leadership in the early stages of church planting. Those who have planted know that one of the biggest challenges in a young church is a shortage of good leaders. So how do we solve this problem? On one end of the spectrum some hold off on appointing leaders for too long, which can lead to burnout. On the other end of the spectrum some empower leaders too early, which can harm the long term health of the church.

Daniel and Todd suggest that there are three primary qualities to look for in leaders; character, chemistry and competency. Chemistry represents a shared passion for the values and vision of the church. Competency represents the knowledge and skills needed for effective leadership. They suggest that character and chemistry are essential, but competency can be mitigated in the early months and years of planting.

In light of their recommendation, here are some rules of thumb for leadership in the early years of planting.

1. Adopt a transitional leadership model that will allow you to have flexibility in your leadership standards. In other words, hold off on eldership and other permanent leadership roles until you are ready to empower fully prepared and qualified leaders.
2. Don't compromise on good character and common chemistry. If you settle for less in these areas you will end up producing an unhealthy culture of leadership that works against your vision and leads to mission drift.
3. Have a mechanism in place to develop the competency of early leaders. Competency can be developed, but it requires intentional pathways for learning and growth. 

Avoiding the Anti-Elder

I don't think I'm exaggerating to say that many churches and church plants implode because leaders are too hasty or reckless in the appointment and empowerment of the wrong leaders. Just because someone is passionate about the matters of mission, shares your vision for church, or has experience as a business leader does not make them a good candidate for eldership or any other form of leadership. Here's a good article from Challies on the anti-elder and how to identify them. A fresh take on the Biblical qualifications.

Time Management Tips

How are you at managing your time? Everyone's life is "busy" but is everyone's life healthy and fruitful? I think the answer to that question is no. For the church planter and pastors this post from the Resurgence blog has some great tips on how to manage your time well. The priorities include.

1. Stop: "Most young leaders do too much..."
2. Sabbath: "Eventually you need to find what you are uniquely able to do that others can't..."
3. Set Priorities: "You are actually more productive when you take time to rest..."
4. Save Space: "Ministry to people happens when you least expect it..."

You can (and should) read the whole article here.

Driscoll on Growing Your Church

Here's a good reminder for existing churches on how to grow your churches influence in the lives of more people by Mark Driscoll, Lead Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. In it he is referring to "new branches" as people who are new converts or visitors and "old branches" as existing or seasoned members and attenders. The illustration breaks down if you take it too far, but as usual, his thoughts are helpful, especially for pastors who tend to get distracted by managing existing people and problems. One main take away is that it's important to give a portion of our ministry time to build relationships with people who don't know Christ or are newly growing in Him. 

Leave room in your schedule to meet with new people and new converts. When you meet folks ask them where they live and if they are at another church just visiting or considering your church. Don’t meet with folks who live elsewhere or are in another church. Do meet with folks in your area who are new to your church. Don’t hand off the visitor assimilation so far down the food chain that you don’t know the new branches and fruit. If you want, tell folks from the front where you will be after church and that you want to meet the new people and give them a gift of a free book. Tell everyone else where to go for prayer and to connect with the old branches. You go somewhere else. Welcome new folks joyfully, have a gift, and get their information then so you can follow up. Even if you close 1 family a Sunday you grow by a few hundred in a year. And, new people bring new people. if you are feeling real crazy, do a monthly new people dessert meet the pastor and his wife in your home. Larry Osborne still does this at 8000 and gets to scout new leaders and people firsthand so he keeps doing it.

Beasts, Yet Cowards

Thanks to Joe Thorn for this great summary post of last weeks Acts 29 Lead Pastor's retreat. I was equally moved and convicted by these words Matt shared.

During the final message of the retreat, Matt Chandler made a statement regarding our evangelistic and gospel presence in the community as pastors. These words were burned into my heart as soon as he spoke them, and they have been echoing in me ever since. Matt said, "A beast in the pulpit, but a coward in the neighborhood is not a win!"

It is generally easier to be courageous on Sunday mornings with the people of God, yet cowardly among the lost during the rest of the week. Gospel boldness is almost effortless among those who already affirm it, but it can be far more difficult when we must stand before others and herald the good news they find foolish. "A beast in the pulpit, but a coward in the neighborhood is not a win." Truth. Let me also say it this way, "Woe is me if I am bold among the people of God, but timid among the lost."

(HT: Joe Thorn)

The Vast and Endless Sea

I was moved reading this quote from Antoine de Saint-Expury this week:

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.

An important reminder as we scramble to find success in good methods and leadership ability. The most helpful means for mission advance is to help people see a clear vision and yearn for that which is greater than themselves. What is our "vast and endless sea"? It is found in the glories of Christ, the invisible God, the firstborn of creation, the one through whom all things were created, who made peace by the blood of the cross. (Col 1:15-20)