Defining Roles to Build a Stronger Team

By New Churches Team

The core of the church should demonstrate and embody love. If the church is going to be a healthy, growing body, there ought to be harmony at the core. However, there is often disharmony, division, and dysfunction instead. When the core of the church is in discord, the whole body is in trouble.

To create harmony among the roles of those who serve in a church, we need to first define the roles. Defining the roles of elder and pastor goes a long way toward building a stronger team and helps develop a healthy church body.

Defining “Elder”

Elders in the church should be proven leaders. The elders that are chosen shouldn’t merely be the ones that show up to church on time or always attend the church potluck. They should be the ones that are already leading a group of people and are respected among the church body. Placing a title on someone doesn’t automatically make them a leader. Be wise in seeing who already has the gift of leadership. Elders in the church should be filled with the Holy Spirit. They should be people who are operating out of the Spirit, not out of their own human strength.

The elder’s role is to assist the pastor and come alongside them so they don’t have to carry the burden of church leadership alone. They should divert criticism of the congregation and encourage the leader. The goal of their role is to help make the pastor successful in whatever way they can.

Defining “Pastor”

The pastor is the main leader, however, he is part of the plurality of elders who direct the affairs of the church. The pastor should be the overseer of the staff and the staff should directly answer to him.

The relationship between the pastor and the elders, however, is not a boss-to-employee type relationship.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New Churches Team

NewChurches.com wants to help you build a strong foundation by connecting you with top experts in the field of church planting and multisite ministry, and by regularly providing you with the resources, information, and community you need to thrive as you multiply the mission of Matthew 28.