The Holy Spirit gave the Apostle Paul vital instructions about the Church as the Body of Christ, with Jesus as Head, and giftings within that body and membership. I want to focus on one aspect, maybe best covered in Ephesians 4:16.
“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by
that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working
in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love. “ KJV
A number of years ago, I was part of a church whose Pastor was moving on to another church. I had several ministry functions at that time, and he called me in to ask me to help keep the church organized and spiritually functioning during its Search process, while others covered the business aspects, or current other leadership functions, such as Choir, Sunday School Superintendent, etc. Thus began a period of 20 months without an Interim Pastor. Together, the leadership decided on a large Search Committee of about 20, including 3 graduating teens.
We also decided to NOT have an official Interim Pastor appointed by the denomination, so that we could widely sample the range of pastoral types and styles, and simply experience ourselves as a functioning body. We wanted to take plenty of time to define who we were as a church, our core mission, goals and purpose. That meant that part of my role was to work with the Regional Director to bring in supply clergy each week, help each of them feel welcomed and appreciated, even see that they were well hosted and fed between services, which responsibility I gave to the Lay Readers who would be assisting him.
My role was that of a church coordinator, overseeing the spiritual aspects and health of church life. Other leaders continued to perform in their various roles. God’s word and direction to me was “Feed my sheep”. Or see to it that they were, and were functioning as a ministering body within and to any coming in as visitors. It was a time for me of careful listening to and co-working with the Holy Spirit, and all in line with the scriptural pattern Greeters were to understand their function as genuine ministry, going beyond just handing out a bulletin and saying welcome. Name tags were launched as another ministry and means of helping people learn names and integrate more quickly.
There was already a coffee and fellowship time after the 11am service, but we added monthly fellowship meals, that also included a short service of informal Communion. All I had to do was identify members’ spiritual gifts, and set them loose to use and share them. The greater unity and love that developed was remarkable. The one certainty of the Search Committee was that we wanted to be a Christ Centered church. The “body” was so alive and functioning so well together that the Search Committee seriously considered calling a part-time pastor so that it could continue its high active functioning together.
The congregation was even growing in numbers, and without a permanent pastor! What we finally decided as a Search Committee was to make sure whoever was called was aware how happy, healthy, and thriving we were as a body, and wanted to continue that cooperative leadership style with any pastor called. Each candidate was asked how he felt about that, and what his own style and approach would be. One candidate described himself as an enabler, believing everyone should have a role and function according to his or her giftings. He was the one called.
Unfortunately, the man changed his mind, (or disclosed his true one), and decided to take full reins. I happened to be around when he announced his intention to the Head of a Retreat House that I also shared ministry in. That was not all that turned out to be wrong, but it is not my purpose to share any of that and what followed, here.
My point has been to describe how the Scriptural pattern and principles of Ephesians 4:16 and other passages, can actually work in practice and bring peace, joy, membership increase and spiritual growth to the Body of Christ, and glory to God. Even WITHOUT a permanent pastor!
Carole Robinson
A God Listener
03/08/2016
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