Scott Allen Leadership and Shepherding – The Elder as Shepherd
I was born and raised in the Baptist church. When I was introduced to the Churches of Christ I discovered that these people had something called Elders. I had never heard of such a thing. I knew what a deacon was, but elders sounded so…formal. The more I learned, however, the more I grew to greatly appreciate the model. In my church, the Preacher was the CEO and was given full reign to push, pull, poke and prod through whichever ministry he felt necessary to expand the footprint of the church body. And the deacons followed and helped…unless the CEO became too uncontrollable, then they could fire him and begin again…which I saw on several occasions.
When I saw the Elder model, I immediately thought that this was a great way to govern a local body. The Preacher didn’t have too much control…and these men were able to divide their time between their members needs and other decisions that needed to be made which freed up the Preacher to do what he was really good at…preaching…casting vision…inspiring and motivating studying and praying. But then I found out that the elders were also charged with teaching, inspiring, motivating, studying and praying.
I thought…this is a great partnership…what could possibly go wrong. But then I realized that many elders weren’t as concerned about the people as they were about making administrative decisions around a table and Some preachers weren’t as concerned about preaching as they were about shaping the church into a particular image through decisions made…around a table. It didn’t take me long to realize that this model had its problems as well…Especially when those involved were doing their based to manage and lead through power and control as opposed to service and sacrifice.
This is why I was so intrigued when I first heard an elder referred to as a Shepherd. The word itself exudes humility. When we think of Shepherds, we don’t think of corporate types who thrive in suits. We think of men who are unassuming…they know they aren’t special…they know that even if they demanded something from the corporate world, they wouldn’t be heard because they are shepherds…After all it’s the same win the field. If they demanded something from their sheep, they wouldn’t get it either…they’re sheep they can’t understand them. This image is of one who is with a flock, not because it’s something he worked his whole life for…something he campaigned for…but because it was something he was. Something he was raised to do by the Good Shepherd. When I think of a shepherd several questions come to my mind… “How many shepherds can care for their flocks around a board table? Are you really a shepherd if you don’t even have a flock? How many shepherd’s flocks survive if they aren’t spending time with the sheep?”
Maybe this is why Jesus says this in John Chapter 10 14 and 15
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Sheep follow their shepherd, not because he commands them, but because they have grown to look up to this shepherd…to trust him… Because of his consistent presence, they follow… Because he cares for them, provides for them and talks to them…consistently…they know his voice.
This is why I love the term Shepherd in addition to Elder. Because it projects an image of a man who is involved in the lives of his people. Sadly and all too often, some church leaders care more about making decisions than they do about making disciples. If a shepherd is too busy making administrative decisions to care for the daily needs of his sheep…the flock won’t survive. But, if a shepherd is paying attention to their needs…medical care, attention…where to find water…food, shade…protection, then the flock with thrive and grow.
Making administrative decisions is not a bad thing but it should always be secondary to being a shepherd.
I have had the privilege to be in partnership with some wonderful men who wear the mantle of Shepherd. They aren’t perfect…but they know how to care for people. To them, the sheep always come first.
In your congregation there are men who don’t wear the mantle of Elder, but they know how to shepherd. Maybe its time you encourage them to follow the voice of their shepherd and lead God’s people forward.