Pastoral Care-Unity in the Church and Chain of Command

We are the under-shepherds to the chief Shepherd so we should share His emotions toward the sheep. Christ said the true shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep. The gift of the pastor is unique among the five-fold gifts. It is stationary in its provision for a consistent and direct interaction with the people of God. Now a question is posed to you. Do the people in your congregation belong to you or God? Only answer this question after first examining the following scenarios.

1. If you can testify of the grace of God given to you and your congregation through this ministry, yet if for some personal reason you should become offended with global leadership and you elected to leave this fellowship, would you influence your congregation to do the same? If so, then you see your congregation as your people and your powerbase.

2. If global spiritual directives are given to the ministry as a whole, are you standing between the people and the implementation of those directives? In other words, do you allow the people to look to you rather than the righteousness of God, as to whether or not such directives are going to be implemented in that local church? If so, then you consider the congregation to be your people and not God’s.

3. Is it your mindset that you will allow the people to hear the Word as it comes from the Apostle, but it is you they must obey regarding directives? This is a breach in apostolic order and a blatant act of rebellion.

I Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

As pastors we are in God’s service, maintaining order through the epistles we teach, and establishing an environment conducive for learning and growth in God. We are not lords over God’s heritage; neither are we kings and queens in our congregations. In conclusion, we must handle the people of God with selflessness, but yet with a spirit of parenting, always pointing them to God that they may be fit for the Master’s use.

Unity in the Church

How does a pastor maintain unity in a church that has so many local and global entities? The answer is learned from Moses’ conversation with his father-in-law, Jethro. (Exodus 18:14-24). The title “pastor” does not mean the entire weight of the ministry rests on your shoulders alone. Wisdom leads us to enlist the help of our pastoral boards, equally distributing responsibilities for respective entities and auxiliaries. Local activities, issues and operations should be discussed in pastoral board meetings in which final decisions as to how to handle such will be made. However, it is the local pastor who should be led by the Holy Spirit that will have the final authority in all matters.

Chain of Command

Pastors should rehearse with their leadership council, so that the heart of the pastor is made known and all auxiliary leaders can be privy to the purpose and workings of any event. There is wisdom in the multitude of council. This will ensure good communication. All are instructed as how to instruct their respective auxiliaries. If this is seen as minute or unnecessary, then God will not allow the church to expand as He is not the author of confusion.

In Conclusion, this is a time when the apostles must render a true assessment of each local ministry. If you are not bearing fruit, could it be that you are not following the directives given by the Holy Spirit, or could it be that you are not in your true calling? Could it be that your character is not of such as needed to undergird the pastorate? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it would be wise for you to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into the place wherein He can use you. We are not lords over God’s heritage; neither are we kings and queens in our congregations.

See original Organizational Charts and Diagrams in Appendix