How do you create a non-personality driven church? What are the factors needed to sustain it? Where are there churches which are alive in God but not centered on one particular person? Or is that even a possible goal? These are questions rolling around in my head these days.
My experiences in the last twenty or so years have been in large mega-churches. The mega-model of church revolves around one basic type of relationship--the preacher and the congregation. The measure of effectiveness centers on Sunday morning. If "life in God" doesn't happen then, something is wrong and needs to be immediately readjusted.
Please don't read into this commentary as a "dis" against the mega-model. As a part of the Worship and Arts team in a large mega-church, I love the weekend gathering. I love to see what God is up to as we gather as His people. I love to play with the possibilities of how to minister God's life in "the big room." I have benefited personally from "hearing" the Word preached as I have sat under gifted preachers. But I wonder in this new season of what other models of "church" are out there.
In a recent Leadership Network article Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree differentiate between "personality" and "knowledge" driven churches.
"In the personality-driven church, the pastor uses his or her
personality as the primary resource for accomplishing the mission. There is an
emphasis on the relationship with the pastor and the benefits of that
relationship through pastoral care, influence, political function, or the
unique gifts of the pastor related to presentation, communication, or
charismatic function.
In the knowledge-driven church, the pastor uses specialized
knowledge as the primary resource for accomplishing the mission. There is an emphasis
on the knowledge that the pastor holds regarding history, tradition and
liturgy, or on the knowledge that the pastor is skilled at transmitting through
teaching, training, coaching or mentoring. The critical knowledge can be
biblical, theological (a particular theological perspective), practical (how to
share faith, how to listen therapeutically), or social (how to work for
justice). Of course, pastors serve in both of these roles. Generally, they
prefer to function in one role more than another, and the members expect this
to be so. The member expectation becomes part of the social contract that glues
them to the Body."
This is a helpful distinction for me. I think I have always led through "knowledge" vs. "personality." That's why I don't fit easily in "the big room" as a "pulpit presence" but am better suited behind the scenes as a "silent partner" guiding and coaching.
Jesus seemed to glide easily between both "styles" of leadership--ministering to the masses and discipling His followers as they lived and ministered together. What does this mean for a new model of church? What is God calling forth in this new season?
Not being a person to quickly vilify one form against another or run to an existing form as best, I invite you into partnering the possibilities with me of what God may be giving to us as a new form for this season. Dream big people. Push the limits. What is God saying to you? Let the dialogue begin...
