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every member a minister, every leader a servant

I firmly believe that every person who claims to be part of God's family is a minister (servant) and that every person is a priest, fully capable of coming to God for themselves.  I believe that the whole community of faith, not just the Pastoral Staff, have been given the privilege and responsibility of living, sharing and expressing the good news of God's redeeming love.  Therefore, we need to give great emphasis to developing all people to serve in their areas of spiritual giftedness, passions, abilities, personality, experience and desires.  We need to desire to train and guide people in serve to the community of faith, and to God.

• Our desire needs to be for all people to find their God given "DNA" (what makes them, them) and equip them to use these gifts and release them for service in the community of faith.

• Our desire needs to be to help the right person, serve in the right position, for the right reason, and for the right amount of time.

Keeping all this in mind, I firmly believe that serving as a leader in the church is not the same as serving in a business culture.  While I acknowledge that there are some business aspects to the church - record keeping, finances, and others - I also acknowledge that they are not what governs or directs the church in ministry (lack of money is not an excuse for not caring, and doing what one person wants, or a group of people want, based on what they give is equally as wrong).  Business clearly maintains a competitive edge, and a competitive drive.  I recognize that Jesus spoke out against this competitive or "power-up" mentality because it puts others down, and seeks to serve one's personal gains over that of the community of faith.  I believe, in order to lead God's way, one must recognize their humble role as a servant to the community of faith, and all those who attend (servant understand their role, they do not overstate their rule).  I believe that once a person understands their servant role it strengthens them as people and develops a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

The key to remember is this - we do not rise to the role of leader, we descend to it - I see this as a "downward mobility" principle of leadership.

(Mark 9:33-35; 10:42-45, John 10:4;27, 1 Peter 2:1-10, Ephesians 4:11-12, Hebrews 5:11-14)

john o'keefe