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Your church: Like a tree or up a tree?

Clarence Peters

A conference leader says, “Church boards need to let pastors lead. That’s what God has called them to do. They need to cast vision and pursue it. How can a church expect to go anywhere if those most trained to lead are not allowed to lead?”

A moderator says, “Pastors need a dose of the real world. Our problems would be solved if they had a basic understanding of business plans, evaluations and what it means to be an employee.”

A member says, “What’s all this talk about vision, goal-setting and Robert’s Rules of Order? We’re church family here. We’re to be known by our love. When that happens, people will understand what church is all about. The pastor just needs to love the people and be the shepherd he is called to be.”

As a pastor, I’ve heard all three voices loud and clear. I’ve probably said something like all of them at one time or another. My temptation, though, is to single out the one I’m most comfortable with and hold that up as the banner of truth. Doing so may not be wise. From my observation, churches and pastors get themselves into a royal mess when they beat hard on one or the other drum. If pastors and churches misunderstand the three facets of church these comments represent, damaging conflict and forced resignations are sure to follow.

Credit for the core idea of this article goes to Jim Dethmer, a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois (“Moving in the Right Circles”, Leadership, Fall 1992). He points out three circles a church must attend to. They are community, cause and corporation. Failure to move comfortably within all these areas will result either in conflict or crippling. Churches and leaders who move with ease in each area are more likely to have a vibrant, healthy and stable ministry.

Leaves of Community

The member’s comment above reflects a mindset which sees the church as community. It’s a vision for life-sustaining interaction with one another. Its benefits include acts of kindness, warmth, care, nurture and sharing – people ministering to one another. People rejoice to hear, in one way or another, “You matter to me.” Verses like John 13:35 are quoted: “All men will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.”

In community, people live out the many “one anothers” of Scripture: Love one another; be devoted to one another; live in harmony with one another, and so on. No church can biblically ignore these relational encouragements.

If the church is compared to a fruit tree, community is the leaves. They provide nurture and fullness. A leafy tree looks attractive and healthy. It provides shade and shelter. Most people expect this to some degree from church.

A pastor is often a likely candidate to model this. However, the larger a church becomes, the more the pastor must delegate much of the hands-on care to others. Still, no matter how it happens, relational contact and care is crucial.

Ignore community, and people are soon beat up, torn up, used up and washed up. Pay attention to it, and people feel safe, energized and loyal.

Fruit of Cause

Leaves are just one facet of a tree. A fruit tree with leaves alone doesn’t exist. Jesus said in John 15:8, “This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” The conference leader’s assertion brings cause to the forefront. A sense of cause is essential. Not one of us would be reading this if Jesus’ disciples had settled into loving each other in a cozy, closed community. As our commander-in-chief, Jesus’ intent was to mobilize the troops. After all, He did say, “Make disciples.” We are to be people of action when it comes to seeking the lost, undertaking compassionate ministries and taking a stand against injustice.

Most churches have room for growth in pursuing the cause. Sometimes changes in attitude or the system are needed. A mountain of obstacles sometimes stands in the way.

Someone must assess the need, champion the cause and rally the troops. That someone must have the time, the expertise, the vision and the forum to carry out such a daunting task. It’s hard enough work to change oneself, never mind a group.

In some churches, the pastor may not be the best change agent. Others may be more credible, qualified and willing to invest the energy and time. In most cases, however, pastors must be given room to motivate and train the troops. Members must be challenged to storm the gates of hell. If the pastors are not the ones to do it, we have to ask, “Who will?”

Avoid the cause, and church members will lose their sense of purpose. They’ll bicker, complain and argue about the smallest of things. In time, the church will dry up and dwindle away. Well it should.

Branches of Corporation

Leaves and fruit don’t grow in isolation. They need a specific place from which to grow. They need a conduit for nutrients. The term “corporation” may sound a little heavy, but it speaks to the need for structure and organization. The moderator’s comment above may come from an orientation which sees little difference between a secular corporation and the church. After all, the church pays salaries, functions with boards, and has organizational charts and procedures. In fact, the church needs corporate elements. In the early church, structures involving elders, deacons, pastors and others emerged. Paul gave a “job description” to Timothy and laid out various qualifications. Then there’s that verse the structured people like: “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (I Corinthians 14:40).

Churches that ignore structure will eventually be a tangled mess, like a fruit tree that’s never pruned. Trunk and branches need attention. Miscommunication about authority and expectations usually results in hurt, anger and power plays. These paralyze the community and the cause.

Churches that have a good understanding of corporation have efficient channels of communication. An atmosphere of trust pervades. They don’t apologize for having “business” meetings. They streamline the structure to maximize benefits to the leaves and the fruit. They understand that organization is good but not “God”; it is servant to cause and community.

So What? (For Pastors)

Not many of us pastors were drawn to the ministry because we loved corporation. We’re typically more into cause or community. However, pastors must understand that corporation is part of their work. They are accountable for their work and time. Evaluations are necessary, in order and profitable when honourably carried out. Pastors are not only shepherds of the family and champions of the cause, but also employees of the organization.

Few of us are equally proficient as managers in the corporation, as champions of the cause and as shepherds of the community. If our weakness lies in one or two of the areas, we need to grow and learn from others, or delegate where possible. We ought not to devalue any area because we have little interest or skill in it. We should not sacrifice community while pressing the cause, nor settle for the comfortable and sacrifice the cause.

So What? (For Churches)

Churches are responsible for balance as well. In dealing with matters in one sphere, a church must not violate the priorities of the other two. For instance, churches must understand that they relate to the pastor not only in his role as an employee, but in these other areas as well. While holding the pastor accountable as an employee, the church is also accountable for its response to godly leadership. The healthy church welcomes strong voices which call for greater effectiveness in any of the three areas.

If the church grants pastors little freedom in actions related to cause, community or corporation, a pastoral revolving door is the likely scenario. If a church desires a chaplaincy-style pastorate, that must be clearly stated at the outset. If that is the choice, the church itself must have a clear plan on how it will promote the cause, develop community and keep corporation the effective servant.

The Root

We’ve mentioned the leaves of community, the fruit of cause and the branches of corporation. To what does the root compare? He is the Root of David (Revelation 5:5). Every ounce of our existence and sustenance comes from Him. No great tree ever survived without a strong root. Paul’s words bring that thought home: “Consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you” (Romans 11:18). There is no substitute for Jesus. His love nourishes community, His strength powers the cause, and His authority shapes corporation. If together we tap into that – as pastors and churches – the result will be good fruit.

Clarence Peters is senior pastor of Waldheim (Sask.) MB Church.

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Last modified January 11, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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