POWER FOR GOD’S SAKE

Power and Abuse in the Local church

A very interesting book written by Paul Beasley-Murray. He is a Baptist minister based

in Reading. Having sent out an extensive survey about power & abuse of power to
church ministers of the main denominations as well as their officials (deacons, church
treasurers etc.), he compiled a book on the basis of the research. It is focused on the
issues of ministers abusing their position of power/authority and also on the abusing of
ministers by their congregants. I present here some of his main findings – in note form.

Main points:
• Authority & power are not same thing. Authority without power makes it
impossible to lead, however. Defining these terms & what it means to lead are
vital.
• Ministers need support & accountability. The terms of this accountability and
support need to be clear to minister & congregation alike.

Sub-points:
1. Leadership & Authority

Authority is best seen as like a conductor with orchestra. Clear who is who & what role
they have. Neither effective without the other. When in “harmony” will make beautiful
music (Christian love & unity) & bring glory to the composer (God)!

Power can be used to either:

1. control/serve
2. promote self/prostrates self
3. seeks prestige & position/lift up lowly & despised

Ministers who have power and use the “I know the will of God” card to get their own way
become self-righteous & alienate their congregation.

Good power exercised seeks to prevent others being harmed.

Good power is the way God used it (creation, liberation of Hebrews, destruction of His
enemies, resurrection etc.).

Leadership = influence. Power = means. End does not justify means, so correct use of
power to lead in the right direction is vital.

1
Leader’s sequence of events in leading:
1. Assesses needs of church
2. Seeks guidance of Holy Spirit
3. Promotes a direction.

Leaders can either:

1. Help church adapt or
2. Promote change. Latter is more like Jesus.

Leader Models;
1. CEO (direct others, do not act personally),
2. Dictator (authoritative),
3. Passive,
4. Responsive (Servant. Mixes needs of people, direction of God & guidance of
Holy Spirit). This one most like Jesus.

All people serve – some lead. Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4

Essential qualities of a church leader:

• Analytical & strategic thinker who can convey vision
• Administrator
• Team builder who gets best out of others
• Deep personal spirituality
• Able to face conflict & enable change
• Warm personality with heart for mission.

2. The servant/shepherd issue

Submission/service go together. Do not offend the conscience of others. Use love not
force. “Whom you would change you must first love” – ML King

Ministry = serving God (& as result serving the church & the lost). This is important
distinction. I am not serving the church, but God. I will serve the church because of
this.

God self-limited Himself, so should we as servant leaders. Don’t use power to benefit
self.

No VIPS in church. All the same.

Jn 10 shepherd = ideal minister. In Hebrew to “know” means to experience not just

understand (which, unfortunately, is the Greek way of thinking that we in the West also
share). This leads us to:
1. Focus on individuals.
2. Lead, don’t drive.

2
 3. Seek welfare of others.
4. Promote growth.
5. Costly calling.
6. Broader horizon.

Jesus meek, but strong – servant leaders to be this way.

All people serve – some lead. Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4

3. Accountability & Expectations

Both ministers & congregations should have clear expectations of each other that are
mutually agreed. Accountability is rarely practiced. No clear “job” description exists in
most cases.

There is great tension for ministers who are expected to be “successful” as opposed to
“faithful”. Congregation needs to define what “successful” means if it wants to measure
its minister by this criterion.

68% of Scottish ministers absented from work for work-related reasons ranging from
depression to alcoholism & mental illness etc. There is a clear need for the pastoring of
the pastors.

In-service training needed for ministers – especially the young ones. In older ministers
experience does not necessarily lead to wisdom.

Most churches did not see growth until the minister had been in post for 4 years +.

Ministers need an advocate in congregation who can speak for them on tricky issues
like salary.

Ministers need:
1. Clear job description
2. Accountability – this should be seen as a safeguard for them & the church, not a
restriction. Accountable for how use power: Heb 13.17, Titus 1.7, 1 Cor 4.1, Lk
12.42
3. Supervision – people around them in the team who can see that they are focused
on the right things in terms of church shepherding/leading.
4. Spiritual director – someone who they can talk to candidly and who can give
good spiritual direction.
5. Therapy provision. The availability of paid counselling should be available to all
ministers. Even if it is not used, the knowledge that it is available is a great
comfort to ministers. Congregation should see ministers as gift, not someone to
be used.

3
4. How to handle conflict

Conflict is good. No conflict – nothing happening. ”Change means movement & this
means friction, heat & conflict. You just can’t get the rocket off the ground discreetly
and quietly.”

Low-level conflict is the goal, not high-level.

Perhaps unity should be called community. “The mark of true community – true biblical
unity – is not absence of conflict. It is presence of a reconciling spirit.” The role of
leadership is to ensure conflict does not get out of control – that it is managed
productively.

The worst people to alienate & the ones most likely to feel it (as well as the ones most
likely to abuse their ministers) are know as the AAEOLs = angry alienated ex-old
leaders. Therefore need to actively promote good relations between them & the
minister.

Build people, don’t use them.

When abuse occurs:

1. Become aware of it,
2. Expose it,
3. Reflect on it
4. Treat the situation the way Jesus would

Some final thoughts …..

The book made me think a lot about the good and bad uses of power, leadership &
authority. We must not be afraid of Biblical words & concepts like authority, but we
must seek to understand Jesus’ attitude towards them. If “ministers” & “members” have
a common understanding of these and what is expected of each other, then most
unnecessary tension will be dissipated between them. In this way we can move forward
& not become like the description of the church below ….

“traditional churches are like pelicans in St James’ park, London – peculiar

creatures stranded in an environment not their own. They are ‘awkward, out of
place, angular, with a big mouth but little brain, demanding but inactive’”

Malcolm Cox