| Addendum: Framework of Leadership for a Network of House Churches
ADDENDUM: Framework of Leadership for a Network of House Churches
Framework of Leadership for a Network of House Churches
In an attempt to map out a framework for leadership in the local church (a network of house churches) we will outline the principle we see in the New Testament and then how we are trying to accomplish this.
Church Planters (Apostles): One of the main ways new churches were planted is that teams of apostles were sent out from existing churches. The church planters served as the founders and initial leaders of the emerging network of house churches. They consciously modeled servant leadership (Acts 20:17-38). As much as possible they worked through the men and women of peace who likely became the core of the leadership of the network of house churches. Apostles operate in a temporary fashion and exited after they had trained and appointed local leaders.
Application: The SAS team of Impact Network consists of church planters sent out from local churches that have confirmed their apostolic gifting. The goal is to plant churches and exit once these churches have their own reproductive leadership.
Elders: The New Testament apostles appointed elders who were ultimately responsible to God for the well being of the church (network of House Churches) and for each other (Cf. Acts 20:28, I Tim. 3:1-7, Titus 3:5-9). These men served as the examples to the other men in the network (I Peter 5:1-4). The men of peace were likely among their number. They served as the Fathers to the church, loving, caring, shepherding, and guarding the sheep. Their goal, like all good fathers, was to raise up mature men and women who continue to build the kingdom after the first fathers are gone. The elders gave oversight to the whole church rather than an individual house church.
Application: As a network of house churches are planted by the team, a team of men will be worked with who the CP team will ultimately appoint as the elders of the Network of House Churches.
Deacons: The deacons were “helpers” to the elders. It would seem from their similar characteristics to elders (Cf. I Tim. 3:8-13) that the deacons jobs were not merely watching over the physical needs of the members (although it could include that) but also involved some of the spiritual oversight. Specifically it seems like, whereas there were only male elders, there were male and female deacons (Cf. I Tim. 3:11, compare vs. 8; also 2 Tim. 2; which follows after a description of elders, with no mention of deacons in this passage. If this is parallel to I Tim. 3, then 2:3-5 probably refers to the task of women deacons. Also Romans 16:1,2 mentions Phoebe literally as a “deacon” of the church of Cenchrea). In Paul’s letters to Timothy, it seems like in the difficulties of Ephesus Timothy was going to be involved in appointing deacons and elders. So Apostles can appoint deacons, but we presume that this was normally the task of the elders since there is no other mention of apostles appointing deacons.
Application: Before the church planting team leaves the elders will be expected to recognize, train, and deputize men and women deacons who will do the bulk of the day-to-day oversight of the house churches.
A. Note on Function of deacons: There does not appear to be any sense in which the deacons served as a governing board of any kind in the early church. Instead they were helpers to the elders. The elders served as the governing team to the network of house churches, making sure that resources were shared appropriately (like Ephesians 4 ministries) and that all the churches were being cared for.
- Probably the deacons did most of the practical oversight including the spiritual oversight in the local house church.
- The elders likely served as shepherds to the deacons (and to one another).
- Women likely oversaw the women (Cf. Titus 2:3f) and seemed to be highly regarded (Cf. Romans 16:1f,).
- Men deacons probably oversaw the other male members (Perhaps 2 Tim. 2:2? Paul->Timothy->faithful men (elders)->who can teach others (deacons)).
We have found such a structure allows elders, who have full time jobs, to effectively oversee the church by personally overseeing the deacons who carried out most of the other oversight. The fact of women deacons protects the men from having an unhealthy relationship of overseeing women (other than his wife and daughters). Wives of elders often serve as women deacons.
B. The relationship of elders to deacons: We have each deacon accountable to and overseen by an elder. So each elder might oversee a group of deacons. The elder and his deacons (male and female) could meet as a leadership team of a house church or a smaller cluster of house churches within the network. Often the women shepherding deacons meet as a group (much like the elders do) as they try to figure out how to shepherd and oversee the women. They do so under the authority of the elders. The team of elders has ultimate responsibility for the health of the network of house churches.
C. Other deacons: Other deacons may help the elders in ways other than shepherding: finances, administration, planning, meeting oversight, etc, can all be carried out by deacons. Each deacon would still be overseen by an elder and thus directly accountable to one elder. This elder would be accountable back to the whole eldership team for the actions of his deacon(s). The elder is always responsible for the actions of any of his deacons to the rest of the eldership team. Deacons have delegated authority from the eldership through the specific elder that is overseeing them. This also forms the line of accountability. The eldership is responsible as a team for the effective functioning of the deaconate, without which the church will not be effectively shepherded and cared for. Elders do not micro-manage good deacons. In fact they do not micro-manage the church. We believe that all the saints are created to lead and need to take initiative in building the kingdom in their area of calling and gifting. Elders and deacons just make sure that these efforts are facilitated and coordinated rather than each one doing what is right in his/her own sight.
Ephesian 4 Ministers: These are gifted prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in the network of house churches (and in other networks). These gifted people do not have any governance authority in the churches but rather would influence the whole church by exercising their gifts as they equip the saints throughout the network. The elders would be responsible to make sure that Ephesian 4 ministers are being well used in the body and that outside gifts could be asked in from other networks (and apostolic teams) in order to build up the body. The Ephesians 4 ministers would serve under the authority of the elders. For this reason they can be gifted men or women. Apostles should also be regularly invited in by the Elders.
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