Perhaps one of the greatest challenges for local churches right now is navigating potential controversies around how to understand the role of men and women in the local church. This reflects, a polarising between those holding to complementarian positions and those holding to egalitarian ones. How in practice can we address this in a way… Continue reading Pastoring a church through the question of men and women in leadership
Tag: elders
Was Junia an apostle? Responding to Preston Sprinkle part 4
I’m continuing to pick up on some of the arguments in Preston Sprinkle’s book on complementarianism and egalitarianism. My aim is to highlight a few examples from his book for discussion before providing a full review. This might also help to give you an insight into my reading methods. I’m working through the book but… Continue reading Was Junia an apostle? Responding to Preston Sprinkle part 4
Spiritual Fathers?
If you’ve followed the Bethel story over the past few weeks, then you’ll be aware of an aspect of the culture that has caused problems. Interns at the church are from time to time allocated spiritual fathers. It’s in this context that at a minimum, boundaries have been blurred, crossed and potentially worse. This came… Continue reading Spiritual Fathers?
Is your vision for numbers or health?
A big theme over the past 20 or more years has been the importance of churches having mission and vision statements but where should your priorities be?
Elder-less Churches? A further response to Steve Kneale
My friend Steve kneale has responded to my musings on whether a church can exist without elders here. I think this is a helpful and healthy debate to have, though I don’t expect it to run on and on. Our disagreement is marginal. However, I thought it might be helpful to clarify a couple of… Continue reading Elder-less Churches? A further response to Steve Kneale
Can you have a church without elders?
This is the latest in my mini-series on elders and eldership. Here I engage with a question raised by my friend Steve Kneale’s book “Independent Elders”
Elders and leadership
Here’s a little series of videos I’ve put together looking at who elders are, what they are meant to be like and what they are meant to do.
Sheep, wolves and proximity
I’ve been picking up recently on the responsibility of elders to shepherd the flock by leading them to shelter and pasture, by providing spiritual food and protecting from wolves. In a recent sermon, I mentioned that Mike Ovey, the late principal of Oak Hill once expressed his desire that theological training would help us to… Continue reading Sheep, wolves and proximity
A message for elders, wannabe elders and those who are led by them (Acts 20:28-32)
Peter closes his first letter with an exhortation to elders to take their responsibility to provide godly leadership seriously (1 Peter 5:1-4) and for the church family to submit to the elders (1 Peter 5:5). Elsewhere, the Bible tells us to make it a joy and not a burden for our elders to lead and… Continue reading A message for elders, wannabe elders and those who are led by them (Acts 20:28-32)
The neglected leadership gift of hospitality
I’ve been thinking quite a bit recently about what we are looking for in elders. You may have picked up on some things I’ve written as well as some videos I’ve shared .This arises out of a theme that if we lead, then it is not primarily to get a church to where we want… Continue reading The neglected leadership gift of hospitality
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