God Holds Authority? What a Concept!

God Holds Authority? What a Concept!

Who hold the authority in the local church? The pastor? The people?

Alban Institute recently published an article about this very question with regard to whether either polarity “clergy authority” or “lay authority” produces thriving congregation.
alone. They complement each other. Congregations often find themselves in power struggles over the two poles of a polarity. Both sides believe strongly that they are right.”

The research shows it is neither the clergy nor the laity, but both. Thriving congregations manage the polarity. Read the entire article "Failure to Thrive" .

In his book “They Kingdom Connected”, Dwight Friesen uses a “networked kingdom paradigm” and describes the pastor as a “new work ecologist”. In Friesen’s view traditional hierarchies are flattened and authority is “revealed” and therefore resides the missional identity of the network. He writes:

“Any claim to Christian authority is understood by looking at the mission of God as seen in Jesus Christ…authoritative claim or action is authenticated by its resonance with God and God’s mission.”

Both Friesen and the Alban report are saying the same thing in different ways. The answer is Both/And with an important distinction: Each faith community or cluster within that community must look to God for direction and mission. What a concept!

Let’s not waste time quibbling over who is in charge. Let’s determine how best to use whatever resources we have –time, talent, money – to become the beloved community our souls ache for.

If our mission is to help people find their gifts and graces for participating in God’s reconciling mission – doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God – there would be no need to argue about who has authority.