This is a question we receive periodically from folks considering attendance at Wellsprings Church or from other organizations/ministers/pastors within the community.  To which, we respond “there is no pastor” – yes, imagine the puzzled looks we have received.  “No pastor?  But who leads the church?  Who teaches?”  To that, we simply reply “the elders”.  In our pursuit to measure all that we do against God’s Word, we have found ourselves in a leadership model that is quite unique and contrary to mainstream churches.

A quick search of “pastor” or “pastors” in the Bible, depending on the version, nets 1 result in the New Testament – one result.  “Pastors” is found in Ephesians 4:11 where Paul states that God gave some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers…; the context of which is not referencing a church office, rather giftings of the Spirit.  The Greek work for “pastors” in Eph 4:11 is poimen; a more accurate translation would be “shepherds”.  Now you are thinking, “okay, pastor – shepherd, same thing”.  A search on the use of poimen or related derivative reveals that the only other places where “shepherd” is used as a noun in the New Testament refers to Jesus (e.g. 1 Pet 5, John 10).  So why does Wellsprings not have a pastoral staff – because the Bible does not have “Pastor” as an office in the Bible. 

You could argue that I am splitting hairs, and I might concede to that a bit.  However, I would counter that today’s typical church org chart more resembles a corporation than that of the church structure painted in the New Testament; the larger the church, the larger and more layered the structure.  Typically filling those positions are full-time, salaried, “professionals”, many of whom have a degree in ministry or theology; which is not necessarily wrong, but it sends the message that such positions are only for the “professionals”.  I am not necessarily trying to offend our brethren in such organizations; rather I am calling into question “Why do we do what we do?  How does that align with the Bible?”

At Wellsprings Church, we strive to employ a leadership model that we see clearly laid out in the Bible – qualified men acting as elders and deacons of the body.  Acts, Titus, 1 Timothy, and 1 Peter reflect these offices and that the leaders of the church were the elders; whom were charged with shepherding the body of which they were given charge to act as overseers for the flock (1 Peter 5). 

These are men from within the church that the body knows and that knows the body.  As Overseers, the elders will have to give account for the souls under their care (Hebrews 13).  Thus it is imperative the local “shepherds”, as under-shepherds to the Great Shepherd (1 Peter 5), know their flock and care for them accordingly.  This seems like an unmanageable task in today’s mega-churches; it is challenging enough in a smaller setting.

As a family integrated church, we further espouse this model, because we strive to encourage and equip each man to act as the elder/shepherd of their own home and ,should they so aspire, an overseer of the church (1 Tim 3).  As stated above, being a “professional” is not required, but, as overseers, whether of the home or church, we should diligently press into God and His Word so that we can be the resident theologian and a Godly example to those God has placed under our care.

Dear Lord, please help us to do so with grace, discipline, integrity, and tenderness – amen.