Team Ministry in the Multisite Model
This is Part II of my examination of the Multisite 09 Conference.
Introduction
Part I: What Makes A Church A Church?
I will be speaking more in my next post about some of the benefits that a Multisite model affords. In this post I want to focus specifically on the benefits of doing ministry in teams.
Looking though the New Testament there are scarcely any examples of solo ministry. In fact there is overwhelming evidence that the pattern of ministry set up in the bible is team ministry.
Jesus first sends out the 12 in pairs of twos, Mark 6:7. Later he sends out the 72 in the same manor, Luke 10:1.
Peter and John are sent together to see the Samaritan work being done in Acts 8:14. In Acts 11, Paul and and Barnabas travel together to bring the offering to Jerusalem. In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas are sent out as missionaries.
Upon closer examination we see that Philippians, Colossians and 1 Thessalonians all come from not just Paul but from at least Paul and Timothy, and Silvanus in the case of 1 Thessalonians.
The Biblical evidence for full-time perpetual team ministry is overwhelming.
While all presbyterians at one level adhere to a team approach to ministry, most people would admit that the actual amount of teamwork on the day to day level of ministry varies widely.
In the last year working at City Reformed I have come to appreciate how active all of our elders are, but I have especially appreciated the way that Matt, our Senior Pastor, and I have been able to work together on a full-time basis.
Harbor’s model of many pastors serving in many locations, creates an environment of accountability and encouragement. If the Biblical pattern of ministry is team ministry, Harbor has developed a very interesting way of fostering this type of ministry. They have also adopted the practice of hiring full-time interns, who are either ordained or working toward ordination, creates a place for young men like myself to gain invaluable experience in ministry.
Do you think that team ministry is something that is important to cultivate in your local context?
Why do you think there are so many Biblical examples of groups of people ministering in the New Testament?
If you know of team ministry happening, what are some of the advantages or disadvantages of working in teams?
Team ministry is absolutely essential to ministry. I do not believe there is even a choice in this matter- that answers your second question. Elders, both ruling and teaching, must lead the church together. It does come down to a matter of polity as you pointed out, and true presbyterianism fits nicely with team work and cooperation outside the immediate congregation.
What we do at New Covenant is that each elder has direct responsibility for a “shepherding group” and a ministry. I serve on two teams: outreach and discipleship. Each is led by a different elder. It is interesting to note that on the outreach committee is an elder, Mike, but does not “direct” it like Brian does.
Advantages:
- harder to fall into error because of accountability
- every meeting becomes a brain storming session
- assists communication
- builds prayer life and fellowship (team meetings)
- use of different skill sets outside your own, enables you and the church to do more
function as the body is intending to so.
Disadvantages:
Truly depends on the extent of teamwork.
- But it can hinder the entrepreneurial spirit of people if they always have to go back and get approval from committee chairs and elders.
The Trinity is ministry team one. Reflected glory and mutual service mean that there is joy and fruit. The fruit of that glorious team unity of divine persons is creation and redemption. The people who are the new creation and reflection of the Trinity must live and work like the “team” that made them. A trinitarian model makes solo planting seem like the absurdity that it is.
Good thoughts brother! Congrats on the new member of your team, by the way! When is your wife due?