We have been teaching on the Five Equipping Gifts for 2-3 years at Village Chapel in preparation for moving from a traditional pastor led congregation to a Five Equipping Gifts Congregation. I’m not sure where your congregation is, but I know that there needs to be some teaching in preparation as the congregation needs to understand what these five gifts are, how they function and what role they would play within the congregation.

It’s my view that Elders are the overseers of the congregation from the New Testament, and some of the Elders will be from the Five Equipping gifts – but not necessarily all of the Elders. Not every congregation will have an Apostle, a Prophet, an Evangelist, a Pastor, or a Teacher. Will they all have a pastor as the leader? It doesn’t seem to be the case as I look around the world. Some are led by an Apostle, some by a Prophet, some by an Evangelist, some by a Pastor some by a Teacher. They may be referred to by the title “Pastor,” but that is not their calling or their ministry emphasis. Some people would call them a gift mix like Apostolic Pastor, or Prophetic Pastor – which could be the case. But the NT teaching on what a “Pastor” is called to do is different than so much of our traditions and expectations are. I just preached a couple of weeks ago about this with Village Chapel.

There is a measure of these Five Gifts given to each of us according to Eph 4:7. So, if there is not an Apostle in a local congregation; the apostolic emphasis can still be brought by the leadership into the life of the congregation.

It has been an interesting time as we are making this transition. Many people are teaching theory in this area, but few have or are gaining the experience of what it can look like. I did not say “should” look like because it is going to be different with each congregation. One thing I know for certain; It is up to the Pastor of a local congregation to make the shift. Unless we, people like you and me, are willing to give leadership to this shift from a Traditional Pastor led congregation, it will only bring division. If there is a pastor leading and a prophet or apostle tries to bring the shift without the agreement of the pastor, it will only divide. We, the ones acknowledged as pastors, whether we are called by God to pastor or not, are the ones that have to lead this move – or it will look like we are being forced out.

I know that someone has to lead, even with the Five Equipping gifts functioning. But I am teaching our congregation to remember that the Five Equipping gifts of Eph 4:11 are given to equip. The Bible doesn’t say they are given to govern the local congregation. An apostle will undoubtedly be part of a leadership team, but does not have to be “the leader.” There is always a leader of a team. It will depend on the vision God gives for the congregation who the leader is He will establish. It may be a prophet, as in the example of Michael Danforth in Yakima at Mountain Top International Ministries, or an apostle like here at Village Chapel. It could be a teacher like John MacArthur down at Grace Church in Southern CA. The Congregation I grew up in had a “pastor” who’s calling was an evangelist. Pastor Sloan led more people to Jesus. There was not the depth of discipleship or training because the emphasis was on evangelism. It’s not that any one philosophy of ministry or vision for ministry is right for everyone, but following God’s direction is what is right for each congregation.

You probably knew all this, and I don’t know what all another person will share with you tomorrow, but bear in mind that as the leader there you will have to be seeking God personally, as well as with the help of the leaders God has brought and will bring around you. As pastors we risk more than the others in this move, it is why there aren’t too many who are willing to make this move. Talking with others will bring you some good insight into his perspective of what the Bible teaches. Ultimately though, you have to be the one with the faith and the certainty of which direction Jesus is leading you and the congregation you have been given the responsibility to lead. I’m trying to be careful to establish a biblical example so when the day comes for someone else to be called as the leader of Village Chapel we haven’t left that person hand cuffed by our current understanding of what God is doing. It needs to be flexible enough that when God chooses a new leader, the congregation will be able to shift under the new leadership while the leader (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher) will be able to lead from their style, their calling, their gifting and their God given vision.

You didn’t ask for all this so if it is helpful – good. If not, you know where the delete button is on your computer. If you want to talk some about it, my cell phone is . . . .

His servant

Russell