This article originally appeared in Deacon Magazine.
Suppose your pastor resigned suddenly. If your church is like most churches, you would feel the vacuum in leadership. While having a full-time pastor is God's idea, may I raise the question: Does a church have to suffer because there's no pastor for a season? Can churches even prosper without permanent leadership at the helm?
We can look to the early church as an examples. It was led by ordinary men, some of whom had been fishermen. While some of the Bible's greatest leaders, such as Moses and Paul, were highly educated, others were simple farmers. The bottom is a pastorless church can use the time of transition to help its members discover and develop the gifts they have for ministry. There is no need to wait on a pastor to continue to disciple believers. Often, we don't recognize the possibilities that are in our midst. Here are several things deacons can do to encourage new leaders and guide their church in the absence of pastoral leadership.
Encourage all lay people to invest in the life of the church
Lay leaders can use this interim time to exercise gifts that might go unnoticed otherwise. We don't want to communicate to the congregation that only a "select few" are qualified to "do church." Every person has a personal experience with God to share. The point is this - we do not have to wait for church ministry expansion simply because we lack seasoned, trained pastoral leadership. An interim time can be a golden opportunity to let the church be the church.
When Simon Peter was in prison for a time, the church didn't sit around doing nothing until he returned. They gathered for prayer about that situation. God heard the prayers of a serious group of lay people, worked in mysterious ways, and strengthened their faith. He is the same God today and desires to work through His people as they seek Him.
Provide ways for members to explore God's calling and gifting
If we believe paid leadership should do all the work, we conveniently excuse ourselves from exercising the gifts God has given us to edify the church. We need to use the time when we have no permanent shepherd to explore the spiritual gifts and skills God has given each of us. "Every member a minister" is a great slogan for the church bulletin on a Sunday morning, but when it's put into practice, it will rock the world!
Imagine the possibilities of finding new God-called and gifted leaders: children's story tellers; childcare workers; Sunday School teachers for all ages; people to do maintenance, lawn care, and clean up after church meals. Others with the gift of compassion would be effective ministering to shut-ins. Interim leaders and pastors perform significant and needed roles. However, we should actively develop and discover lay gifts as God's people come forward. This can happen as a result of leadership needs uncovered during the transition time.
We do not have to wait for church ministry expansion simply because we lack seasoned, trained pastoral leadership.
Spiritual gifts must be given opportunity to be tried and tested. God is always preparing people to step into positions of service. One thing is sure, God knows our future and is preparing us now for things that are in that future.
As a pastor, I recall fervently visiting one home to encourage a young lady to return to the church in which she grew up. She adamantly refused to have anything to do with church. My efforts seemed fruitless.After I left and the church was without a pastor, the situation changed. This young lady stepped in and became who God gifted her to be. She now leads part of the children's ministry in the church. God's work in her heart and His gifting is bearing fruit.
Open the doors to service
Many people in the pews never serve simply because they have never been asked! What might happen if we simply ask those whom we think unlikely to serve and follow-up on their responses? Chances are we will be pleasantly surprised by those who would like to be involved. They were just never asked!
We need to intensify our ministry efforts when we are without a pastor by turning the transition into a time of renewal and discovery of congregational giftedness. God blesses us when we use the unique gifts He has given us. New people will step forward, and the church may move in a new direction simply because members were able to rediscover their gifts and motivated to new avenues of service.
A time without formal church leadership might be just the time for you to explore new areas of ministry that until now, you never knew was a possibility! When your pastor leaves, your congregation could be on the brink of a new and exciting phase of spiritual growth as members learn to exercise their giftedness in Christ.