Seeing double in this leadership model …

“Hi ho Silver! Away!” was the cry, then off rode the Lone Ranger …

… with his partner, Tonto.

Yes, even the Lone Ranger wasn’t alone.

But many leaders in the church today serve in their positions alone, in spite of the biblical example we see in both the Old and New Testaments of leaders serving in partnerships.

Moses had Aaron and Joshua, Elijah had Elisha, Daniel had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In Luke 10:1, Jesus sends out disciples in pairs, and the apostles often “did ministry” together or in pairs. Paul had Timothy, Barnabas, Silas, and several other partners at different times, and Barnabas and John Mark worked together.

While there are biblical examples of a man serving alone — Philip bringing great joy to Samaria (Acts 8) or Apollos preaching and evangelizing effectively in Achaia (Acts 18) — the common ministry model in the New Testament is shared leadership.

One of the single greatest benefits of a shared ministry is the capacity for spiritual support to be given to practical work, and vice versa. For example, imagine if two men shared the responsibility of being Senior Minister for a church. While one is praying and studying for a sermon, the other can be visiting the sick, calling on visitors, counseling members, evangelizing, and other tasks that pull a minister away from prayer and study. While one is preaching, the other can be praying. While one is writing, the other can be researching.

In a partnership, you have someone to bounce ideas off of, or to get ideas from; you have a constant prayer partner who prays passionately because your ministry needs are his as well; you can, in one sense, be in two places at once through the representation of your partner; and you not only have someone as an accountability partner, but someone to share in that accountability.

You also have someone to help you shoulder the load of responsibility, provide you with direction when you’re unclear about things, and someone to keep you grounded when “successful.”

In spite of these and other benefits to doing ministry in partnerships, two objections to this ministry model usually arise quickly.

First, the cost of paying twice for one position is usually objected to. A friend of mine once posted this to Facebook: “Never ask God, ‘What’s the budget?’ Ask God, ‘What’s the plan?'” If God has given us an example of ministry partnerships, and desires for a work to be shared, He’ll supply the means to meet the need … if we trust Him.

Second, many people, including vocational ministers, look at multiple church staff as being ministry partners. But serving together on a church staff is not the same thing as sharing the leadership of a ministry. In fact, you’ll often find the “silo effect” of looking after one’s own area of responsibility to be as strong within the church as you see in office wars in the corporate world.

For all the constant banter among church leaders about creativity and innovation, why are few churches even looking at the real value of this biblical model? What do you stand to lose trying something like this?

Ah ha! Could it be that a leader doesn’t want to share the “authority” that comes with their role? Or the spotlight? Or the influence? Or the stage? Or the budget? Some will see sharing their role as a threat to their role.

If we really want to be innovative in ministry, perhaps we have to think beyond catchy church names, flashy websites, and replacing the pulpit with a high top table and chair. Maybe something like partnering in ministry, and other examples straight out of the Bible could bring new, more vibrant life into our kingdom work.

Scotty