Leadership Structure

Church leadership structures vary across, as well as within, denominations. This post is not for the purpose of presenting the many varied structures and assessing the biblical merit or support for them. Rather the aim is to present the current and future leadership structure of Refuge Church.

In my reading and study of the Scriptures, I believe that the responsibility of leadership within the church was to fall upon the shoulders of one person (man). While I do affirm the place and role of a lead pastor, the early church in Acts and throughout the writings in Paul’s letters appears to have a plural leadership structure.

The word used for pastor is used synonymously in the New Testament with two others words—overseer and elder. We commonly use the term pastor (shepherd), since that is a common theme throughout Scripture, even being used to speak of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Regardless of the term used, the New Testament talks about the plural elder leadership in the church.

James tells believers in his letter that a sick person can call on the “elders” to lay hands upon them, anointing them with oil, praying for their healing.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church in Acts 13 and Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in every town. Furthermore, Paul gave qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 as to who can serve as an overseer, since those who lead must be an example.

Elders (pastors or overseers) serve the church by providing godly and Christ-centered leadership and the consistent picture in the New Testament is a plurality of elders in the church.  While some churches have deacons serve in the capacity of elders, Mark Driscoll distinguishes the two well when he notes that elders serve the church through leading while deacons lead the church through serving.

Refuge Church currently has a directional leadership team. This team serves in an elder capacity, providing leadership and taking oversight responsibility. The intent and direction of Refuge Church is for the church to be led by a team of elders.

Yet even elders cannot shoulder all the responsibility within the church nor should they. In fact, one key responsibility of pastors/elders is to equip believers in the church to use their abilities and gifts to do the work of ministry. This is where at Refuge Church our ministry teams come into place.

Ministry teams are set-up to address specific ministry needs or accomplish specific ministry goals. For instance, at Refuge we have our First Impressions team as one of our ministry teams. This group takes responsibility for the guest experience from the parking lot to the worship area.  The Worship Team and A/V Team are also ministry teams that help set-up our worship space and lead in the worship service. With all these teams a directional leader/elder oversees and works together with the team leader and team to accomplish goals, address concerns, advance our mission, and meet our core values.

It is important that we move ahead with cultivating our ministry team leadership, as well as develop our directional leadership team further. 

Two items are of specific focus for all our teams in moving forward: meeting together and constantly refocusing and aligning with the mission.  Portability and the volume of things, not always seen, have hampered consistently having our ministry teams meet together. This directly flows into constantly refocusing and aligning with the mission. Over time, all companies and churches can drift from their intended purpose and original vision. Refocusing and continual realignment with our mission is needful to fight the drift.

I am certain as we mature at Refuge Church our leadership needs and structure will mature and grow.  I am incredibly grateful for all of those serving and leading at Refuge Church with our directional team, ministry teams, Life Groups, worship, kids ministry, and student ministry.  Be steadfast and unmovable as you flourish in the work of the Lord.


If interested in reading further on elders and elder leadership, consider this book by Benjamin Merkle. Click here.

Team Effort

For years it has been reported that in most churches 80% of the work is carried on the backs of 20% of the people. In truth, this could be more optimistic than reality (some suggesting that it is more like 90/10).

Why this is true cannot be reduced to one single issue. Reasons range from a person diffusing responsibility to others around them to the selfish pleasure of merely seeing church for what one gets rather than what one can give.

Individuals sometimes do not volunteer because they got "burned out" trying to do too much or because they don't like the way things are being done. Others have so flooded their schedules and the schedules of their family that they simply do not believe they have the time to give. Still others simply have never come to realize that God has gifted them for the benefit of His church and the advancement of His mission.

The beauty at Refuge Church, since we are a church plant and have known from the beginning this is a team effort, is that we are certainly above the 80/20 margin. Even so there are still areas where volunteers are needed, still individuals who haven't yet connected in an area of serving, and still blessings individuals are missing out on until they choose to take the next step of volunteering/serving.

These are specific areas where you can connect and be blessed in serving at Refuge Church, as well as meet needs as we serve together to fulfill our mission.

Kids Ministry
We believe at Refuge Church that no one is too young to begin hearing and learning about God's love and encountering Jesus personally. Our youngest ones at Refuge Church aren't just tagging along with adults, they are here for us to display the gospel and declare the hope of Jesus Christ.

Areas to Serve: Early Childhood on Sundays or in our Kids Worship on Sundays.

Set-up and Take Down
Sometimes being a portable church we get a sense of what the Israelites experienced in the wilderness. Each week we set-up our worship, kids, guest services, and next steps areas.

Areas to Serve: Set-up Team or Take Down Team.

Guest Services
Every week we typically have first time guests. We strive hard to think about the guest experience from the moment they pull into the entrance till the moment they leave the campus. Reports show that 87% of guests do not return for a second time. When a guest returns for a second time they are significantly more likely to continue coming. Guest services focuses on first impressions, greeting, and assisting guests who are unfamiliar with things we take for granted (where are the bathrooms, where do my kids go, where is the worship area).

Areas to Serve: Guest Services Set-up, Guest Services Greeting/Guest Reception

Worship
We were made to worship and worship is the most important aspect of who we are individually and at Refuge Church. We want to continually create an atmosphere of worship and lead individuals to behold and worship Christ.

Areas to Serve: A/V Team, Worship Team, Creative Team (for worship and message series)

Connections
We want to strive to create better connecting points for guests and regular attendees at Refuge Church. 
The primary way for individuals to connect and belong in community is Refuge Life Groups. Additionally, we want to create periodic times in 2014 for connection among different Life Groups and for connection among all Refuge Church. We hope to have quarterly men and women's connection times, along with periodic lunches following our worship gatherings.

Areas to Serve: Life Group Leader, Life Group Host, Connections Coordinator (men and/or women)

Ministry and Administrative Assistance
As resources allow, our goal will be to have a ministry and administrative staff assistant. In the meantime, volunteers who have interest in taking tasks that arise would free pastoral staff to focus on primary areas of responsibility.

Areas to Serve: Office tasks, data entry, ministry projects, local mission partnership outreach/planning


As we advance forward, there will be other needs that arise. But when everyone sees the work and mission of Refuge Church as his or her work and mission, everyone will find his or her place of volunteering and we will see the beauty and power of God working through a team (body).

If you are not currently volunteering and would like to be connected with the Ministry Team Leader of any of these areas, please email me at Justin@refugenc.org or Chris Leader at Chris@refugenc.org.

A Growing Refuge

Churches are meant to grow.  Unfortunately, some churches have come to accept the lack of growth or have become complacent with the growth of days gone by.

The Book of Acts chronicles the birth of the church and its life, ministry and growth. The Spirit empowered believers, who faithfully displayed and declared the good news of Christ's kingdom to individuals near and far, and the Father brought thousands to faith in Jesus Christ.

This isn't just a historical story to be read, but a promise to be claimed. God desires and can do the same today.  At Refuge Church, we are expecting and trusting Him to do just that. More than expanding numbers, the desire to see lives transformed is our passionate expectation.

Even so, we celebrate the growth at Refuge and the small taste of what we believe God can and will do.

Over the last several weeks in our Early Childhood group, we've averaged 23 children and adults and hit a record high of 25 just a week ago.  This growth leads to our first ever expansion.  This Sunday, May 26, we will add our second Early Childhood room.  I expect this is the first change/expansion of many to come.  Lord, this I pray!

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine we give glory."