Photo: Pawan Sharma – Unsplash

In recent years I’ve been on a journey of discovery as regards the use (and misuse) of power in pastoral ministry.

As I look back on my early years as vicar of the Anlaby Churches, I’ve realised that I was guilty of using power inappropriately – feeling insecure as I did, and worried that I might be ‘set aside’ in some way. I also experienced inappropriate use of power by others – and witnessed its unpleasant side effects.

More recently, we’ve all become aware of the abuse of power by Christian leaders in all sorts of settings – both Anglican and otherwise. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of them all. A quick google search will bring up a number of unpleasant scenarios.

More recently still, as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England I witnessed what I can only describe as inappropriate use of power (as well as lack of transparency) at the highest levels of the Church of England. I have written an article about my experience, and would be willing to email a copy to you if you ask me for it.

Reflecting on what has been happening

Inevitably I have been reflecting for some time on what has been happening. In my reflections I have been particularly helped by the work of Diane Langberg.

Here are a few of my reflections:

  • We can often be blind to our misuse / inappropriate use of power. We can adopt unhealthy ways of leading and relating to others that we’re not even aware of. We need the insight and counsel of others to help us to see our blindspots.
  • The corollary to this is that we need to be open to criticism (Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 27:6, James 1:19). Whenever we receive criticism, we should listen closely to what is said and discern whether there is any truth in it. Even where there is very little truth in what is said, the fact that it is being said demonstrates that there is hurt which needs to be healed.
  • Structures of accountability are helpful and important; but there is no substitute for the leader being willing to be accountable. If the willingness is not there, they will always find a way to bypass the structures.
  • Where power is being used inappropriately, it can often arise from insecurity or a desire to build a reputation. This is one reason why it’s so important for us as leaders to find our security solely in Christ and his love for us.
  • We can learn ways of using power inappropriately from the institutional power structures around us. As I have learned from General Synod recently, the whole Church of England as it currently operates is permeated with a culture which, whilst in some ways good, could also be said to require inappropriate use of power. I found myself caught up in micro-uses of power just to be able to get things done. (And before anyone points the finger at the Church of England, it’s worth remembering that the Church of England in some way models itself on the Parliament of the United Kingdom; and that many other organisations and institutions have recently been implicated in misuse of power and cover ups.)
  • Lack of transparency in decision making is a separate issue, but I have no doubt that working collegially and in secret can be used as a method of increasing power for some groups.
  • We can all rely on power and success and strength unthinkingly – hence our attempts to be the best at worship music or preaching; or have the largest youth group or best website. (And sadly many church members have learned to look for those things themselves. For example, someone told me recently that when they lost their worship band their congregation size dropped dramatically.)

A complete rethink – Gospel culture

Perhaps we need a complete refresh. And if so, I wouldn’t be surprised if the foundations on which to build can be found in the New Testament – and with the principles of gospel culture that we’ve been thinking about in this blog.

Weakness not power

Our men’s group recently considered the experience of Gideon (Judges 6-7). We noticed how God deliberately reduces the size of Gideon’s army in order that the glory for the victory might go to God and not to Gideon (Judges 7:2).

As I reflected on that later, I realised that Gideon’s experience isn’t unique. Again and again in the Bible God works through weak people – in fact he chooses weak people. See for example Moses (Exodus 3); most of the Judges who are weak in one way or another; David (1 Samuel 16:1-3, 2 Samuel 11); the majority of the 12 disciples.

Then there are those who are weak because of their circumstances. The most obvious example of this would be Joseph (Genesis 37-41); but there’s also Daniel, Jeremiah, and most of the prophets.

In fact, when you look at the list of those who are ‘stronger’ the list isn’t so impressive – Saul, Solomon…

God’s powerful rescue not our brilliance

In the case of Gideon, our men’s group saw that God deliberately made Gideon’s army weak in order that Israel might see that the victory was God’s. Again, this is a theme that runs throughout the Bible, from Abraham through the Exodus to the famous saying in Zechariah:

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Zechariah 4:6

In the New Testament we find the apostle Paul saying the same thing in what is perhaps the theme verse for this blog:

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me

2 Corinthians 12:9

And of course Paul shows us how the two themes of our weakness and God’s powerful rescue go hand in hand: If we are weak, then we can’t take the glory ourselves when God works in power. All the glory and praise and honour goes to God for his powerful, rescuing work. 

God-dependence not control

One other theme goes hand in hand with those already considered: Will we try to control, or will we give up control and choose to depend on God and his work instead?

A few years ago I took a sabbatical (or period of extended study leave as it was officially known). I remember telling my church family the day before it started that I felt like I was about to walk off a cliff – which only goes to show how much I was in control of my diary (or thought I was). What I discovered as I handed control over to God was a freedom that I couldn’t have imagined. I also discovered that he’s much better at managing my diary and my life than I am! In other words, I allowed God to work, and he delivered, and I’m certainly not going back to how things were before. I am learning to ‘walk by the Spirit’ and to depend on him rather than myself, though I still have a long way to go.

Fulfilment in Jesus

Of course, all of the themes set out above find their fulfilment and supreme illustration in the Lord Jesus. Jesus was God – supremely powerful, supremely in control, brilliant in every way. And yet he gave up his power, his control, his brilliance (at least for a time) and he chose weakness – the supreme weakness of humiliation on a brutal cross.

As he did so – and as he depended on the Father more than he ever had before – he brought about the greatest of all God’s powerful rescues: delivering his people from our sin and all its terrible consequences.

More than that – he rose again, ascended to the Father and poured out his Holy Spirit; and in the Scriptures he gave us a model of how to lead. As we read through the gospels and the epistles we see a worked example of what godly leadership looks like.

Leading like Jesus

One of the sad consequences of the reaction to the many examples of misuse of power is that some of us have wondered if we can lead at all. We have perhaps over-reacted. 

I wonder if the antidote to this is to ask the question “How does Jesus lead?” If our leadership (while imperfect) reflects the leadership of Jesus then we don’t need to worry that we are using our power inappropriately (though of course we may still find people accusing us falsely, as Jesus himself did). Many of us at the moment are praying for reformation and revival. Perhaps this is where it will start?

Let me leave the final words to the apostle Peter:

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favour to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:1-7

A prayer

Lord – I repent of my inappropriate use of power and failure to shepherd your people. Please forgive me, and change me by your Holy Spirit. Please work throughout your worldwide Church, from the newest convert to the ‘highest’ shepherd – to help us repent of our inappropriate use of power and increasingly to seek to truly shepherd those under (y)our care. Amen.

Taking it further

Redeeming Power – Diane Langberg

Powerful Leaders – Marcus Honeysett

Lead – Paul David Tripp

Nolan Principles