Is the relationship between church leaders and members like that of Christ and his disciples

While He was on earth, Jesus Christ set the perfect example in leadership. Though He was superior to His disciples, but He treated them as equals. He was kind to them and felt their needs. There was a time He even washed their feet, a classical symbol of humility. But is the Church emulating this? Are today’s church leaders exhibiting this wonderful relationship between the Master and His followers? Are the shepherds truly leading their flocks with genuine love, sincerity of purpose and tenderness? CHRIS IREKAMBA reports.

• ‘I Should Treat Everyone The Way I Would Love To Be Treated’
• ‘It Is Unfortunate That Many Of Us Ministers Of God Have Forgotten That We Are “Chief Servants”
• And Turned Ourselves Into ‘Chief Executives” In The Lord’s Vineyard’
• ‘I Am There Because The Sheep Are There And There Won’t Be Any Shepherd With out The Sheep. They Are The Ones Praying For Us And We Are Also Praying For Them’
• ‘Most Of My Members Know My House And I Still Find Time To Visit Some Of Them’

Bamgbola

‘Many Of Us Ministers Of God Are Nothing But Pure Hypocrites’
(Apostle Alexander O. Bamgbola, General Overseer of Zion, The City of the Lord Ministries/CAN Chairman, Lagos Chapter)
This kind of question should have gone to our congregation, because they are in a better position to assess us as their pastors and leaders. But to be frank with you, many of us ministers of God are nothing but pure hypocrites. However, I humbly made up my mind never to be one, from the beginning of my calling into the Lord’s ministry.

In John 21:14-17, Jesus repeatedly told Peter “feed my lambs.” I do believe that it is very important for every minister of God to understand what it means to be called by the Lord Jesus, to lead His sheep as an under-shepherd. Certainly, it is the highest calling of God that any man or woman can have on earth. It comes with a serious responsibility. Hence, God demands that a minister of God “be found faithful” (1 Corin 4:2). Since the Lord called me, I have always tried to lead the congregation that He hands over to me to shepherd, just the way He led and taught His true ministers (slaves), and fed His lambs. By the grace of God, I have always tried to be as close as possible to my congregation or the sheep, which God has given me to shepherd.

As a matter of necessity, I always ensure that my congregation sees me as one of them. By God’s grace, they know and see me as one of them, always ready to bear their burden with them and as one that is always approachable. It is certainly not easy, but is mandatory for every under-shepherd truly called by God. It must be noted here that this has nothing to do with the size of congregation or number of followers. Whether or not the lambs are able to physically see or touch their under-shepherd, they must have this sense of intimacy with their under-shepherd. This is what I do strongly believe and live by, as a servant of God. It is unfortunate that many of us ministers of God have forgotten that we are “Chief Servants” and turned ourselves into ‘Chief Executives” in the Lord’s vineyard, particularly after a little “deceitful” ministry success. This is why I keep the Word of God in Matt 18:3 in my heart daily, in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. I will remain a little child of God all my days, as an under-shepherd of the Lord.

Rev. Msgr. Osu,

‘I Do Not Lord Over My Parishioners’
(Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos)
Leadership is all about rendering selfless service. Essentially, there are different classes of leadership, depending on the prevailing circumstances. Within the body of Christ, the Priest, or Pastor, is expected to be the spiritual leader of his parishioners; the Bishop or Archbishop is the Chief Shepherd, while Christ remains our true model. The priest caters for the spiritual needs of his flock. He teaches them and encourages them on the need to look up to God, Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. In this turbulent world, we need divine guidance in all that we do. That is why God, through the Roman Catholic Church, has provided for us biblical principles and traditions to follow, if we are to live fulfilled lives. It is the duty of the priests to continually admonish the flocks on this right path to follow in their journey through life.

As a priest, I minister to and pray for my parishioners during Masses. My office and home are always open for counselling sessions in line with biblical principles. I listen to confessions, conduct wedding ceremonies, and attend to sick calls and conducts funerals, amongst other pressing responsibilities. I am sensitive to the challenges facing my congregation, and share in their joy. Aside spiritual nourishment, it falls within my jurisdiction to offer assistance, where necessary, on how their temporal needs can be met. This I do through charity works, seminars, workshops, etc. Several of them have been blessed in this regard. However, I do not lord it over my parishioners. We live in a world that can sometimes be quite overbearing, depending on how one views it. There are different kinds of people, from diverse backgrounds, each coming to the house of God for succour. In this part of the world, people expect the priest to have all the answers to life problems, including those that are way beyond their jurisdiction. The priest thus, also becomes a psychologist, a neurologist, an investment expert and a marriage counsellor, all combined.

Indeed, it can be very challenging attending to the numerous needs of every one. Even Christ Himself did not find it easy during His ministry. There are some people that are very receptive and allow the word of God to bear fruit within them, while the hearts of some are like the hard soil that refuses to bear fruit. It is one thing to teach the people the right path to follow; it is another for them to comply. But we must keep on trying our best. In this times, when Christians are being persecuted all over the world, including in our country Nigeria, it behooves us as religious leaders to continue to preach peace to our people. We will also continue to admonish them to be careful of those they associate with, the things they do, and not allow the toils of life to weigh them down. Rather, we all must continue to look up to Christ, our Good Shepherd, Who is always ready to wipe away our tears. May God soften all hearts and make them bear positive fruits to the glory of His name. Amen.

Odedeji

‘I Don’t See Myself As Somebody Who Cannot Come Down To The Level Of My Members’
(Rt. Rev. James Olusola Odedeji, Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
I have good relationship with all my members. I see all of them as partners in progress… and even if anybody errs, I still give room for human errors. I still believe so much that a shepherd should love his sheep irrespective of their affiliation, tribe, educational and financial status. They are all my people and I’m expected to relate well with them and be conscious of their welfare. I am interested in their growth and their personal development, as well as their wellbeing. I’m interested in their children’s prosperity and their health, because it is only when they are healthy and are doing well that I can also be happy. And God forbids, if any of them goes down, I’m also affected. And so, by the virtue of my office, I should see all of them as my children, irrespective of their age and level in life. That is why they refer to me as their father in the Lord, and not because I am old enough to be their earthly father. That is how the relationship has been all these years I have been in the ministry of the church.

I believe church members would better handle this question. To me, the higher I go in the service of the Lord, the more humble I try to become everyday, because it is not by power or might. I am what I am by God’s grace. And since Jesus Christ is our perfect example, we are all working towards perfection. So, my members are free to see me and discuss their needs anytime. And when it is practically difficult for me to do anything, I look for means of getting it done with the little I could do. Right now, I’m not in the country, but I have other people that are standing in for me, who attend to whoever needs help. So, we will continue to try and struggle to be like the perfect Man, Who is our Jesus Christ. But in terms of humility, I don’t see myself as somebody who has arrived or who is unreachable or one who cannot come down to the level of my members. I should not be blowing my trumpet on the phone as you are talking to me now. I know what I have done and what I’m still doing for my members, as a shepherd.

I am there because the sheep are there and there won’t be any shepherd without the sheep. They are the ones praying for us and we are also praying for them. So, everybody is important. Despite the fact that I’m on vacation, I still receive calls from Nigeria, because I don’t know if the call is to give spiritual help to someone in need. This is to show how sensitive a shepherd should be to his flock.

‘Living Close To Members Means Identifying With them’
(Archbishop Joseph Ojo, Presiding Bishop, Calvary Kingdom Church, Lagos-Badagry Expressway)
I believe that the members would have been the appropriate persons that can give the correct assessment as to how close their pastor is to them. Whether I am humble, accessible, caring or not. The Bible says in Proverb 20:6, “most men will proclaim every one his own goodness. But a faithful man who can find?” It is very rare to see someone that will give a bad assessment of himself in this regard. However, for over 40 years as a minister of God, I have been close to my members.

For instance, I have never lived far from my church, where majority of the members reside. I believe that is the first proof of the ways you can be close to your members. Jesus came from heaven to live with mankind. Disciple John asked Jesus: “Master, where dwellest thou?” He said unto them: “Come and see.” They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day” (john 1:38-39).

Most of my members know my house. I hold leaders meetings once a while with my ministers and leaders in my conference room at home. There are ministers who live far from their church for reasons best known to them. I believe living close to your members shows you are identifying with them, and giving them the convenience of reaching you at any time of the day. There is no protocol or undue roadblocks for the parishioner that wants to see me. I have a day in the week that is known to the members, which I personally set aside to counsel and pray for them. On others days, my other pastors do that and any issue they are not able to handle is brought to me.

Even till this very day, I still find time to visit some of my members, especially the ordained ministers, who in turn visit the members. Jesus, Who is kind, has given me the grace to be kind not only to my members, but also to all around me. Galatians 6:10 says: “as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (your members). Washing feet means servant leadership and we have in many ways been servant to the members through prayer and practically helping them.

‘Have No Special Chair In Church’
(Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, General Overseer, Fresh Anointing Missionary Ministries Inc./Senior Pastor, Church of the Anointing, Warri, Delta State)
My initial reaction to this question is not to answer it. The question does not ask about the ideal, but wants a discussion on personal conduct with respect to pastoral relationship with parishioners. This could tempt one to sound boastful and therefore, ungodly. But the Lord will have me share my practice, so that some might learn and so that those outside the church should know that we are not all the same.

The New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers. Consequently, I see myself as one that is in ministry to the saints as their servant. I have no special chair in church that nobody sits on. I have no guards and will not acquire any, if I become more successful. Our church members understand that if I don’t pick a call, I will respond to a text later. I am their shepherd and must be available for counselling, guiding and praying with them. And there is no social status about this. Nobody kneels to talk to me and I call nobody my son. Yet thousands have come to Christ through our ministry, just as hundreds are in ministry today, who are our converts. I carry my bible myself and refuse my name being used in testimonies or prayers. I am nobody’s god.

All my conduct is based on my understanding of the scriptures and I have read the Bible from cover to cover, countless number of times, since I became born-again in October 1977. Raised a Catholic and encountering Christ through the Scripture Union, I do nothing with the aim of pleasing men but God. Fortunately, I am not a failure in any sense of that word. So, none can paint me with the brush of illiteracy, poverty or primitivity. Some church leaders carry out feet-washing ceremony, as though it were a sacrament, but their treatment of the people is contrary to the example Jesus set. Sadly, our people prefer to be enslaved, used, duped, abused, manipulated and hypnotised.

There is an urgent need for church leaders in Nigeria to return to Biblical practices and I commend The Guardian Newspaper for its efforts in this regard.

Pastor Ezekiel Joel

‘We Have Made Ourselves Know That ‘Fearing’ The Pastor Is Not Consistent With The Bible’
(Pastor Ezekiel Joel, General Overseer, Full Salvation Believers’ Assembly Int’l, Nnewi, Anambra State)
Truth be told, Christ remains the undisputed perfect example, in every thing, to both the leaders and the church members (1Pet. 2:21; Heb.12: 1-3; John 13:14-17). But, it is to be realised that, whether we are ministers or we are church members, we need an incredible measure or supply of grace to fully keep pace with all He, Christ, our Precious Lord, has commanded us. The sad reality is that human beings are incredible. My interaction with some key church ministers has shown that even the best and most caring or loving Pastors are easily disrespected, and, or treated with ingratitude, in return for being lovingly vulnerable.

By God’s grace, I have been helped to be there for members in need. As a ministerial policy, I don’t visit the sick church folks without fresh fruits and cash, as much as God helps me. In our church, it’s our pattern or practice to pray for, or with sick members, as well as give some financial assistance at home, or in the hospital, as the case may be. This, I must say, is very challenging. By God’s grace, it has been my style of leadership to be open and very friendly with my fellow leaders or co-ministers and members. We have made ourselves know that “fearing” the Pastor is not consistent with the biblical way of minister-member relationship. Rather, the fear of God alone is promoted, as it makes the job of the pastor easier. A church member who is faithful to God in private and in the public and, who fears God with all his heart, will not engage in things that can give his or her shepherd any heartache or headaches.

In our church, the open-door policy is promoted even though we have seen it abused or taken for granted, since man as a free moral agent, is often prone to deviant behaviour, if his will is not given over to the Lordship of Christ Jesus. And though there is a few that do not appreciate such gracious style, after the order of Christ, our Saviour, we cannot abandon His command or His example for such reasons. From my limited experience, I would encourage other pastors not to allow the few whose wrong attitude of misrepresenting the genuine deeds of church leaders, and in some cases engaging in mischievous blackmail, hinder them from following in the scriptural footsteps of Christ. The Bible tells us, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal.6: 9); “Unto the pure, all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled” (Titus 1:15).

Udofia

‘We Should Try To Overcome The Temptation Of Being More Important Than Others’
(His Grace, Most Revd. Emmanuel Josiah Udofia, Primate of the African Church/President, Christian Council of Nigeria)
Although I cannot be blowing my own trumpet, but I believe any of my members anywhere in any of the parishes, archdeaconries, dioceses, where I served would testify that by God’s grace, I showed respect to all persons, for it is because of them that God put me there or make me to be what I am.

It is very unfair, unjust and a sign of unfaithfulness to God and even a sin to show partiality, James 2:9. I should treat everyone the way I would love to be treated, because we were created in His image.

We should always try to overcome the temptation of claiming to be more important than others by His grace, because that might be a sign of pride, which comes not from God, but the devil (Phil. 2:1-3).