Every experienced overseer will surely identify with this very subject. Either you like it or not, you will surely come across it one way or the other in your church and ministerial calling. Form our research, we have come to discover that 60% of the problems that retard churches and ministries comes directly or indirectly from this group of people in the church. Unfortunately, many overseers are at a loss on how to handle them in a way that will lead to growth and progress. WE hope that this teaching will provide solutions to this gigantic problem.
1. DEFINITION AND BASIS – Num. 16: 1-3; I Tim. 3: 1-7; Acta 5: 1-2; Acts6:3-7.
The scripture supports deacons, elders and committee members. The minister alone cannot run the church effectively, he needs men and women who will serve as partner, supporters, advisers and burden bearers. The mind of God for his local assembly is one God- made, God- called man at the helm of affairs, ably supported by good men and women as associates, helpers, deacons and board members.
Knowingly or unknowingly, these people become power brokers in the church. Foundation members, financial backers, positional people, personal associates, elderly members can all become power brokers in the church. They demand for preferential treatments in the church.
Power brokers are permission – granters, opinion- moulders, decision- makers and influential members of the church. They are position – buyers, they seek to control the pastor and determine the direction and focus of the church and ministry. Sometimes, they are wealthy Christians who build churches and employ pastors to run them.
2. HOW BROKERS EMERGE IN THE CHURCH/ MINISTRY.
These are some of the ways that lead to the emergency of power brokers in the church:
- Early supporters in the church
- Constant transfer of pastors
- Quick placement of people in position
- 90% of support from two people
- Granting them special seats, privileges and recognition
- Chosen people based on wealth, fame and status
- Favouritism, tribalism and premodial sentiments.
- Family members and kinsmen in control
- Uninformed ordination of deacons and associates
- Too tender, soft, unassuming and peace at all cost leadership
- Joint or co- foundership and over- humility of leaders.
- Handling everything to boards, committee and associates.
- Playing into their hands through scandals, immorality and unwholesome lifestyles.
- Too much quietness and unclear communication.
Through these wrong practices, many churches and ministry have unwittingly allowed power brokers to emerge in the set up. And they have served as bulwark to the advanced march of the work. By the time the leader realizes, the damage has been done. They secretly work against the church and the leadership and they hinder growth from within.
3. HISTORY OF POWER BROKERS IN THE CHURCH.
In some few cases, they have been very good, supportive and strong defender of the leader. But in majority of cases, the have infighting, quarrel and stagnation to the work.
- Story of power broker who removed pastor’s chair and he fell down
- Story of power brokers who drove pastor away from church
- Story of E. C members who struggled the pulpit with the pastor
- Story of committee who denies the pastor of his salary
- Story of power brokers who got pastor arrested and locked up in a police cell.
- Story of church E. C that removed the roof of pastor’s house
- Story of boards that disciplined and retired pastor
- Story of power brokers that scrutinize and select pastors.
- Story of power brokers who broke away the church to form their own
- Story of power brokers who demanded that pastor must change his hard – hitting messages.
- Story of power brokers that misappropriated all the money of the church
- Story of power brokers who demanded for joint- sharing of the proceeds of the church.
- Story of power brokers who must pocket every pastor to their own advantages
- Story of influential members who wrote petition against the pastor.
These are all real- life stories. Most power brokers in the church have brought negative effect. The sleep with single women, lay bad examples, come late to church, practice frequent absenteeism and try to lord it over good ministers. Churches of every affiliation have had to contend with power brokers one way or the other. Many churches and ministry has been rendered redundant due to the unwholesome activities of these power – brokers.
Recommended Reading
Leadership Conflict And Crisis In Ministry
Ten Ways To Serve God With Your Talents
How To Stop Eating In The Dream (1) – New!
4. HANDLING POWER BROKERS IN THE CHURCH – Acts 5: 3-10; 8: 17-23.
In the light of the above sceneries, the effective overseer of today must be both tough and tender. To be a successful overseer, you must have the mind of a scholar, the heart of a child and the head of a rhino. You either get destroyed by these group of people in the church or ministry. You must develop a mindset, a self- image and a skin that is not easily torn.
A tough and tender overseer must take the following steps:
- Be current, informed, relevant, dynamic and marketable.
- Don’t rush to appoint or ordain deacons and associates
- Don’t rush to write constitution and registration with government
- Don’t surrender your ministry and vision to lower forces
- Work only with those who are spiritual and godly
- Work only with those who are spiritual and godly
- Communicate clearly your expectations and qualification.
- Rely on God’s provision. Don’t be a slave of wealthy people.
- Take the difficult decision. Cut ambition and ambitious associates to size. Sacrifice peace for progress.
- Don’t have skeleton in your cupboard- no secret dealings with anyone. Let your life be an open book.
- Demand loyalty, truthfulness and honesty from associates.
- No position must be permanent in the church. Say it, show it and demonstrate.
- No meeting must be done in the overseer’s absence – it must be with his express approval.
- Disloyal, disgruntled and power conscious people must be shown the way out. They are free to go to other churches, ministries or start their own.