Who is (really) in charge? Authority in Congregations
I have a gut feeling that the root cause an uptick in tension around authority and autonomy in decision making in congregations and leaders is due to the election cycle. It makes sense. We all are in collective discernment around the next leader of our country. Ask anyone who has ever been in a prolonged period of discernment and they will tell you: discernment is hard work.
Although it sometimes presents itself as a matter of the church constitution - or affiliation with the ELCA - or sometimes it bubbles up in a conflict about “something else”; I’m hearing the unasked question, “Who is in charge at our church?” more regularly.
So who is in charge? Is it the synod? Is it the ELCA? Is it the pastor? Is it the church council? Who has the final say around here?
Asking this question is hard. You don’t want it to be construed as a power-grab. But you want to be sure the outward expression of your church authentically reflects the values and beliefs of a community. The truth is, conflict usually arises when you care about something and when there’s lack of clarity around who has the final say. So what’s the deal?
Jesus’ disciples were afraid to ask him what he meant about his own death. I wonder if that was just too much to process. So in Luke, chapter 9:46, they start asking about the same thing:
An argument arose among them concerning which one of them was the greatest.
Jesus picks up a child and places it in the midst of them and then goes on to talk about who is the greatest. (It turns out, Jesus says it’s “the least among you.”)
Interdependence is a good word to know.
In the introduction to the 2022 model constitution for congregations, you will find the word, interdependence: “Each expression of this church—churchwide, synod and congregation—is held together in a relationship of interdependence that encourages each to respond to its context.”
We are reliant on each other. Indeed, we could do this thing called “church” on our own. But instead, in the body of Christ, we are given one another. Together we interpret God’s word, plan for God’s mission in the world, and support one another in good times and bad. We don’t all agree. Our ministries look different. And, we come to the same table, receiving the same peace Christ promises always.
In C4.03, which is a mandatory provision on the purpose of this church, congregations shall, “Foster and participate in interdependent relationships with other congregations, the synod, and churchwide organization of the Evangelical in America.”
C4.06 continues, “References herein to the nature of the relationship between the three expressions of this church—congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization—as being interdependent or as being in a partnership relationship describe the mutual responsibility of these expressions in God’s mission and the fulfillment of the purposes of this church as described in this chapter, and do not imply or describe the creation of partnerships, co-ventures, agencies, or other legal relationships recognized in civil law.”
Further, C6.01 on church affiliation states, “This congregation shall be an interdependent part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or its successor, and of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This congregation is subject to the discipline of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
We could “go it alone” and be alright; but like a marriage partnership, God has given us to one another for the sake of strengthening, safeguarding, and building up the body of Christ. What this means is that we don’t have to be all the same. It also means that we’re actually better together when we’re not all the same.
Love holds us together at the table, where with open hands, we all hear the same invitation, “The body of Christ, broken for you.”
Top Down and Bottom Up Governance
In other denominations, like our friends in the Roman Catholic Church, we may think of top-down church leadership: authority comes from the Pope, through Bishops, through Priests.
In other denominations that are more congregational based, like our friends in the LCMS, congregations in their annual meetings hold the authority to make policy, interpret theology, and so on.
We are an interdependent church. This means that we are congregationally based, with support from the synod and the churchwide organization. We are both a bottom up and top down church. A decision or policy made at the denominational level might inform how a congregation interprets its mission, but how that congregation chooses to participate is expressed through the congregation’s decision making process.
So we are interdependent - but who is in charge in the congregation? Is it the pastor or the council?
Our predecessor bodies may shape the interpretation of this answer some. The work of a pastor is outlined in C9.03 of the model constitution and is a mandatory update. Included in this bylaw is a list of the work to which a pastor is called. In addition to the word and sacrament ministry that is described, it is also the work of a pastor to…
relate to all schools and organizations of this congregation
install regularly elected members of the Congregation Council;
with the council, administer discipline;
endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the churchwide organization and of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin and
encourage adherence to covenantal relationship with this church as expressed in the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
While not a mandatory provision, C12.01 details that pastors and deacons shall be a part of the voting membership of the congregation council. While this is not in practice in every congregation, inclusion of the pastor as a member of the council is the healthier practice. C12.12 further says that inclusion of the pastor at council meetings is appropriate and important for the transaction of council business. Council meetings should not happen without the pastor aware they are happening. Let’s put this another way, should the person called to bring the Word of God to any situation be a part of the shared leadership of the church?
What does this all mean?
Asking, “Who is in charge?” is maybe not the most helpful question. As the good news of God begins to disperse throughout the world, shared leadership made the travel of the good news possible. Was Lydia in charge of her household? Yes. Did she support the wider ministry of the gospel? Yes.
On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed! After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, “If you’re confident that I’m in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests.” We hesitated, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. (Acts 16:13-15, MSG)
If I were to directly answer the question of “who is in charge” I would say this is Christ’s church. The owner of the mission is the people of the congregation; the annual meeting. Church council leaders are elected by the whole body. Pastors engage in the work of interpreting the mission and vision with leaders, staff, and members alike. In other words, we share leadership. We are not “in charge” but stewards.
Leaders and pastors are called to steward the ministry of a congregation for a unique point in its life. It truly is a calling. Shared, interdependent leadership is at the heart of our theology as we endeavor to be, as Martin Luther called us, “little Christ’s” to one another. Or, as Jesus conveyed to the disciples,
… whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:26-28, NRSVUE)
Pastor Jenn Pockat
Associate to the Bishop
Director for Relationships and Resources
