Team Ministry

Ministers

There is no such person as the omni-competent minister. God has made sure of that! It is helpful to think of the ministry of Jesus. When he left his disciples, it would have been impossible for a single one to continue his ministry. SO.. he gave them his Spirit, TO DO IT TOGETHER!.

In Ephesians (4: 11) these are called the fivefold ministries of Christ. Leaders, each with a different gift, work in harmony to prepare the Church for the work of ministry to God’s world.

Every leader, ordained or not, is a helper, using her/his particular gifts to prompt and enable the whole mission of God.

It is also spiritually unhealthy (and unbiblical!) for a local Church to become attached to one person's ministry.

'One person ministry' can damage the person's health.

Ministers as members of a Team

The Methodist Church in Ireland wants to move towards team ministry so that the Body of Christ can be more effective in God’s mission.

This would not mean an ordained person will no longer have responsibility for a particular congregation. It does mean that enabling the congregation for the work of ministry (Eph 4) will be the task of several people.

Just as a Health Care Team brings different disciplines to a health care package, yet the patient has an identified team member, so with Church ministry – each congregation will have an identified servant leader and receive support from others.

We must be team because God, as Trinity,
is team.

Remember:

. . . . . this is not about withdrawal or saving money or downsizing;

. . . . . this is about opening ourselves to God's mission in God's power;

. . . . . the Holy Spirit comes to empower people when they are together