There is a staggering need for better leadership in the church

Tom Harper May 20, 2024

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I just had a conversation with a friend who recently left his church after being hurt by a pastor who abused his power.

Another long-time volunteer friend left his church after nearly 30 years because he felt unappreciated and pushed out.

I've read about and experienced far too many instances of poor leadership in churches over the years. It's one of the reasons BiblicalLeadership.com exists. My passion is to teach biblical principles that anyone can use, especially in the church.

Many senior pastors have been forced out of their roles due to "lording over" the flock they're supposed to be shepherding.

Why does this keep happening over and over, often in headline-grabbing ways?

One thing I know is as church leaders (pastors, elders, teachers, deacons), we have a responsibility to live up to the standard given to us in the Bible:

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; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
—1 Peter 5:2-3 (NIV)

We can't do this perfectly, or even all that well, unless the Holy Spirit helps us.

Let's humbly pray for him to lead us and his church.

Praying with you,

Tom Harper
Founder, BiblicalLeadership.com
LinkedIn profile | Books

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Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More »

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