How to lead a church

This book is the first of a projected series of books in A People on Purpose series. In ten volumes the themes of how God gathers, governs and grows the church will be explored. As the series editor Andrew Roycroft puts it: “this [is an] original series of volumes with the health of the local church at its core.”

“Healthy Christians make for healthy churches, and healthy churches make for healthy Christians. Likewise, healthy churches are led by healthy leaders who have been shaped by healthy resources.”

This volume by Stephen Kneale, who you may know from his Building Jerusalem blog, deals thoroughly with the topic of healthy leadership in 24 chapters.

First, Kneale advocates the importance of eldership in independent churches. The case for independent eldership is extensively explored and presented against the background of other models, particularly that of the national church in England.

Secondly, Kneale explores the nature of eldership, the nature of elders’ authority under Christ, the criteria for their appointment and the importance of a plurality of elders. Kneale argues for all elders being equal, suggesting that the difference between an elder and a pastor is merely an issue of time, a pastor being distinguished by the time he has available to exercise his ministry.

I am not entirely convinced by this, and at times later in the book Kneale does appear to unconsciously treat pastors/ministers as in a special category (I did find I had placed a fair few question marks in pencil beside some of Kneale’s observations; I guess that may well be the sign of a good book; it certainly got me thinking!)

Thirdly, Kneale explores how elders function in relationship to each other and the church. Kneale helpfully reflects on how to maintain healthy relationships.

Fourthly, Kneale outlines the role of elders within the church. There are practical chapters on counselling and discipline, church member’s meetings, teaching and preaching, training and sending, and prayer.

I noted Kneale’s high view of the role of the churches’ regular gatherings for the healthy growth of the church: “It cannot be said enough: Sunday meetings are the primary God-ordained means of growth in maturity and training for Christian service.”

I was particularly taken with Kneale’s concept of leading a Sunday theological breakfast at his church. Generally speaking Kneale seems to have touched all the bases in this book. There were perhaps a couple of omissions – although there is a section on training and sending, there is not a chapter on the elder and the outsider, or wider society. The book would also have been enhanced by the addition of questions and exercises, to enhance its use for teaching and training.

Fifthly, there is a vital chapter on personal, physical and mental wellbeing, that advocates the importance of self-care of body, mind and spirit for the health of the elder and the church.

I was pleased that Kneale made use of some of the fine writings of Clifford Pond, whose elegant prose combined robust Biblical exegesis with an insightful feel for contemporary and practical application on church leadership.

Any church leader will find things in this book to inform, challenge, stimulate and equip.

INDEPENDENT ELDERSHIP
By Stephen Kneale
Grace Publications. 272 pages. £14.99
ISBN 978 1 917 322 027