Why Riv’s Leadership Is Different From Many Churches

[intro]How many pastors are there at Riverview?  Do you guys have a senior pastor? How is the church governed?[/intro]

These questions are some of the most common ones we get around here at Riv.  We enjoy fielding these questions as it gives us opportunities to share our convictions about pastoral leadership and church governance with those in the church.

Senior Pastor Jesus

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. – 1 Peter 5:4

The term “senior pastor” is one that has become more and more familiar to us in western culture.  Many churches place the name of their senior pastor on their sign or on a specific space in the parking lot.  A senior pastor is the main leader in the church that leads the congregation to accomplishing its mission and vision.

Here at Riv, we aim to make it abundantly clear that Jesus Christ is our senior pastor.  Whatever endeavors we undertake as a church, such as being on mission in Lansing, starting new venues, or sending out church plants, we lean into our senior pastor for guidance.  We do this by studying his Word, praying together often, and leading well where God has placed us.

Jesus, our chief Shepherd, made a promise to the disciples before he ascended into Heaven:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. – Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus is with us as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel and make disciples in our local context.

Plurality of Pastors

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you…” – Titus 1:5

Elder, pastor and overseer are are interchangeable words in the New Testament Scriptures.  When Paul charged Titus to find elders, he told him to raise up leaders of the church who would teach the word, fight against false doctrine, and care for the community.

Riverview has nine pastors who have been commissioned to lead and love the church body.  Some of these pastors are full-time, while others are bi-vocational.  Each pastor has specific roles and work duties that he completes depending on how God has gifted him to serve.  Some may teach, some may lead worship, others may do more counseling and care ministry.

Throughout Scripture, Paul charges Timothy and Titus to find elders in each community that they lead in. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-8 show Paul’s clear instruction to these men about raising up pastors in each town to care for and lead the church.

Some of the pastors sit on the board of directors, which make many of the bigger, organizational decisions that effect the church going forward such as finances, HR and other legal issues.  An even smaller group of pastors sits on the Executive team, which focuses on the big picture vision of the church going forward.

Having a team of pastors is a great benefit as it allows the work load of ministry to be spread out, decisions to be well thought and and discussed, and accountability within the pastor team.

Servant Leaders

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. – Romans 12:4-5

The biggest group of people in our leadership structure at Riv are those in the congregation who lead on teams and in various ministries.  Life group leaders, welcome team leads, and student ministry leaders are all examples of people who are serving and leading in various ways at Riverview.

God has made people different and has gifted everyone in ways that they can build up the church.  Much like the human body, the church thrives when the individuals who are a part of it serve and lead in the ways that God has gifted them.  As we continue to grow, the need for leaders in various contexts grows immensely.

Jesus cares a great deal about his bride, the church.  At Riverview, our mission is to preach the liberating power of the Gospel as we grow, serve and go.  The Gospel has the power to change hearts, and our passion is for more and more people to come into relationship with our senior pastor, Jesus Christ.