“Success without a successor is a failure”, so goes the popular adage. Every organization or institution therefore does not take the issue of succession lightly. One key responsibility of the Board, where it exists, and the management, is succession planning.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHURCH, how is leadership succession to be managed? Who plans it? And who executes it? That all depends on another set of questions:
▪︎ Who OWNS the Church?
▪︎ Who HEADS or LEADS the Church?
▪︎ Who are the Church’s STAKEHOLDERS?

• What is the BIBLICAL model of Church leadership?

Historically, we have seen different models of leadership succession in the Church, and they arise from answers people give to the preceding questions.

▪︎ MONARCHY – This is where the “founder or founders” decide who succeeds them. And this, more often than not, is a spouse, a child or family member. Such succession hardly takes the generality of the membership into consideration. The Church is run as a pyramid structure with the founder(s) having sole authority. They act more or less like “the 4th men” in the Godhead. What a traversity!

This monarchical model of leadership succession by inheritance, is not only unbiblical but unspiritual. For no one is a “founder” of God’s Church, Jesus is the founder and foundation. And if it is the Church of the Lord Jesus, no one man is given such authority over the Body of Christ, HE IS THE HEAD! And not even he, JESUS, arrogated such powers to himself.

“You will indeed drink from my cup,” Jesus told them, “but I do not have the right to choose who will sit at my right and my left. These places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them.”
(Matthew 20:23, GNT)

MOSES, at the end of his leadership tenure, did not single handedly appoint his successor, he deferred that to God,

“LORD, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone. Please appoint someone over the community…”
(Numbers 27:16, GWT)

▪︎ DEMOCRACY – This is where leadership succession is decided democratically by elections, with all the elements of politics at play, campaigning, mudslinging, bribery and corruption. At the end of the day, leadership is merely a popularity contest, not necesarily a matter of divine choice and approval.

Again this model may be appealing to men in an age of democratic rights and privileges, but it is fraught with danger.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7)

Elections in the Church may produce popular, charismatic leaders, but the do not necesarily produce leaders approved by God. And depending on which direction the particular church is tilting, they may, like the children of Israel, even vote to reject godly leaders.

“Look,” they told him (Samuel), “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the LORD for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the LORD replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer” (1Samuel 8:5-7)

▪︎ DIVINE APPOINTMENT – This combines the neccesary elements monarchy and democracy, yet allows God His sovereign space to decide who leads His people.

• The Lord will send a leader He chose to go find a successor, but in doing so, such a leader is careful not to allow personal interests to overcast such a choice.
• Apostolic leaders will be given a responsibility to appoint Elders or Deacons over the Church (note the PLURAL), but there were clear guidelines as to who qualified.
• The people were allowed to “choose from among them” those to provide leadership, as in Acts 6, but confirmation was from God as they prayed for divine guidance.

WHAT QUALIFIES A PERSON FOR LEADERSHIP IN GOD’S HOUSE?

• First, a sense of divine CALLING.
  “This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News”
  (Romans 1:1, NLT)

“No one takes this honor for himself. Instead, God calls him…” (Heb.5:4)

• Second, GIFTING & divine COMPETENCE
  “And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility” (Acts 6:3)

“Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly”
(2 Timothy 2:15)

• Third, the CONFIDENCE of the led.
  “Deacons (leaders) must be well respected and have integrity” (1Tim.3:8)
• Fourth, godly CHARACTER and virtues.
  “Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example” (1 Peter 5:3 NLT)

1 Timothy 3:3-7 GNBUK
“He (the leader) must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money; [4] he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect. [5] For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God? [6] He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was. [7] He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION IN THE CHURCH IS NEVER A MATTER OF FAMILY TIES, FILIAL LOYALTY, OR CLANISH HERITAGE. IT IS BY DIVINE CHOICE AND APPOINTMENT.

Who is the head of your church,
JESUS or a mere man?