1st Book of Peter, chapter 5, verses 1-5.
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
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Peter urges elders to shepherd the flock among them, not below them. They are to remember that they are not exercising power over other believers. They are exercising influence by showing how to live righteously by example. This is working out what Jesus taught him, “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28).
One of the failures of modern church leadership is the failure of leaders to replace themselves with those they have trained. They guard their positions of authority and suppress the growth of the individuals in their care. As believers, we suffer from a failure to launch into being disciples, mature saints, fulfilling our calling and using our gifts. We remain spectators, filling a pew and supporting the status quo.
Several years ago I was speaking with a pastor who complained about having a “staff infection.” One of the associate pastors on his staff had left and started another church in the area. I saw this as a success that should have been celebrated. My wife and I were running a parachurch ministry, and our goal was to replicate ourselves so that if we had to leave, the work would go on without us. I am happy to say that when we left it was into capable hands that we had prepared to take it over. As Paul told Timothy, “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2).