Unity

In a small church, there is something that must be present that is sometimes lacking. That something is unity. Usually, when we think of unity in the church we think of the people in the church getting along with each other – being united as a church family and as the people of God.

But there is another unity that is just as important, and that is unity between the congregation and the pastor. For the pastor to be an effective leader, especially in a small church, the congregation has to be behind the pastor. They must be willing to support the pastor, even as much as the pastor supports the people in the church.

There should be a unity of purpose. There should be common goals, a common calling, and a common mission in the church. There should be a feeling that God is calling the congregation to do a work, and the pastor should be called to that same work. There should be a shared mission, God having a purpose for what we do, and that we (pastor and people) are in this together.

I wonder how many churches merely exist because their pastor and the congregation aren’t united about what they should be doing? How many churches all but shut down because they don’t understand their pastor, or their pastor just doesn’t understand them? How much of the work of Christ is undone because congregations and pastors don’t agree on what the work of Christ is in their local community?