The Broken Bones Church:
Misplacement of Leadership
by Rev. Lorraine D. Coconato

Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 are chapters that teach the designed gifts of the Church, as designed by the Designer Original, our Lord Jesus Christ! Under the unction of the Holy Spirit, Paul the Apostle delivered these truths to us.

Pauls expounds in 1 Corinthians 12: 14-30 that the members of the Body vary in gifting and in strength, yet each member is to be honored for the God- given gifts that He has placed in them for distribution among the brethren and in the non-believing community, that the Name of Jesus will be lifted up! (Drawing all men unto Him!)

A solid reference for understanding the work of the ministry is taught in Acts 6, specifically verse 4 that says, "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word," which is the main focus of the five-fold ministry leader. All Ephesians 4: 11 leaders, appointed by the Holy Spirit and not by man's preference, nepotism or popular opinion, are to be people of prayer and the Word!

Too often, church leaders become the "butcher, the baker and the candle-stick" maker, stretching themselves to appease the needs of their sheep, repair all the unworkable parts of their church or building, visit the sick and bereaved, counsel for long hours, with little time for prayer, the Word and family! This type of leader will eventually burn-out, as he/she has not understood the definition of his/her call and has spread himself/herself so thin, that when he/she does find time to pray, he/she snoozes from total exhaustion! Yet, had he/she sought the Lord's definition (for his/her lives and ministry), asked for His boundaries and guide-lines regarding his/her gifts, placement and daily routine, He would have advised him/her and much pain, stress and unnecessary mishaps could have been averted!

Unbeknownst to many leaders, the Church is not built by manpower but by prayerpower! Hear this, beloved! Nothing in God's kingdom happens overnight!!! The instant gratification mentality of the world that has seeped into the Church must cease, so that the Body can function with divine efficiency, that the Body parts can be nurtured, established and remain in a healthy state. This can only be accomplished by persevering prayer, feeding the people of God with the sincere milk (calcium-enriched!)of the Word to maintain optimum health and stability! (Science and medical experts have determined that a calcium-deficit diet will lead to osteoporosis, arthritis, etc., a weaking of the bones, joints and spine! This is true for the health of the Church as well!)

God-appointed leaders realize that they cannot do the work of the ministry alone! Jesus had a team, so a church/ministry team is His heart to reach the multitudes! Leaders must pray for the Lord to bring helpers, intercessors, administrators, deacons and servant-hearted individuals to join them in their pursuit of God's vision to be realized in their lives and ministries! Over-stretched leaders, unfortunately, will often fall prey to what I call, "the warm body symdrone!" Meaning, leaders can be tempted to fill a ministry position based on the availability of an individual, because they, themselves, are looking for someone to take up the slack and fill the void that they are sensing! Without a defined, provisional season of service, misplacement of leadership can bring death, strife, confusion and every evil work to a church or ministry team!

Ministries are built brick by brick and God provides sufficient straw for the bricks! Desperation and prayerless placement of leaders will wreak havoc in the church/ministry opening leaders to demonic assault, schisms and divided hearts and houses!

A personal example was approximately six years ago, I appointed a leader to a position that required her to work very closely with me. I did not hear the Lord tell me to appoint her, instead I appointed her based on her words to me, "The Lord has told me to be your assistant!" This lady had great skills, yet, she was extremely wounded from relational issues and wanted to consume me and control my life and ministry! Her gifts, in this case, were comensurate with the position, yet her brokenness and immaturity caused much duress to me, my family and our ministry team. This is an example of a "premature placement."

Another example was a couple who were moved across country to become assistant pastors in a large church. They left a senior pastorate to join this congregation. They were multi-gifted but were not meant to take this appointment! The extensive working hours, inappropriate placement and eventual physical exhaustion and depletion led to disease and near death of the wife. This is an example of "out-of-joint placement."

And yet another example is the placement of friends and family to ministry positions that are done solely on the basis of nepotism or love for the individual! Though the Word says that we are to expect/train a "heritage for the Lord," this does not mean that our children, relatives and friends will "fit" into our ministry positions based on our love, devotion and relationship with them! A well known ministry leader appointed his son to run his ministry. This young man was very rebellious, not only toward his father and sister, but also toward the Lord. Strife reigned in their office, home and relationships. He was volatile causing division and trouble wherever he went! He did not want to submit to God, his father or anyone else! This is an example of "relational misplacement, based on emotions rather than the wisdom of God!"

Therefore, in order to avoid this explosive issues from detonating in our churches and ministries, here are a few guidelines for the appointment of leadership:

1. Pray and seek the Lord regarding all potential leadership.
2. Pray with your spouse, prayer partner, elders and ministry board regarding the individual ministry candidate.
3. Have a meeting with the potential ministry leader with your family/elders/board and pray together.
4. Set a provisional and limited service for the potential leaders. (Give him/her specific guidelines from the Word and your prayers.)
5. Disciple, meet with, pray with and if possible, connect this person with another leader in whom he/she can be accountable.
6. After the provisional season has ended, meet again with the potential leader with family/elders/board members. Communicate, converse, assess and pray.
7. Appoint leader to the part of the ministry that he/she has been gifted to do and continue to pray for him/her and maintain open communication.

Dearest Lord: So much of the Church has "broken bones!" Only You can repair that which has been done in impetuousity, frivolousness or carelessness by Your leaders! We submit ourselves to You for correction, instruction and help. May Your Church be fitly joined together according to Your designations and purposes that we may function in a manner that is pleasing in Your sight in Jesus Name, Amen!

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