Day 7: When Speaking on Behalf of God is Risky

When Speaking on Behalf of God is Risky

Non-coercive church leadership

JOSH DOWTON

It’s relatively easy to point to a handful of high-profile examples of coercive leadership in churches, and to identify the practices or systems that supported such leaders. It’s also relatively easy to limit the problem to such high-profile examples and ignore the need for us all — especially those of us who are pastors/church leaders — to take a closer look at our church practices and structures and to notice where there could be the potential for (or actual examples of) coercion or controlling behaviour.

Whether we are fully aware of it or not, pastors and leaders in churches can be seen to be speaking on behalf of God. 

This is no small thing! To speak as if we have a divine mandate for our ‘vision’ for the church, or for our pastoral advice (or our ideas in general), means that there is a (perhaps subconscious) possibility of people feeling like they are somehow disobeying God if they don’t go along with what is presented or suggested. This may be as direct as what is presented as ‘what the Bible teaches,’ or as indirect as the gentle (or otherwise) pressures for people to fill the rosters we all know still need to be filled. These risks are amplified when such church leaders don’t have sufficient accountability structures in place, including being surrounded by people who never challenge a pastor or leader’s statements and actions, or who already think the same way or aren’t capable of bringing differing perspectives – and this is especially the case when male church leaders fail to make space to hear the voices of women.

One practice that we (at Northside) have found particularly helpful is to seek to develop a culture of invitation. We certainly don’t always get it right, but we do seek to frame everything — including those ever-present rosters — as a no-strings-attached invitation to join in. This is a deliberate attempt to recognise and affirm people’s agency, and to minimise the possibility of people feeling an obligation or burden to ‘volunteer’ (or to be motivated by guilt). We want people to join in, and we want it to be a joyful and liberating experience when they do! And yes, sometimes it means the rosters don’t get filled, and that’s ok.

I’m also thankful for our Baptist heritage — particularly the combination of the deeply held commitments to freedom of conscience and the priesthood of all believers. Such commitments, kept front and centre, hopefully mean that power is decentralised, that we recognise the importance of discerning the leading of the Spirit in community, and that there is room to disagree, to ask questions, and to not feel compelled to think or act in certain ways.

Change can be hard, and it can take time. But our primary commitment is to learn all of life from Jesus and to be re-formed by the grace and kindness of God. 

As we prayerfully notice any practices or structures that could be at risk of being coercive, we are invited to look to Jesus and to experience the liberation that comes with letting go of anything that stands in the way of fullness of life.

Go Deeper

What are some practices we have in our churches which are at risk of being coercive? 

In what ways are you free to disagree with or challenge the points of views of your church leaders? 

If you are someone that holds a position of leadership in your church or community, what can you do to protect against being coercive or undermining the autonomy of people in your care?

Pray

Dear God, 

We are sorry for the times where we have not allowed others to live with the freedom that you promise for all people. For the ways we have been seeking to control people's thoughts and behaviours in the name of God, we repent.

Instead, may we be people who invite difference, and the freedom offered in Jesus. May we see more clearly the structures in our society and churches that centralise power and have silenced and oppressed people. God, help us to be people shaped by love who can call out injustice and prevent violence against women.

Amen

Josh Dowton is the Executive Pastor at Northside Baptist Church in Sydney. He loves helping Christians find ways to act well in their local communities, as an overflow of formational discipleship. Josh is one of the founding members of the Crows Nest Safe Village Project (a whole-of-community response to domestic & family violence), and is a board member with Mary's House Services (a domestic & family service on the Lower North Shore).

About this series

Confronting Coercive Control is Common Grace's daily blog series during 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, 25 November to 10 December 2024.
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• 1800 RESPECT National Helpline: 1800 737 732
• Women’s Crisis Line: 1800 811 811
• Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491
• Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114
• 13 YARN (Aboriginal Mob): 13 92 76
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