#8 - The Shepherd Leader

I recently preached a series on the qualifications and responsibilities of elders. One of the books I read to assist me in that endeavor was The Shepherd Leader by Timothy Witmer.

Witmer divides the book into 3 sections - 1. Biblical and historical foundations of elders / shepherds 2. The design of a biblical shepherding ministry 3. Some practical ramifications for implementing that ministry.

The first section established the biblical foundation of leaders as shepherds in the OT, the NT and church history. Witmer spends sufficient time establishing the biblical mandate for shepherding and explains how all elders are called to shepherd, not just the paid elders. He also spends a chapter re-establishing God's delegated authority of elders in a culture that resists all authority. This was a wisely placed chapter both for elders to take their responsibility up and for the sheep to submit to God's representatives.

The second section was the heart of the book. Witmer divided the ministry of shepherding into 4 parts - knowing, feeding, leading and protecting the sheep. But what was novel and interesting to me was his matrix for evaluating those 4 areas of shepherding. He explained each of those categories as falling into 2 subcategories - a micro and macro distinction.

For example, elders must know their sheep on a macro level. That is, they need to know who are the sheep that make up the flock. There needs to be a list that identifies who's a member and who's not. But the elders also are to know each individual sheep on a micro level. What are his/her strengths, weaknesses, testimony, spiritual gifts, temptations, etc. in order to better shepherd him/her. The ministry of shepherding is both public (macro) - in the church as part of a group - and private (micro) - in people's homes and personal. Elders must preach and teach publicly (macro) but must also be involved discipling and counseling individuals (micro) in order to feed the flock.

Lastly, Witmer concluded the book with practical suggestions for implementing a strategy for fulfilling these responsibilities. He suggests dividing the church into groups with 1-2 elders and 1-2 deacons working together to oversee their groups as part of the whole. I loved his proactive, systematic and strategic plan so that no one falls through the cracks. It is not the sheep's responsibility (though he does have responsibility) to pursue the shepherd for feeding, leading and protecting. But the shepherds are the ones who are to call, visit and build relationships with the sheep as part of their responsibility to God and to their sheep.

I highly recommend this book for all pastors / elders. If you are looking to establish a comprehensive strategy to shepherd your flock or to improve what you already have going, this is the book for you.