Sola or Plura Pastora (by T)

This post is by “T” — one of our regular readers. It concerns whether we need to focus on having more than one pastor.

Sola Plura Pastora – 1 – Is sola pastora a problem?

I have a thesis. The thesis is that the prevalent, though often unspoken, western practice/ecclesiology of sola pastora — one pastor — is long overdue for a slow but steady and thoughtful overhaul. In this series, for however long it lasts, I’d like to discuss several reasons why plura pastora — many pastors — is a better way to go, and several ways we can head in that direction wisely and with honor to pastors and congregants alike.

In many respects, this conversation is very old. Quaker and Brethren branches of the Church immediately come to mind as more recent examples of a different path. But arguably this conversation goes as far back as the apostles, or better, all the way back to Moses, the judges of Israel, and the eventual, reluctant establishment of a human monarch in Israel. But honestly, my concern is more about fruit—about intended and unintended outcomes in mission—than about chasing the mirage of the “perfect biblical model” for leadership in a purely theological or abstract way, even though biblical data is both necessary and illuminating on this subject.

To start the conversation, I want to ask this: In your experience, have western churches put too much on the “head pastor?” Is this a problem that needs addressing at all? What do you see are the symptoms of sola pastora? Relatedly, when Jesus tells the 12 not to let anyone call them “Teacher” or “Father,” what do you think Jesus is concerned about there? Do you think we’ve tended to heed those concerns on the whole, or not? If not, what are the costs?

In a nutshell, today’s topic is: Is there a problem? What are the symptoms? Next we’ll consider one of the ways sola pastora plays itself out, as well as some reasons and some options for moving toward plura pastora.