This is a wonderful discussion. It is so good to hear that there are people asking these questions. I actually have a little of experience in this area, so I though I would jump in. But please excuse my inability to completely articulate my thoughts on the subject.

Several years ago I was part of a church plant. The church took on the feel of a house church. There were usually 25 to 40 people in attendance on Sundays with about 10 people per house group. An ex-youth pastor started the church. He was looking for what all of us are, a genuine community of believers with the freedom or absence of structure to allow the Holy Spirit to have full reign.

After about a year, the church starting mulling over the theoretical idea of a leaderless church. God would be the head, the leader while everyone did what they were gifted at and how the Spirit lead.

Six months after this discussion began the guy who started the church went oversees on mission and thus we began a leaderless church. The church lasted for a year. During the last six months of existence, there were six of us.

What went wrong? I think when we talk about leadership there are some questions that need to be asked. Do people need human leadership? In my experience the answer is yes. Once the pastor had gone, vision and direction decreased, cohesiveness stopped, and the sense of community died. Maybe because that group of people had only known community with a leader. Maybe if the church had been started on with the concept of a leaderless community it would have worked.

It is my passion to see a community of true believers using their gifts, experiencing God and walking their journey’s together without the pastor dictating it all.