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O LUGARDAAUTORIDADE

NAIGREJAADVENTISTADO7DIAThe Relationship Between Leadership and Governance

Stanley E. Patterson, PhD SDA Theological Seminary

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MATEUS28:18-20

Vs. 18- all authority given to Jesus

Vs. 19f- effective witness of believers predicatedupon accessing the authority of Jesus Authority is never owned

Authority is only loaned

Authority is given in trust to the church The church is a steward of Christs authority

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MATEUS16:18-19

The delegation of authority for the purpose ofgovernance as well as mission/ministry entrusts thechurch with the responsibility of making bindingdecisions. SDA system built its governance structure on the

assumption that the authority was vested in the bodynot in leaders, thus a representative system ofgovernance.

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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HUMANTENDENCYTOCONSOLIDATE

Babel

Invitation for Gideon to become king

Persistence of Israels request for a king

Progression of early church from distributedorganization to centralized papacy

Cry (1905-1930) from SDAs for pastors to beassigned to churches/districts

General willingness of people to abdicate personalauthority in favor of a central ruler

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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RESPOSTACONSISTENTEDEDEUS

Decentralize Babel

Confederacy of tribes under judges

Repeated dispersal of tribes/Israel Priesthood of all believers in early church

Diaspora in 1stcentury

Catholic => Denominations (Reformation)

Challenging efforts to re-empower laity incontemporary SDA pastor-centric culture

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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FORMSOFCHURCHGOVERNANCE

Papal (ultimate authority vested in a person) Authority flows down from a person

Episcopal (authority vested in a group[s]) Authority flows down from groups

Representative (authority vested in the body ofbelievers) SDA model

Authority flows up from the membership

Independent (authority vested in independent localcongregationno central authority)

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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MODELO PAPAL

Papal Authority

Few barriers orno hindering

buffers

Cardeais

Arcebispos

Bispos

Sacerdotes

Members Subject to Authority

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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MODELOEPISCOPAL

Members Subject to Authority

Authority Vested in Three Bodies

Some barriers orhindering buffers Deacons

Bishops

Priests

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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REPRESENTATIVEMODEL

barriers orhindering buffers

Conference(authority limited to term)

General Conference/Division(authority limited to term)

Union(authority limited to term)

Local Church(Authority vested in Collective Membership)

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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EROSIONOFREPRESENTATIVESYSTEM

Distance of Union, Division and GC from directaccountability with the membership

Political maneuvering

Expediency that avoids the cost and time necessary forrepresentative process

Natural tendency of people to avoid carryingresponsibility/accountability that they can give to a leader

Progressive impact of power on career leaders

Abuse of power

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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GUARDINGTHEREPRESENTATIVESYSTEM

In many parts of the world we are functioning with anamalgamation of episcopal and representative forms ofgovernance

Distance from direct accountability at higher levels

creates career administrators who face low levels ofaccountability for representative behavior andexaggerated perceptions of personal power

Membership is generally unaware of the nature ofauthority in the church and the responsibility that restsupon them

Vigilance must be maintained if we are to avoid seriouserosion of our prevalent system of governance

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S.E.Patterson,PhD

SDATS

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IMPACTONAMISSO

If we are ever to re-invest ministry authority in themembers of the church we must re-invigorate theirunderstanding of the stewardship of authority thatrests upon them

Mental models of administrator (leaders) andmember (followers) must be challenged. Why? Followers wait for leaders. We are ALL called to

lead within the context of our spiritual giftedness.

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S.E.Patter

son,PhD

SDATS