Crescent Hill Baptist Church recently moved from a church structure that involved a Deacon Council and elected committees to a Ministry Team model. Here is an explanation of that model.

Explanation of the Congregational Ministry Organization

Christian "ministry," is defined as doing what Jesus did (Luke 4:16-21). In other words, "ministry" may be thought of as... meeting the needs of others in the name of Jesus. It is also interesting to note that in Acts 6, the "Diaconate" {those who minister, or those who serve) includes the apostles... in other words, the "ministry," the "deaconing," was shared by laity and clergy ( Acts 6:3-4). As a result of their sharing the ministry, a wide range of the needs (physical and spiritual) of people were met in the name of Jesus...the number of believers increased and there was greater harmony in the fellowship.

This organizational plan for congregational ministry is built upon this concept of shared ministry. It calls for area lay leaders and area staff resource ministers who form partnerships to provide leadership for each Ministry Area. These area lay persons and ministers form a Ministry Coordination Council. The MCC will choose an additional person to serve as the Ministry Coordination Council Coordinator. Initially, in launching the new organization, the MCC Coordinator, each area lay leader and area staff resource minister are invited to serve on the basis of his/her interests/passion and spiritual gifts in a particular area of ministry... it is also highly desirable for the MCC Coordinator and area leaders to have the gift of administration (the ability to organize and delegate) and the gift of leadership ...the demonstrable ability to energize people for work. After the organization is operative for one year, the area lay leaders are thereafter chosen annually by the teams within his/her particular ministry area.. .taking into consideration his/her interests/passions and spiritual gifts for that area of ministry. Similarly, the MCC Coordinator is chosen annually by the area leaders and the area staff resource ministers based on his/her interests/passions/gifts.

Ministry Teams are formed as individuals perceive a need and discern a call to meet that need. Ideally, each team functions according to small group dynamics, including the development of a covenant of purpose and accountability. The length of service on a team depends upon the length of the life of the team (some teams exist to do a short-term project, others continue indefinitely) and the continued interest and sense of calling of the team member. Each team does its own planning and requests its needed funding (budget requests are made through the Ministry Area Lay Leader, approved by the Ministry Coordination Council and forwarded by the area leaders to the Budget Planning Team). The ideal is that all church members will be part of a growth activity and a serving team.

The Gifts Identification Team, formed by up to ten persons, approved by the Ministry Coordination Council, shall encourage church members to discover their spiritual gifts and then use their gifts in creating or joining ministry teams. As ministry teams are formed, the Gifts Identification Team may provide names of people (to ministry area leaders and ministry team leaders) they become aware of who are gifted in the various areas...and who may have the interest/desire to become a part of a particular ministry. This team will also seek to be alert to burnout for those who have been serving.