Living with the Tribal Chief

In the small rural church in which I grew up, it was jokingly said that the problem with the church was the DDTs. The three letters represented the three major families of the church: the Damans (my family), the Dohrmans, and the Tanners. Like many rural churches, these were the families that had a long history and presence within the church. But they were more than just families in the community, they were also related to one another. The Tanners were my aunt and uncle (on my father’s side), and their daughter was married to a Dohrman (so they were my cousins). When I was growing up, my mother – having graduated from Bible college and been a Stonecroft missionary – was the pianist and adult Sunday School teacher, and my father was chairman of the board.

 

Today, if you were to attend the church, there is little that has changed. My two brothers are both on the board (with one as the chairman), and one leads the church in worship each Sunday. If you look back through the archives of church history, you will find that a Daman has served as the chairman of the board for most of its 70+-year history. Soon my brother will pass the baton on to his son. The church typifies the importance and role of specific families in rural churches. While few would have the longevity that my family has had, there are still families in rural churches who have considerable power and influence in the whole congregation. They are the tribal chiefs of the congregation.

 

The tribal chiefs are the person/persons/family who are influential individuals within the church and the ones the congregation looks to for leadership in the church. They are the powerbrokers who play an important part in the life of the congregation and have a considerable impact on the decisions that are made within the church. People within the congregation look to them for leadership and guidance, and they bring a sense of stability and security within the church.

 

When a pastor first starts his ministry in a church, he may feel threatened by the tribal chiefs. In our seminary courses, we are taught that we are to be the leaders of the church and the ones who set the direction of the congregation. So, when we arrive, we assume that the people will respond to our leadership and rally around our vision for them. However, at the first congregational meeting, when we set forth our vision for the church, we became frustrated when the plan was derailed because the tribal chief opposed it. Frustrated, we begin to resent the individual or family and see them as a threat to our leadership. However, with understanding and training, we can work with them so that they become our greatest asset in ministry.

 

The tribal chiefs may or may not be in an official position of leadership. They may be male or female.  They may be an individual, a couple, or a family. Whether they are outspoken or quiet, they are viewed by the congregation as the official (or unofficial) spokespersons of the church. Regardless of who they are, we need to understand and recognize both the role they play within the church and the reason they have become influential within the congregation. Historically, rural churches have experienced a rapid succession of pastors. The pastor arrives, stays a few years, and then moves on to another (usually larger) congregation.

Throughout the years and through the changes of pastoral leadership, these individuals or families have provided the stability and wisdom that have guided the church through the various changes of pastoral leadership. As a result, they gained their influence through the leadership they have provided. They have played a significant role in the history of the church and are regarded as the guardians of the congregation’s heritage and stability. In most cases (there are the few exceptions) they are spiritually mature individuals who are respected for their maturity and Biblical wisdom.

 

Rather than seeing these individuals as a threat to our leadership, the wise pastor recognizes the value and contribution that these individuals have within the church. Instead of attempting to usurp their influence, we need to learn to see them as important co-workers within the ministry and individuals who can assist us in leading the congregation to accomplish its mission within the community.

 

To work effectively with the tribal chiefs, there are several important principles we need to embrace.

 

First, we need to recognize the vital role they have within the church, their wisdom, and their knowledge of the local congregation and community. To understand the role these individuals have within the church, we need to understand that they are often the ones who have kept the church moving forward through the struggles and challenges the rural church has faced throughout its history. As a result, people look to them for leadership and guidance, rather than a pastor who is often there for only a few years. We need to recognize that they are not a threat to our ministry but an asset to the church. Because of their understanding of the local customs and culture, they are an important source of information as we seek to learn and adapt to the local culture. 

 

Second, we need to work with them to gain their support for programs and changes that we wish to implement. Because of their influence, as we communicate our vision for the church with them and gain their support, they can assist us in obtaining the congregation’s support for the changes we desire to implement. Trust as a leader must be earned, and it takes time to develop. However, it can be undermined by violating the unspoken cultural expectations and patterns of the people. By working with the tribal chiefs and gaining their input, we can ensure that we will not alienate ourselves from the community by violating cultural norms. When we obtain their support for changes we desire to make, the congregation will be more open to embracing these changes. Rather than a threat to our ministry, they can be our most important advocate for the direction we desire to take. Because of their understanding of the church, they can also provide important insight in terms of how the changes will be accepted and implemented. They can prevent us from making critical mistakes that might alienate people and undermine our ministry.

 

Third, we need to communicate with them and gain their “buy-in” to the changes we desire to make so they can help communicate the needs, opportunities, and vision to the congregation. The proverbial church grapevine starts with the tribal chiefs. When they understand the changes we desire to make, they can play a crucial role in communicating why the changes are necessary, how they will be implemented, and the results we aim to achieve through these changes. They are a critical link in communicating our vision for the church.

 

Fourth, an important part of our ministry is to work with these individuals in developing their spiritual maturity and leadership abilities. On some occasions, the tribal chief is not spiritually mature.  However, if we attempt to undermine their influence, we will soon find ourselves at odds with the whole congregation, which undermines any influence we might have among them. Therefore, we need to intentionally focus on discipling and equipping these individuals to be stronger spiritual leaders within the congregation.

 

Fifth, as we work with the tribal chiefs, we also need to make sure that others have the opportunity to voice their ideas and opinions. While we should recognize the influence the tribal chiefs may have, we should not allow them to intimidate and control the congregation in an unhealthy way. As we work with the tribal chiefs, we need to train them to be servant leaders rather than controlling leaders so that the church encourages the spiritual involvement and growth of the whole congregation. 

 

As we step into the role of being a pastor of a rural church, we cannot assume that people will accept us as THE leader of the church. Leadership must be earned, not demanded. Leadership is not just about having authority, it is about serving the people and working with them to equip them to do the work of the ministry. This starts by identifying and developing the tribal chiefs of the congregation.  When we work with the tribal chiefs rather than try to undermine their leadership, we will find that we will have a more effective ministry in the rural church.