A Shift in Leadership

The Transition

shepherd the flock, because they understand the need for them to be able to shepherd large numbers of people who are being harvested. They are not fearful and intimidated by other anointings. They are secure in their gifting, and their authority is respected by others. In addition to pastors, churches should also have prophets (1 Corinthians 14:29). Our concept of having one pastor over a church has severely limited the other gifts from being released. This pyramid style of church government often shuts out the other gifts from fully functioning. This is especially true in the case of prophets. There are many people sitting in our churches with prophetic gifts. Leaders who have a pastoral mentality will often be afraid to release prophets. The pastoral gifting is not anointed to release gifts like the apostle's anointing. This is why our churches must become more apostolic. The pastoral anointing is also needed, but it cannot be the dominant anointing. The apostolic anointing must become the dominant anointing. It is placed in the church first by God. The apostle has a grace to release other gifts. As our churches migrate toward an apostolic mentality, we will see the release of many gifts—including the prophets. The pastor thinks in terms of safety and protection. The apostle thinks in terms of expansion and progression. This does not make one better than the other. They are both needed in the church. The problem occurs when the pastoral anointing becomes the dominant anointing of the local church. The church then thinks only in terms of safety and protection, and often eliminates the other gifts that may be more radical and progressive. The result is the

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