In 2023, one of the most popular Christian podcasts, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, detailed the story of how one of the fastest growing churches in North America rapidly collapsed like a house of cards. The story is a cautionary tale. Mars Hill was built on a model of centralized leadership which, in its formative years, allowed for flexibility and speed of execution. Eventually, however, the model resulted in swift organizational implosion. The only fragments of Mars Hill that persisted beyond this implosion appear to be the decentralized elements. According to authors, Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom in their 2006 book, The Starfish and the Spider, the “spider” correlates with the centralized leadership model. If you cut the head off a spider, the organism dies. Conversely, if you cut an arm from a starfish, the organism continues to live and eventually, the appendage grows back. The starfish represents a decentralized model of leadership. Thriving organizations understand which seasons require centralized leadership and which seasons call for decentralized leadership. As pastors, most of us have studied the model and benefits of centralized leadership. Therefore, to expand an understanding of leadership models, here are five benefits for thriving in a decentralized leadership model.
Resilience. Decentralized leadership reinforces and highlights the resilience that comes with a distribution of authority. By empowering members and groups to take ownership of different ministries, a decentralized approach to leadership ensures that some ministries can continue to thrive even while some leaders encounter setbacks. In Exodus 18, Moses’ father-in-law noted his diminished resilience as a leader and recommended that Moses adopt a decentralized leadership model while leading the people of Israel. A decentralized model permits a church to adapt during evolving circumstances and withstand trials without an over-reliance on one central personality for stability. Is your church or ministry over-reliant on one central figure or central governing group?
Increased Congregational Involvement. Unfortunately, reduced congregational involvement can be a symptom of an over-centralized model. Church members tend to take ownership of activities where they have influence in decisions and direction. Empowering more decision-makers fosters more active participation and engagement from the entire congregation. Diversity of gifts and talents is only a strength if there is an opportunity for engagement in leadership. Is your church leadership structure sufficiently decentralized to involve people with diverse talents and gifts?
Renewed Creativity and Innovation. In a decentralized model, leaders are encouraged to be innovative when addressing the unique needs of their spheres. In his book, The Toyota Way, Jeffrey Liker illustrates the decentralized leadership of the Toyota company by encouraging decisions to be made at a level where the most relevant knowledge exists ensuring that those who are most familiar with the situation are the ones making the decisions. The Starfish and the Spider elucidates that when it comes to generating creative solutions, decentralized organizations often out-perform centralized ones. In the context of church leadership, a decentralized model allows for the implementation of creative approaches to outreach, worship, and community service which are more attuned to the specific needs of various groups within the congregation. What are some simple steps you can take to empower grassroots decision-making in your church’s ministries?
Missional Adaptability. Øivind Augland, church planter and founder of M4 Europe, asserts that a key development has transformed the church planting process. He characterizes this key transformation as, “From I (Church Planter) to I and We (The Team)”. Because the missional context in Europe and North America have become increasingly complex, it requires a shift from centralized strategies to decentralized missional discovery within the local mission framework. Complexity cannot be solved with a linear methodology (Quietly Courageous, Gil Rendle pg 63) hence the necessity to learn while serving and establishing a new congregation. Because every church community is unique, decentralized leadership lays the foundation for a more tailored approach. Leaders within the missional context can better understand and therefore respond to challenges faced by their members. Adaptability empowers churches when responding to spiritual, emotional, and practical concerns within a congregation which fosters a stronger sense of community and support. What complex issues does your church face that could be approached with a team-based paradigm?
Multiplying Leadership Development. Decentralized leadership inherently promotes leadership at various levels. Individuals who take on responsibility within their specific spheres of influence gain valuable experience and obtain opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Multiplication of leadership not only strengthens the church, but it also ensures a line of succession for the future. By investing in the development of leaders with diverse gifts, churches can sustain their mission and ministries long term. What is one ministry in your church that could benefit from decentralization in the coming quarter?
Conclusion. Decentralized leadership principles can be effectively applied within churches. Embracing a decentralized model in congregational leadership not only enhances resilience, engagement, and innovation, but also empowers churches to adapt to local contexts and multiple leadership development leading to a vibrant and sustainable spiritual community.
For more information on the resources in this Thrive in 5, see the following:
Augland, Øivind. “Equipping Leaders and Teams in Secular Europe for Church Planting.” Church Planting in the ‘Hard Places’, M4 Europe, 23 July 2024, CPLF Conference, Chicago.
Brafman, Ori, and Rod Beckstrom. The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations. Portfolio, 2006.
Liker, Jeffrey K. The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World’s Greatest Manufacturer. McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Rendle, Gil. Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World. Abingdon Press, 2019.
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Christianity Today, 2021,
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/id1569401963
Intellectual contributor: Dr. Eric Hallet, District Superintendent, Central Canada District
Executive editor: Johanna Rugh
Curator of content: Carla Working
