Shepherding Gone Wrong

Anybody ever heard of the Shepherding Movement?  It was a phenomenon that took root in the late 60's and came to full, controversial bloom in the mid 70's.  Men like Bob Mumford and Juan Carlos Ortiz described a kingdom in which shepherds had a God-ordained place of honor, prestige and, more than anything else, AUTHORITY.  There was a big push to make sure that every single believer "had a covering": if you didn't have somebody telling you what to do, as a part of a big Mary Kay pyramid, you were on the JV, or maybe even spiritually suspect.  These people believed in one-congregation-per-city: that is to say, they believed that power and authority were to be centralized and meted out by (you'll love this) people.  People like themselves, coincidentally.  (Do you think it's suspect when people espouse a belief system, or program, or methodology that primarily benefits themselves?  I do.)  In this system, the underlings MUST be subservient to the leaders, MUST obey them as if God were speaking through them implicitly, and will be measured by outward signs as indicators of spiritual growth. Decisions such as who to marry and when to have children are submitted to the Shepherd, who "covers over your life" by telling you what to do (and you pay him a tithe for the honor).  Yikes.  The authoritarian system has largely petered out, but it still exists in pockets and the original organization that began in Fort Lauderdale goes on in Mobile, Alabama as the "Covenant Movement." (It's believed that this relationship between shepherds and sheep is a covenant relationship- that is, ordained and authorized by God.  Double yikes.)

This system didn't really start in the 60's.  Its roots were in Roman Catholicism of the fifth century.  Monasteries featured a Spiritual Director system of leadership:  A young believer would be assigned a Spiritual Director, and would be expected to describe his inmost thoughts to this director, and also to confess sins to this person exclusively.  The Spiritual Director then had unchallenged authority to declare what was good and evil for their charge, and total submission was demanded of the subordinate.  So... do you think any domination or manipulation existed under this system?  Um... I do.

We all know that those ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it (I'm sure that verse is in the Bible somewhere- all that comes to mind is something about a dog and vomit), and I think it's worth referring to this damaging movement here and contrasting what we see the LORD doing these days and the abuses of this old hierarchical system. Books have been written about those deeply wounded by this kind of authoritarianism, and we personally know several men who were scarred in the 70's- so deeply were they hurt that they have problems trusting others and relating in openness to this day.  Makes me want to spit nails.

Anyhow.  That whole system is amiss for many reasons:

- Your 'spiritual covering' is from Jesus alone.  Much has been made of this point, and I agree.  We each have to feel fully authorized and approved based on Jesus.  Period.

- Shepherds were never meant to control, or to be the ones to 'teach lessons'.  They're there to serve, to walk alongside, to comfort and encourage and edify and to instruct.  The authoritarianism is completely contrary to the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  He doesn't lead us around with a hook in our nose.

- Authority ISN'T centralized in the kingdom, and authority doesn't come by offices or titles.  THAT's a worldly view of authority.  In the kingdom, authority comes primarily through humility and service.  We're a strange band of co-priests running around and, while we receive things from people who're not in our local body (like, oh, teachers, evangelists, prophets, apostles and pastors), we don't report to a central office.  There is one body on the planet, but the only Head we have is sitting at the right hand of the Father.

- I'll say this again: sheep don't serve shepherds!  Shepherds serve sheep!  Who ever thought that sleeping on a hillside with a rock as a pillow was for the SHEPHERD's benefit?!?  It's all for the health, comfort, and edification of the sheep!  Ephesians 4 is very clear that the five ministers named have a job, and it's setting up everybody ELSE for success.  I Peter 5 says very clearly that the position of shepherd is one of humility, not haughtiness.  Gimme a break!

- Shepherds are not our only access to ministry.  We are to be knit into communities via relationships (you know, good old-fashioned, God-honoring friendships), and each of those friends are perfect! candidates for confession, correction, encouragement, instruction, etc.  A shepherd is not a substitute for all the functions that a community can provide.  If we look to any one person to be our counselor, encourager, mentor, teacher, and minister.... we're in for a world of hurt.  Individuals just weren't meant to carry that kind of load.  That's where the BODY of Christ comes in--a plurality of hearts bound together comprising the presence of Jesus on earth.  Shepherds are legit! and they're part of the puzzle, but goodness gracious, they're not the whole shebang.

- Lastly, as we grow in maturity and the skill that comes along with it, we'll be able to hear the voice of the Spirit more and more, being less dependent on being spoon-fed from a human teacher (this is in contrast to the Discipleship Movement belief that true maturity = perfect submission to a person).  Isn't that what parenting in the natural is about?  You create a self-sufficient being, and it's your JOY and HONOR to help a person get to the place where you're no longer completely necessary to their existence.  You're still valuable, your input is still part of the big picture, but you're not needed to solve every issue every day.  

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I know that what I've described here is incredibly incomplete, and I paint with a very broad brush, but I think the topic is worth bringing up.  There have been significant abuses in this world and, while that doesn't make me not want to wade into the waters of shepherding, it does give me pause.  There are definite lessons to be learned and hazards to be avoided as we consider the failures of our collective past.  I'd love to hear anybody's thoughts, of course...