Servant-Leadership

We are a movement led by amateurs. Why is that a good thing? Because amateurs are lovers (see The Supper of the Lamb by Robert Farrar Capon). The church was designed to be led by lovers—people so passionate about Her—the Church, that they couldn’t contain their enthusiasm, regardless of the cost. Our leadership structure is based on “servant-leadership.” Leaders at all levels are to humbly love and serve those whom they have been given responsibility to lead.

We believe that every follower of Jesus can be a servant-leader. This means that every person can become a House Church pastor, regardless of their personality, talents, and spiritual gifts. Those who are given greater responsibility are those who have a track record of casting vision, selecting and equipping leaders, multiplying their ministry, and serving people.

movement vs. organization
In a movement, the goal is to release leaders - like Jesus did; in an organization the goal is to retain them. In a movement the dream is transformation, in an organization the dream is sustainability. In a movement leadership is messy, unpredictable, and always changing. In an organization leadership is fixed and predictable. In a movement leaders are willing to give all they have away, even if they don’t reap the reward or see the final result. In an organization, leaders expect to be rewarded for their hard work.

“The measure of leadership is not the quality of the head, but the tone of the body. The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers.”
Max Depree, Art of Leadership

LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP AT BRIDGEWAY

The Elders and the Senior Leadership Team resource the House Church pastors and give the overall vision and direction for the broader community.

Celebration Leaders serve the House Church leaders within their Celebration by casting vision, leading, equipping and helping lead their celebration. They huddle with their House Church leaders. Their goal is to multiply the effectiveness of these leaders and remove barriers that would prevent them from seeing their vision become reality. The spiritual gifts and personalities of celebration leaders tend to flourish in a large group.

House Church Pastors cast vision, encourage and equip their D-group pastors through huddles, oversee the multiplication of D-groups, and building community. House Church pastors identify and use gifts to build up the House Church. The missional vision for the House Church reflects the vision of the House Church leader.

D-Group Leaders directly oversee all functions of the D-group and help create an environment for discipleship in the group. D-group leaders huddle with their House Church leader regularly. D-group is a lifestyle more than a meeting.

Resource Leaders are staff ministry leaders who resource the broader community which includes worship, healing, students, children, church planting, finance and administration. Each resource leader huddles with the senior leaders. They seek to serve Celebration, House Church, and D-group leaders by providing resources necessary to carry out their vision. Resources leaders help with equipping, training, materials, and contacts.

FOUNDATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ALL BRIDGEWAY LEADERS

• Have been a believer for at least one year;
• Have regularly attended Bridgeway and a D-group for at least one semester;
• Have sufficient understanding of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith;
• Loyal and submissive to Bridgeway leadership;
• Committed both to a House Church and the greater Bridgeway body;
• Financially support Bridgeway’s ministry;
• Free from bondage, addiction, and destructive sin patterns.

Committed to Relationship with

• Jesus: Daily cultivating a growing and abiding relationship with God;
• One another: Encouraging, strengthening and building up each other;
• The unchurched: Building relationship with those separated from Christ.