Staff led or lay led? I’ve been in many conversations with churches where this question has either been asked directly or implied. We generally think of large churches as staff led and smaller congregations (with only 1 or 2 staff members) as lay led. But I believe the question creates a false dichotomy. And in doing so, we miss the opportunity to be well led.

Why is this a false dichotomy? Surely it’s important to know who is leading. The problem is that the language implies one person/group will make all the important leadership decisions. This leaves the other group on the outside, waiting to be informed and then expected to follow. If you’ve spent any time around churches and ministries, you know this doesn’t work. 

A lay led model puts all the decision-making authority in the hands of the governing body (board, elders, session, church council, etc.). They make the directional decisions. And because they take their responsibilities seriously, they may also be heavily involved in programmatic details. The pastor normally has a seat at the table, but may have few opportunities to speak or influence decisions. As a result, communication with the broader congregation – which is normally led by the pastor – will lack enthusiasm. And the actions of the pastor and other staff members will be half-hearted because they haven’t bought in.

Of course, if all decisions are made by the staff leadership team, the same issues of low buy-in will arise among lay leaders. Their lack of support will often spread to others in the congregation. And as important as staff leadership is for a large church, it is futile if no one is following.

So how can a church be well led, rather than staff or lay led? It starts with the recognition that there is only one senior pastor (or perhaps 2 co-pastors). They are the primary communicators. They spend more time praying and thinking about the direction of the church than anyone else. They have a unique voice that needs to be heard at the leadership table. At the same time, well led recognizes that lay leaders bring a deep love for the church, diverse gifts, and a fresh perspective to the table. Their ability to motivate fellow members is distinct, and often more powerful, than paid staff. 

In a well led church, staff and lay leadership collaborate on important issues. When a decision is made, they use first-person, plural language – “we decided” – to indicate their ownership. And they demonstrate their ownership by fully investing their energy into implementing the decision. So quit asking whether your church should be staff or lay led. Instead, ask how it can be well led. 

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