Armorbearers International

Featured Armorbearer Question: Do you have clear lines of authority drawn on your team? Or would some extra training be helpful to help everyone find their place and position? Read this featured armorbearer question and find out what Varn/Earma's advice was to a leader's concerns...

What about other armorbearers and their authority?

Question:
…I am an armorbearer to the senior female pastor in our church.  I am also her minstrel and assistant pastor…my question and concern is other armorbearers have been delegated with authority as armorbearers as well.  Which is fine with me but my senior leader has stated that I am THE armorbearer and they are "AN" armorbearer.  Is there a difference?  Also it seems like these others (armorbearers) are at times getting in the way of me being THE armorbearer like crossing to my side of the fence.  I know that some of it has to do with jealousy for position and wanting to always be at the banquet table as the parable teaches us.

I do not like competition … I don't want stubbornness to set in with me but I refuse to compete for a position in God's army. So it is like I lock down.  I have a tendency to step back and watch them fumble and bumble as they try to do what I am called to do. 

My leader is great and I have gone to her with this but she states that I should not back off and give up my position.   To be honest that doesn't threaten me either.  I don't want to sound cold but I am tired and have no clear direction on how to handle this.  Could this be a training issue for others in our midst?  I get weary and at times I question my call.  Could you help me? 

Thanks,
Pastor Marla Tomes
Chicago, IL
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Brown's Response: Pastor Marla, thank you for your recent email and question. It was good to hear your teachable spirit shining through. Our enemy, the devil, loves to confuse our communications and relationships to hinder the work of God. Yet God is not the author of confusion but a God of order, right. I know I am preaching to the choir with that one but I think it's worth affirming. That's why he gave us the chain of authority that works so beautifully when in place. Even Satan and his camp use the same structure.

This brings me to what we believe your first focus should be:

Varn: It's important your chain of authority be established. You have been delegated the authority from your leader. Now you must continue to establish it in love. The reason I say love is because most people don't respect someone just because they have been given a title. It takes a little love, working along side them and showing you care to earn their respect.

Earma: I agree. We knew instantly what you were describing with the competitive spirit that can rise up among team members. Even so, being a leader it is your responsibility to set the tone, do the mature thing and train the others by your example. Which is easier said than done. I know because my natural personality is exactly the same when it comes to standing back if I feel I am being pulled into a competitive battle. I had to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes if you don't take a firm stand then it only gets worse not better.

Varn: Practically speaking, you need to choose someone that will back you up as an assistant as you help First Lady. Especially if you have other weighty duties like being an assistant pastor. Start with only one so the pattern can be established and shut the door to a lot of that competitiveness. The other armorbearers may be assigned the remaining lesser important task.

Earma: Another reason this must be done is you don't want your leader to suffer because there's a swirl of political confusion among the armorbearers. One of our past leaders used to always say, "Two or more heads will make a monster." So we encourage you to assume your place and don't leave or be pushed out of your post. It sounds like you already know that it's not going to be easy for anyone to do what you have been called to do. Besides all of that you don't want to leave your pastor in a vulnerable place or exposed because you are not in place as a leader and training the others called along side to help.

On a final note, we both feel it is partly a training issue. And yes gently, it is your responsibility. I am sure we all know people that do things out of meanness and spite. But most people act the way you described because they are immature, want to be seen as the most important and don't know how to accomplish it. They don't realize that Jesus himself said, "The way to be at the top, the greatest is to become servant to all."

We commend you for your servant spirit. It's clear because God (through your leader) would not have chosen you as lead armorbearer, if you weren't. Be encouraged. Take it a step at a time and do the work of the Lord before you.

Father, we pray a special blessing over Pastor Marla and her husband. Continue to grant them a humble spirit as they exercise their authority with much love and gentleness. Give them wisdom to govern your people as they help the men and women of God in their church. Help them be mindful of their example and the trust you have given them in taking care of your lambs and sheep. In Jesus name. Amen.

Have a blessed and wonderful weekend.

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Most leaders need a strong team of support. Your leadership should have one too! Earma is Co-Founder of Armorbearers International who offers help with designing strong teams of support for God's leaders. Visit host site at http://www.armorbearers.net for other insightful articles or their resource center http://www.theshieldshop.com for ministry of helps resources.