Because our community is naturally relational and “life together” is central to who we are, leadership can sometimes feel less obvious than it does in more program-driven churches. At The Village, we have two primary leadership roles: Elders and Lead Ministers.

Elder is an appointed office entrusted with care, wisdom, and shared oversight of the community. Pastor is understood as a gift given by the Holy Spirit, offered for the teaching, shepherding, and formation of God’s people. At The Village, elders are always pastors, meaning the people appointed to the elder office also carry pastoral responsibilities. Together, these roles serve the church by guarding the gospel, practicing discernment, and leading with humility rather than control.

Elders provide spiritual oversight for the whole church. They carry responsibility for teaching Scripture, leading in prayer, caring for people, training leaders, guiding discipleship, and offering pastoral counsel. They also serve in practical ways whenever needed, because leadership at The Village is not a “hands off” role. Scripture describes an elder as an overseer who must be “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2), and we believe that includes a willingness to serve at every level.

Lead Ministers are what many churches would call deacons, though the New Testament word often translated “deacon” also means servant or minister. We use Lead Minister because we want it to be clear that the church is a community of ministers, not a place where a few people do all the work. Lead Ministers help lead and coordinate the everyday care and functioning of The Village, things like organizing teams, strengthening community rhythms, helping people grow, and offering hands-on leadership in areas where they are gifted. This group is intentionally open and flexible. Some join because they’re learning leadership and want to be trained. Others join because they bring skills that strengthen the life of the church.

At The Village, some Lead Ministers are also pastors. These Lead Ministers who are pastors serve on staff and help carry the day-to-day pastoral life of the church. They direct and support the work of the Lead Ministers while also sharing in shepherding responsibilities alongside the elders. In this way, leadership stays collaborative, attentive, and grounded in the care of people rather than titles, so that each person can use their gifts to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace (1 Peter 4:10).