Meet The Puritans

John Owen on Multi-Campus Ministries

Posted on 10. Sep, 2009 by Danny Hyde.

Was John Owen a prophet? Not quite, but read below.

While preparing my final ThM paper on John Owen’s, A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God and Discipline of the Churches of the New Testament (Works 15, 447–530), I came across the following gem (Works 15, 496–499). In this section Owen spoke of what is called today the “multi-campus ministry.” You know what I mean, right? When one pastor “serves” several gatherings/congregations/sites/campuses, most often than nought, by shepherding his flock via a video screen? Isn’t that in the original Greek of John 10:14? “I am the good shepherd. I know my own campuses and my own sites know me by my image on the big screen in front of them.” Alright, back to the point.

The background to Owen’s words here in this section may very well be the medieval phenomenon of jus patronatus, in which among others, bishops and priests were enabled to have “beneficences” in more than one parish, making their living off of several congregations while not really serving any of them. After all, that was what the “site pastor” was for, right? Anyways, what is interesting is how some Reformed churches dealt with this situation. The great Synod of Dort (1618–19) dealt with jus patronatus. While not abolishing it, the Synod sought to curb its abuse (Session 156, 157).

Owen’s lesson for all Reformed and Presbyterian pastors and seminary students is clear: before you listen to some advocates (since some have complained that I am “picking” on one advocate, here is another) of “modern ministry” and start planning your multi-campus, multi-media, church network, listen to Owen—better yet, listen to Jesus who knew his sheep by name and listen to Paul, who spent time in every single home of his parishioners in Ephesus (cf. Acts 20)!  You are called to shepherd souls, not be a rock star, pop idol, or media mogul. Get over yourself and get to pastoring like the Puritans: preach, pray, and visit your people.

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Question 26—May a person be called to, or be employed in, a part only of the office or work of the ministry; or may he hold the relation and exercise the duty of an elder or minister unto more churches than one at the same time?

Answer

Neither of these has either warrant or precedent in the Scripture; nor is the first of them consistent with the authority of the ministry, nor the latter with the duty thereof, nor either of them with the nature of that relation which is between the elders and the church. Acts xiv.23; 1 Pet. v.2; Acts xx.28.

Explication

The second part of the question is concerning the relation of the same person to more churches than one at the same time, and his undertaking to discharge the duty of his relation unto them, as elder or minister. And this also is irregular and unwarrantable. Now, a man may hold the relation of an elder, pastor, or minister unto more churches than one, two ways:

1. Formally and directly, by an equal formal interest in them, undertaking the pastoral charge equally and alike of them, being called alike to them, and accepting of such a relation.

2. Virtually, when, by virtue of his relation unto one church, he puts forth his power or authority in ministerial acts in or towards another.

The first way is unlawful, and destructive both of the office and duty of a pastor; for as elders are ordained in and unto the churches respectively that they are to take care of, Acts xiv.23, Titus i.5, and their office-power consists in a relation unto the church that they are set over, so they are commanded to attend unto the service of the churches wherein and whereunto they are so ordained, Acts xx.28, 1 Pet. v.2, and that with all diligence, care, and watchfulness, as those that must give an account, Heb. xiii.17, which no man is able to do towards more churches than one, the same duty being at all times to be performed towards all. And because the whole authority of the elders, pastors, or bishops of churches, is ministerial, 1 Cor. iv.1, consisting in a power of acting upon the command of Christ, they are bound in their own persons to the discharge of their duty and office, without the least pretence of authority to delegate another, or others, to act their part or to do their duty; which would be an effect of autocratical authority, and not of obedience or ministry.

The latter way, also, of relation unto many churches is unwarrantable: for,

1. It hath no warrant in the Scripture; no law or constitution of Christ or his apostles can be produced to give it countenance; but elders were ordained to their own churches, and commanded to attend unto them.

2. No rule is given unto any elders how they should behave themselves in reference unto more churches than one, in the exercise of their ministerial power, as there are rules given unto every one for the discharge of that duty in the church whereunto he is related.

3. There is no example to give it countenance recorded in the Scripture.

4. The authority to be put forth hath no foundation.

(1.) Not in the gifts they have received; for the ministerial power is not an absolute ability or faculty of doing what a man is able, but a right, whereby a man hath power to do that rightly and lawfully which before he could not do. This, gifts will not give to any; for if they did, they would do it to all that have received them.

(2.) Not in their election; for they are chosen in and by that church whereunto they stand in especial relation, whose choice cannot give ministerial power over any but themselves.

(3.) Not in their setting apart by fasting, prayer, and imposition of hands; for this is only unto that office-work and power whereunto they are chosen. They are not chosen for one end, and set apart for another.

(4.) Not from the communion of churches; for that gives no new power, but only a due exercise of that which was before received.

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