Letter from the congregation at Ephesus to their leaders
From the faithful of the Church at Ephesus to our appointed shepherds and overseers,
Beloved leaders whom Christ has placed over us,
We write with humble hearts, having received and considered the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as delivered through His servant John. His commendation of our labour and patient endurance brings us joy, yet His admonition that we have abandoned our first love troubles our spirits deeply.
As we together seek to respond faithfully to our Lord’s correction and call to repentance, we respectfully ask that you consider our community’s established ways as you guide us. We believe that acknowledging how we understand leadership will help us work together to recapture our first love for Christ while preserving the harmony of our congregation.
With respect, we offer these reflections on how we understand leadership among us:
Regarding Power Distance: We prefer clear authority structures where leaders maintain appropriate distance. To us, this means you should make final decisions after hearing counsel, not that you should rule harshly. When you speak directly from the Scriptures with confidence and without apology, we feel secure. However, when you appear uncertain or overly collaborative in matters of doctrine, we become anxious about the foundation of our faith.
Regarding Uncertainty Avoidance: We value stability and clear procedures in our worship and community life. This means we appreciate when changes are explained thoroughly beforehand and implemented gradually, not that we reject all innovation. When you provide detailed explanations of how our repentance should proceed with specific practices to follow, we feel guided. When directions are vague or open-ended, many among us feel lost.
Regarding Institutional Collectivism: We believe the needs of our church family should take precedence over individual desires. To us, this means decisions should benefit the whole congregation, not that individual growth is unimportant. When you emphasise our shared identity in Christ and collective repentance, we feel united. When you focus too much on personal spiritual journeys without community context, we feel fragmentary and disconnected.
Regarding In-Group Collectivism: We have deep loyalty to our immediate church family. This means we expect special care for those within our congregation, not that we should be exclusive or unwelcoming. When you recognise and honour the sacrifices members have made for one another, we feel affirmed. When you treat newcomers with the same level of trust as long-standing members, we feel our commitment is undervalued.
Regarding Gender Egalitarianism: We understand men and women to have complementary but distinct roles in the church. This means we expect clear differentiation in leadership responsibilities, not inequality in spiritual value. When you honour the distinct contributions of both men and women according to Scripture, we feel ordered. When these distinctions are blurred, we experience confusion about God’s design.
Regarding Assertiveness: We respect leaders who speak with gentle but firm conviction. This means direct communication delivered with respect, not harshness or domination. When you clearly identify where we have fallen short of our first love with specific examples, we appreciate your honesty. When criticism is so indirect that we cannot discern the problem, we cannot properly repent.
Regarding Future Orientation: We value thoughtful planning while trusting God’s providence. This means we expect you to prepare for the future while being attentive to present needs, not that we should anxiously control outcomes. When you share a clear vision for rekindling our first love with practical steps, we feel hopeful. When planning seems absent or overly reactive, we feel adrift.
Regarding Performance Orientation: We believe excellence honours God. This means we expect diligence and quality in all church activities, not perfectionism that crushes spirits. When you recognise and commend faithful service while encouraging improvement, we feel motivated. When you either overlook mediocrity or demand unattainable standards, we become discouraged.
Regarding Humane Orientation: We value compassion and kindness within appropriate boundaries. This means showing mercy to the repentant while maintaining community standards, not indulgence that enables sin. When you balance grace with truth as you guide our repentance, we feel secure. When either harsh judgment or permissiveness predominates, we question your discernment.
Regarding Charismatic Leadership: We respect leaders who inspire through their godly example. This means we are drawn to those whose lives visibly demonstrate love for Christ, not merely charismatic personalities. When you model rekindled devotion to Christ in your own practices, we are inspired to follow. When your words and actions diverge, our trust diminishes.
Regarding Team-Oriented Leadership: We value leaders who work together in unity. This means coordinated leadership that speaks with one voice, not isolated or contradictory direction. When you demonstrate unified purpose in guiding our restoration, we feel confident. When we observe disagreement or division among you, our anxiety increases.
Regarding Participative Leadership: We appreciate opportunities to contribute appropriately to church decisions. This means having our perspectives considered, not that all decisions should be determined by majority opinion. When you consult with respected members before implementing significant changes in our worship or practice, we feel respected. When decisions appear arbitrary or without consultation, we feel disconnected.
Regarding Autonomous Leadership: We expect leaders to act with appropriate independence when necessary. This means making difficult decisions without undue external influence, not acting in isolation from the congregation. When you stand firm against false teachers without hesitation as Jesus commended, we feel protected. When you seem overly concerned with popular opinion, we worry about compromise.
Regarding Self-Protective Leadership: We understand the need for leaders to maintain appropriate boundaries. This means protecting your ministry from unnecessary challenges, not self-preservation at the expense of service. When you demonstrate appropriate concern for the stability of your position to ensure consistent leadership, we feel secure. When you appear either careless about sustainability or overly focused on preserving position, our confidence wavers.
Regarding Status Consciousness: We believe honour should be given where it is due. This means showing appropriate respect to those with greater responsibility or spiritual maturity, not fostering unhealthy hierarchies. When you acknowledge the different gifting and experience levels within the congregation, order is maintained. When status distinctions are either overemphasised or ignored, community harmony suffers.
We submit these reflections with sincere hearts, desiring only that our response to Christ’s letter might be faithful and that our first love might be rekindled. We trust your God-given wisdom to discern how best to lead us in this season of repentance and renewal.
With deep respect and love in Christ,
The Congregation at Ephesus