AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH:

an exposé of the ‘Shepherding’ Movement

This is without doubt the most difficult piece I have ever attempted. It is difficult because many are likely to be deeply offended, even angry. This is not something I particularly want to do by design and have been somewhat reluctant. Nevertheless, I am not going to apologize, not in the least. What I have discovered has both shocked and saddened me. I feel sorry for those naïve souls who have been deceived by the false teaching I am about to expose and even more for those whose experiences in the cultic organisations involved have had their lives devastated and there have been many. Some of the abuse that some have lived through is as shocking as it is unbelievable.

What I am referring to is the so-called ‘shepherding’, ‘covering’, or ‘discipleship’ movement. It is only quite recently that I came into contact with it. This is largely due to the fact that when I came to faith in Christ just over seventy years ago, I always regarded pentecostalism with healthy suspicion and have always kept myself apart from it when I could. From time to time, I have made my reservations known publicly so that many have been reticent to tell me of their own personal involvement. As a rule, their position emerged through a third person.

I believe my caution to have been well founded. Right from its beginning early in the twentieth century, pentecostalism has shown itself to have nurtured false teachers, fraudsters, and other noxious persons and even at times criminals. William Branham (1909-1965), an early American leader is fairly typical. He posed as a healer, an initiator of revival, and claimed to be a prophet with the anointing of Elijah who had come to announce the second coming of the Lord Jesus. These claims show him to have been a shameful liar and proven fraudster where much of his ‘ministry’ has been shown to have been a scam, even during his own lifetime.

The significance of Branham for this article is that the modern shepherding movement, also ‘deliverance’ from demons and curses, not to mention the heretical New Apostolic Reformation are all directly traceable back to Branham and his ‘latter rain’ organization. At least one of the originators of shepherding, the false teacher Derek Prince (1915-2003), assisted and worked together with William Branham and shared his fraudulent activities. Some of the more outrageous and objectionable teachings I shall for the present leave to one side.

It is not my intention to spend hours here exposing the shepherding movement as others have done this more than adequately and I have better things to do with the time God may still be pleased to give me. However, I cannot let these things flow over my head without saying something. I shall first give a brief outline of the movement and then follow this with a biblical exposition of genuine authority in the Church. This I believe to be the best approach and answer to this error. Sadly, like many pentecostal and charismatic components, shepherding, discipling, has leached into mainstream evangelical and other causes. It was here that I first met it. In my researches I became increasingly aware of the damage this heretical tendency has wrought in the lives of many who were deceived into believing they were following Christ in allowing themselves to be misled and abused in this way. If I am honest and I trust I am: what I discovered made me exceedingly vexed at such deceit. It also explains why many with whom I once shared friendship have now turned against me, some even refusing to speak with me over the telephone or have any contact with me. If this is the price I must pay, so be it.

The sad thing is that many in the mainstream of evangelicalism believe these falsehoods to be biblical and those who propagate them they see as servants of God, which they are most certainly not. Many well-meaning Christian leaders do not realise whence these practices have come, that is, from the apostate shepherding movement. Essentially, these doctrines consist of what they call spiritual covering, unhealthy spiritual authority and submission to personal shepherds and covenant relationships, and discipleship to man.

1 Timothy 4:1 tells us that in the latter days many will depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. We see this before us.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

Shepherding doctrines are nowhere to be found in Scripture. In fact, they contradict the Word of God. We must therefore wholeheartedly reject them along with those that have taught them.

The shepherding heresy, an outline

The shepherding or discipleship movement appeared in American charismatic circles in the 1970s and early 1980s and from there it spread around the world.  What began as a Bible study movement turned into what its leaders called the Holy Spirit Teaching Mission, established as an international entity in 1966. This Mission gained a wide attraction, with their leaders speaking at different Conferences and Churches and in 1969 a publication was introduced called ‘New Wine.’ Centred in Fort Lauderdale, Florida there was a change of name to Christian Growth Ministries in the 1972. At its helm were four charismatic teachers: Bob Mumford, Derek Prince, Charles Simpson and Don Basham. Later in 1975, Ern Baxter joined the leadership so the group then become known as the ‘Fort Lauderdale Five’.

Their teachings soon gained widespread approval and charismatic ministers began to submit to the authority of the Five, receiving direct guidance from them. Formal relationships were formed and these became known as ‘covenant relationships.’ An ever-widening network of cell groups soon quickly grew. Members of these cells were required to submit themselves to a ‘shepherd’ who in turn was submitted to another above, right the way up to the Five at the pinnacle. It is thought that at its height there were more than 100,00 adherents across the United States alone. There was a strong following in Australia and the United Kingdom, also in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Latin America.

What developed was a pyramid structure with the Fort Lauderdale Five at the very top. Each of the Five had five below them and these five more each with five below them. So, the pyramid went down. Families would be under submission in groups of five. All those under such submission would have their lives completely dictated, their residence and employment was chosen for them, and health care decisions were also made for them. At its peak instructions came from above as money flowed upwards. This organisation was in every sense of the word a cult; there is no other word for it.

It was not long before things began to go disastrously wrong. Because everything was so private and personal what was actually going on evaded public scrutiny for a long time. Eventually, some charismatic leaders began to set the alarm bells ringing, including Demos Shakarian, founder of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International and Dennis Bennett, Anglican priest and a seminal figure in the charismatic circles. They were greatly disturbed at what they were hearing about the shepherding movement. The movement was rebuked as a cult and accused of spiritual manipulation, excessive authoritarianism, abuse of power by leaders. In August 1975 a famous, if contentious, meeting was organised at the historic Curtis Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. It became known as the ‘shoot-out at the Curtis Hotel.’ The shepherding movement was confronted over the authoritarian practices and claims of spiritual abuse. It was a heated confrontation that ended to a stalemate and no resolution.

Citing ‘reservations’, later in 1983, Derek Prince withdrew from the shepherding movement, expressing regret for his involvement. Nevertheless, he still continued to propagate his associated heretical teachings of ‘curses and blessings’ and also it is said the noxious falsehood that Christians can be indwelt by the Holy Spirit and a demonic spirit at the same time ― a dangerous heresy if ever there was one. His teachings remain a great threat to this day having wrought much mischief and spiritual shipwreck.

As is common in such circumstances, the Fort Lauderdale Five shifted the blame for all the problems onto other leaders lower down the hierarchy. Bob Mumford also publicly distanced himself from the movement. Although I have not been able to trace a copy, in 1990, he is reputed to have issued a ‘Formal Repentance Statement to the Body of Christ’, saying ‘…discipleship was wrong. I repent. I ask forgiveness.’

At the time evidence was produced of failed arranged marriages, of shunning and excommunication, among a number of other things. The movement had played havoc with innocent lives. Those who raised questions or objections were removed; opposing voices were silenced to prevent abuses being made known. There was evidence revealed of financial coercion such as demanding tithes. At worst, reports emerged of sexual exploitation, abuse of the vulnerable who were powerless to resist or report what had happened. Members of the cells were often isolated from outside influences including their families. Strict disciplinary measures were common for dissent. There was an extraordinary emphasis on ‘prophecy’, something I have seen to be quite common in pentecostal circles, whereby the shepherds would receive ‘a word from the Lord’ which would then be used in control. It was not long before with the many scandals reaching the public, legal issues, and the rise of the internet, the movement as such began to fall apart.

Today there remain direct lines to the shepherding movement. Many have retained this austere hierarchical structure with an emphasis on spiritual authority, covering and submission. The New Apostolic Reformation, found today within the many pentecostal and charismatic Churches and denominations, so widespread it is found everywhere. It is closely aligned with the framework and structure of shepherding. There is said to be an apostolic succession in every Church in the form of ‘apostles and prophets.’ This apostate movement is involved in aggressive ‘Church planting’ everywhere, often leaving broken and shattered lives in its wake. Serious is the fact that these apostate cults are automatically, but falsely, associated by outsiders with the Christian faith.

The legacy of the shepherding movement remains. Many still follow and practice these teachings without understanding from where they came, wrongly believing they are Scriptural.

Spiritual covering

The teaching on spiritual covering is not so much taught as a doctrine, but is simply assumed to be a fact supported by Scripture, when nothing could be further from the truth. In 1972, one of the Five, Charles Simpson, wrote an article in ‘New Wine’ magazine asserting that covering or protection is provided by submitting oneself to a shepherd, God’s delegated authority in the church. Search as you may, you will find that none of this is found in the Bible. Scripture does not teach submission to men in this way, but submission to Christ. Nothing is said about leaders providing a spiritual covering; it is the Lord Himself who covers.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday”. (Psalm 91:1-6)

In Hebrew the ‘secret place’ has the meaning of a covering, a hiding place, protection. The word for ‘shadow’ also means defence. Those who dwell under the covering of the Most High abide under the defence of the Almighty. We are not exhorted to seek the covering of men, but of God Himself.
The false teaching on covering says that being under a man’s spiritual covering protects from deception when in fact the opposite its true.

“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:26-27)

Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This means we do not need the protection or covering of mere man to keep us from being deceived. He too will open up to us the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit to teach and protect us. To place ourselves instead under submission to a man will only ease and facilitate the spread of deception and false doctrine. Teachers in the shepherding movement have in this way assisted rather than prevented the spread of deception. Questioning was frowned upon as not being submissive and outside God’s will. People believed they were being taught the truth when it was in reality a lie. Deception trickled down through churches precisely because members were under submission.

Discipleship and Submission

Within the shepherding movement it was expected that every adherent submit themselves unconditionally to a shepherd or pastor and be disciplined by them. In Matthew 28:19, our Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations. However, it is abundantly clear that they are to be disciples not of other men but directly of Christ Himself. More experienced believers are certainly around us to counsel and guide newcomers to the faith, but never to require from us unquestioning submission to their authority. That a believer may seek the counsel of a mature believer before committing themselves to a course of action is good and Scriptural, but to be required to ask permission from so-called shepherd is not.

This is controlling and highly dangerous and can easily lead to spiritual ruin. The notion that leaders should be making decisions for us, that we need a go-between in spiritual matters like a priest in the Roman Catholic Church is both wrong and abhorrent. We must be able, if we are to be effective in the work of God, to hear and obey the Lord ourselves. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him each for themselves.

“To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4)

Our Lord calls the sheep ‘mine’: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” (John 10:14) Peter admonishes elders, reminding them that they serve the flock of God. As such they are not to be taken advantage of for financial gain. They should not lord it over those entrusted to their care, but live as examples to them in the way they live out their faith. Elders would invariably be those with some experience in the faith, not necessarily aged.

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:1-5)

Those younger in the faith were to submit to those more experienced, those elders given of God, who were guiding them all in the ways of God through His Word. This is a very far cry from the tyranny promoted by the shepherding movement. At the same time, all were to be subject one to another in humility.

Not all elders were aged. Timothy a young man ordained to teach by laying on of the hands of the presbytery of elders. At the same time, it would appear that Timothy continued to be under the tutelage of the Apostle Paul.

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” (1 Timothy 4:2-14)

Pastors and Church elders should be concerned about bringing believers to maturity where believers discern spiritual matters for themselves, being led by the Spirit of God and the understanding of God’s Word, so that they can understand for themselves what the will of the Lord is for them. It is the approval of the Saviour that mature believers seek.

“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.”  (Luke 22:24-27)

Worldly organizations, governments, military, businesses, association of all kinds, justifiably perhaps will usually have an authoritarian structure. There will be a king ruling a kingdom, a president a State, or a CEO in a business. The apostles were explicitly told this was not to be the structure among them. They were not to lord it over fellow believers, but to use their privileged position to serve fellow believers. Let us remember the true leadership, the example, our Saviour called us to follow in washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:1–17).

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” (vv. 4-5)
“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (vv. 14-15)

Covenant Relationships

Briefly, the teaching of ‘covenant relationships’ is something inherent in the shepherding movement. It started when the leaders of the movement made a covenant with each other in the early days. This then become entrenched across the movement. By 1985 the leaders had parted from each other and so the ‘covenant relationship’ ended. This of all the shepherding doctrines can be the most dangerous. When such a covenant is made, should it be broken, we are told, then we are cursed with a curse. Nowhere in Scripture are these kinds of covenants with fellow believers suggested.

Genuine Spiritual Authority

Without going into great detail ― I will leave that for another occasion I propose here to give a very brief outline of what genuine spiritual authority should look like.

“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” (Hebrews 13:7)

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)

It is helpful to consider these two verses together for the one clarifies the other. From the way they are worded they are best understood not so much as plain statements but as exhortations: to remember, to follow, to consider, to obey, to submit.

We are exhorted first to remember those who have the rule over us as guides and governors and to consider the end of their conversation or manner of life. These words would indicate that those spoken of here, their ‘conversation’, their life, had come to an end and we are to remember, although now departed, what they did for us. In the texts above, we are introduced to those who are said to have the rule over us. It is also revealed what identifies them as such. It is less their office, although that must not be set aside, for they are put in place by God, but that they have spoken to us the Word of God. This in itself is in the end the real source of all their authority. Without this they could not be rulers over us. They lead not according to their own will, but only as they speak the Word of God, preach the Scriptures in truth and not falsely. Is there any obligation upon us to obey, then is because our submission in the end is to the Word of God and not to them as men. If they preach their own words, we have no obligation whatever to submit or obey. Anything else is devoid of any authority from God and obedience from us is not required. We are to be steadfast in in the profession of the faith preached to us. We are to receive and submit to their word, not as that of men, but of God in as much as they preach the Word of God.

“It is not an implicit obedience or absolute submission that is here required, but only in so far as it agrees to the mind and will of God revealed in His Word; and yet it is truly obedience and submission, and that not only to God, but to the authority of the ministerial office, which is of God … Christians must submit to be instructed by their ministers, and not think themselves too wise, too good or too great, to learn from them; and when they find that ministerial instructions are agreeable to the written Word, they must obey them.”
Matthew Henry, Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews

These were men appointed pastors, elders, bishops in the Church,"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (Corinthians 14:33) They are gifts bestowed on the Churches, as governments or rulers. These pastors, elders, bishops possess no arbitrary power over other believers, nevertheless, they rule. The command of the Lord Jesus was "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." (Matthew 23:10)

“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:8-12)

Ultimately, there is only one master, only one teacher, namely Christ Himself who is the Head. Pastors, elders and others rule, teach and preach on behalf of the Lord Jesus and find their authority only in relation to His revealed Word. It is their task to declare the revealed will of God and bring this to bear on the consciences of all who hear rather than to send them away just impressed with the ingenuity of the preacher’s own speculations.

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)

Gentile princes and rulers demand submission of their subjects because of who they are. Among Christian believers this structure does not apply. The nature of rulership in the Church is very different. Those who would be great, let them show it by becoming the servant of all following our Saviour as our example.

Chosen by their brethren under God, the leaders and rulers, presided over the local gatherings of believers. With the Word of God as their authority, they declared the will of God; they rebuked, exhorted, enjoined believers, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” as the Lord Jesus Himself said. (Matthew 28:20) They had no power, no authority in and of themselves, to introduce new ordinances or teachings, only that which Christ Himself had commanded. The authority of pastors, elders, is entirely subordinate to the authority of Christ. No leaders in the Church should aspire to a higher degree of authority than that given them by their Master. This can only lead to a tyranny our Lord never instituted and it does. Pastors then turn into ugly control freaks. I have heard pastors say in ‘my church’ such and such will not be allowed or demand members conform merely on the authority of their office as minister with no reference to Scripture. Such Churches then experience numerous splits and divisions as members of the fellowship leave ― how often have I witnessed this! Such men seem to have forgotten that the Church belongs to Christ and not to them, they are under-shepherds, servants. The sheep follow the shepherd; they are not to be forcefully cajoled but persuaded from the Word of God.

We also find in the New Testament that there is always a plurality of elders in the local Church. No one man possesses all the gifts in the Church. Some will be preachers or teachers, others evangelists or will be pastors. In their Gospel ministry, Paul and Barnabas returned to places where they had previously preached and there had been time for believers to become somewhat grounded in the faith, they ordained elders.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” (Acts 14:21-23)

A ‘one man ministry’, as practiced in so many places, is not biblical and often opens the door to unhealthy narcissism and tyranny. Elders, leaders, need the guidance and correction of each other. However, neither is an ‘any man ministry’ practiced by others biblical either. The lapsing of a period of time of testing is essential in order for the gifts and suitability for office to be revealed. Paul advises Timothy in this matter. "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22). Elders were not volunteers but appointed as they were recognized as being men of God’s choice after prayer and fasting. They were then ordained by the laying on of hands. Great care was needed so that there was no identification with the possible failures or sins of an unproven person. Those involved in the appointment of elders must themselves be blameless ― keep thyself pure.

The authority of the leaders of the Church is not all-embracing. There will be many aspects of our lives and testimony which do not necessarily need to be sanctioned by elders of the Church. Upon receiving the Great Commission from our Lord, we read:

"And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." (2. Mark 16:20)

Immediately after the martyrdom of Stephen, a great persecution arose against the Church in Jerusalem, whereupon the believers were forced to flee. Wherever they went, they took the message of Christ with them. "Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." (Acts 8:4) Their response was spontaneous. So, it should be with us, that wherever we are we should seize the moment to preach Christ. Some elders would, and often do, look upon such unauthorised activity with disdain or disapproval: home Bible studies or forms of Gospel testimony not first cleared with their specific authority. This is clearly not what happened in New Testament days, believers went everywhere preaching the word.

We are to remember those who have taught us the ways of God, the faith, who have also lived a life of faith before us. As Paul entreated the Corinthians: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) We all have doubtless those who have made a deep impression upon us, have been a powerful influence, both in what they taught and how they lived and we should not fall into an ungrateful forgetfulness. Having received the truth of God, we have not followed cunningly devised fables. We must not be deceived by false teachers and innovators of strange doctrines. If teachers and pastors deviate from the faith or if their lives are not consistent, then we may kindly confront them, persuade them from the Scriptures, but we must not follow them along a wrong pathway.

Our teachers and preachers bear a heavy responsibility for which they must answer to their Lord and Saviour. In James 3:1 we read: "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." The word masters here is didaskaloi, meaning teachers or instructors. Our elders and pastors face a much higher standard of accountability because of the effect their words and their lives can have upon others ― for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account. To watch those to whom he ministers resist the Word of God will be a cause of grief. The Puritan, John Owen, wrote of “what sighing and groaning, and mourning, the accounts of faithful ministers of Christ are often accompanied.” On the other hand, submission and obedience to that Word will be a source of great joy to them. The apostle John wrote this in reference to his own spiritual children: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4)

David W. Norris

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