Your pastor can’t be in two places at once. He can’t sit with a grieving widow and lead a men’s Bible study at the same hour. He can’t counsel a struggling marriage and visit the hospital simultaneously. One person, however gifted, has limits.

Titus 1:5 shows Apostle Paul knew this. He says, “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might… appoint elders in every town as I directed you.” In the New Testament, the office of elder in a church is just another name for the office that we call pastor. In fact, word elder is used way more often in the Bible than the word pastor for this office.

But notice that Paul doesn’t say, “appoint an elder.” No elders. Plural. From the church’s earliest days, God’s design was never a solo pastor carrying a congregation alone.

Nevertheless, many churches try, and when they sense this gap, they typically turn to deacons to be the solution. However, that’s not the biblical answer. Acts 6 shows deacons appointed for practical service and mercy ministry, not for spiritual oversight or shepherding souls. The deacons were to be waiting on tables, freeing the apostles for prayer and the Word. When deacons are stretched into a pastor-elder role, both offices suffer.

No, healthy churches are led by a team of pastors, both vocational pastors who are set aside for the work of the ministry and lay pastors who make a living away from church duties. It’s just better with a team.

Why is plurality of elders better?

Think about coverage. Needs get met even when one shepherd can’t be there.

Think about accountability. Pastors need pastoring too. A plurality guards against pride, burnout, and blind spots.

Think about complementary gifts. One teaches well, another counsels well, another leads well administratively, and so on. No one man has all the gifts.

Think about continuity. The church isn’t destabilized when one leader leaves

And think about shared wisdom. Decisions are better when multiple godly minds come together.

I’m thankful that my church has a 4-man team of vocational pastors to serve our church, but not every church can afford multiple pastors on staff. However, every church can add lay pastors to help oversee the church spiritually, and they should. Christ never intended His flock to depend on one man. May you consider this biblical principle for the health of your church!

Change begins in you!