The 5-Fold Ministry

The 5-Fold Ministry in Today’s Church

I think the Free Methodists in Southern California are functioning in 5-fold ministry better than we realize. The church (universally) has been reticent to title ministers as “apostles” and “prophets” and “evangelists”, but so was Paul (1 Cor. 15:9). These offices are especially honorable. We should recognize that with respect and humility. The essential aspect of 5-fold ministry is not, however, who gets called what. It is that the work of God is being done as he designed it. Are churches being planted and overseen with God-given authority? Are prophetic voices given a voice to speak and be heard? Are pastors (like Timothy—2 Tim.4:5) and leaders free to do the work of an evangelist and so fulfill their ministry?

We must keep in mind that we are living in the age of the missional church. We are not only a holy community—that is seemingly what the Jews were called to—exclusively so. When that is our exclusive goal we can quickly become a religious enclave and eventually die. God at first called out a nation—Israel—to be holy and separate unto him. They were called to be a unique witness to his ways/nature in being the recipients of His acts of deliverance and in their holy conduct (Ex 19:4-6, Num 14:13-14). Now, through Christ, God has created a church and given her a mission. The church is different from the holy nation, and for its mission the Lord has distributed ministerial offices. Clearly the New Testament gives evidence that apostles (men and women, not limited to the 12) and prophets and evangelists are ministry offices given to the church as gifts to edify and build the church (Eph.4:11-13). A metaphor…

Imagine a tall, sailing ship. You have never seen one before but are told to board it and begin your mission. You have no idea what to do! The mission-giver (God) realizes this and so he commissions a captain (apostle), a first mate (prophet), a quartermaster (pastor), a boatswain (teacher), and perhaps a lookout up in the crow’s nest with an eye fixed outward and around the ship (evangelist). These officers help train the crew, maintain the health of the ship, and set the course. The ship may then effectively engage in her mission. No one would deny that these are vital positions. Now to the extent that the crew becomes familiar with sailing they will eventually be able to sail the ship by themselves…but only to a point! While the crew, the ship, and even the fish in the sea are important, the mission has priority. Without these five offices functioning properly and maintaining the mission with serious commitment, one could imagine disaster is imminent.

What does this look like in the church context today? It looks like new works of God, like church plants, missions, and creative ministries to needy people. Prophetic voices are those that are unafraid and courageous, speaking words of challenge, edification, comfort, correction. Evangelists are those effectively engaged in fresh and relevant ways of reaching the lost.

Finally, pastoral leadership in all churches must be accountable to apostolic and prophetic leadership, who keep us on our mission. These offices form the foundation of all churches. The apostles and prophets are God’s first “balance of powers”.