Der Aufbau von Leitungsstrukturen in Gemeindegründungsarbeiten der Brüdergemeinden in Deutschland

Abstract

One of the deciding factors for successful church planting is the development of leadership structures. The New Testament demonstrates the care church planters must take with this issue, and delineates the requirements future leaders must meet in order to lead the church upon completion of the church planting stage.

The history of the Brethren denomination in Germany does not provide direction for church planting because of its congregational leadership approach. Interviews with different church planting projects show a diverse range of structures and views of leadership which have a partly positive, but mainly negative effect on the establishment of a church. The integrative leadership style, which reflects the New Testament pattern,provides perspective for the future.

The future successful establishment of churches within the framework of the Brethrenchurch requires profound changes in the traditional theology and practices of the denomination.