TL

“So why are we warned about not lording it over- this would seem irrelevant if authority was not an expectation for church leaders. We are warned because of the corrupting nature of authority, not to show it doesn’t exist.”

Mark,
I find it rather odd that you read Jesus words this way.

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Note that it is BOTH lording over and exercising authority over that Jesus says IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU. INSTEAD we are to take the position of a servant and a slave, serving God’s people as God leads. Jesus said He did not come to be served. This applies to us also. We should not think that anything that we do as God’s servant (we are ALL to be God’s servants) should end up that we are served as we desire. We are to serve the people of God as they need regardless of what our calling is, but especially if we have callings of leading ministries.

It would be beneficial if we could sort through this when you next have some time.

Happy Father’s Day, in the meantime. 🙂