Apostles

These ensure the faith is transmitted from one generation to the next and from one context to the next. These are always thinking about the future, bridging barriers, establishing the Church in new contexts, developing leaders, networking translocally. If apostles focus solely on initiating new ideas and rapid expansion, people can be left wounded.

Prophets

These bring correction and challenge the dominant assumptions inherited from the culture. These question the status quo and demand that the community obey what God has commanded. Without other types of leaders in place, prophets can become arrogant or become other-worldly.

Evangelists

These call for a personal response to God's redemption in Christ. They also seek to recruit others to share the gospel and thereby grow the Church. Evangelists can become so obsessed with reaching those outside the Church that they pay little attention to the maturation of those inside the Church.

Shepherds

These are caregivers in the community who focus on creating loving relationships while securing the protection and spiritual maturity of God's flock. Shepherds can sometimes value stability to detriment of missions. They can also foster an unhealthy sense of dependency between the Church and themselves.

Teachers

These communicate God's truth and wisdom.They help others remain biblically grounded. Without the input of the other gifts, teachers can fall into dogmatism and dry intellectualism. They may also fail to appreciate the personal and missional aspects of church ministry.

Adapted from the spring 2008 edition of Leadership Journal.