It's continually sad to reflect on how all throughout history our nature as people continually stifles what God is doing. I just wonder how we as the church can maintain the priesthood of all believers and not have it usurped with the need to establish hierarchy or systems. Does this mean to keep things on a grassroots level? I don't think that is the answer since we have many larger churches that are successful in maintain somewhat of this idea. I can't also help to think about the whole notion of fear that we have - fear of change, fear of losing control. Brafman and Beckstrom talk about this in their book, The Starfish and the Spider.  How much do we stifle the movement of the Spirit and the growth of the church because we need to maintain control. Even as I reflect back on the way that I had done ministry, I believe so much more ministry could have happened if I just trusted more in my leaders and feared less that something would go wrong or veer off in a different direction. So how much of this demand for hierarchy is actually because of the leadership involved and egos? I will be the first to step up and say many times in the earlier part of my ministry, I wanted to be sure that I was affirmed as the pastor. It's sad but true.