I guess we're all here because of our interest in "politics" at various levels of exaltation and debasement. When it comes to what we technically call "offishul" leaders, the need here for a Religion Moderator prompts the conjecture that a lot of groups need umpires and executives.
The local church is a polity like any other, and to some extent subject to the same principles of group dynamics as any other. It has the further burdens of being concerned with the most important things and of getting the special attention of the ancient enemy because he rightly perceives it as a threat.
IMHO, the combination of the serpent's particular attention and inevitable human moral (and other) frailnesses means that no political organization or structure cannot go bad.
WRT to turfiness, in the Catholic Church I have known quite holy pastors whose attitude seemed to be, "Whatever. Let people be creative. No fire will start that we cannot with God's help put out." And I have known others who had almost a compulsion to have a finger well into every pie that came near the place!
But, the persistence of the enemy is such that when a pastor (as we call them these days) has a light and guiding hand, the tendency to turfiness devolves downward to various strong lay-leaders and sub-groups. A light and open hand requires as much alertness as a heavy hand.
The deadly effect, as I see it, of turfiness, is that it makes it too easy for people to coast and "murmur," rather than take an active part. Ruling cliques and sullen majorities result.
My current parish CLAIMS 2,600 FAMILIES! (How accurate this claim is not even the angels in heaven know.) About 30% make a significant financial contribution. About 95% are passive "consumers." And our new pastor has a heavy hand -- genial and affable, but heavy.
It's interesting.
Excellent observations!
That's what I'm saying. This type of church eventually fails for lack of disciplers nurturing "the weak brother(s)" out of passivity into spiritual effectiveness, at least to the state of being young spiritual adults who have overcome the wicked ones, and are able to rule rheir own spirit, This should be the major goal for every member of the church.
The pastor cannot do it all, nor does Christ expect that he will. That's not the plan.