TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE

Kings & Priests
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Reading: Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
"Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work" (Eccl 4:9)
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Some Pastors call all ministries outside the local Church as independent ministries. This is not correct. Individually all Christians must associate themselves in the worship and witness of local Churches, but there can be so many ministerial activities which may not be governed or administered by local Churches. Bible translation ministries, Bible societies, Relief agencies, medical ministries, pioneer missionary movements are some examples.
Whether it is a local Church ministry or a translocal ministry, if there's no accountability of ministers to one another, such independence is unscriptural. As far as local Churches are concerned, there can be no singular leadership. Pastors or elders or bishops or overseers are different names for the same office and they are always mentioned, in the New Testament, in the plural (e.g. Acts 20:17,28). Translocal ministries also must have plurality of leadership. Jesus sent His disciples two by two.
Independence in financial matters leads to corruption. Independence in message content leads to deception. Independence in ministerial methods leads to unscriptural practices. Independence in administration leads to misuse of power. Some independent ministers boast that they don't receive salaries but live in faith. Those who work in ministerial organizations also live in faith. They exercise "collective" or "corporate" faith that God would send in offerings from His people month after month for their needs.
We cannot accomplish much when we work independently. The ancient wisdom says, "Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labour" (Eccl 4:9). Independence may give us job satisfaction, but the Kingdom of God will not be benefitted much. Independent ministries result in duplication which wastes the Kingdom resources. Interdependence is the law of the Kingdom. All believers in Christ are "kings and priests," but no one should act like the King of kings or the High Priest who is above correction or accountability.
The observations I have made here, however, do not totally rule out the possibility of any minister of God functioning independently. There can be exceptions. Prophets may find organizational structures suffocating. Bible teachers may find denominational structures straitjacketing. Lions hate cages. However, it is safe for such ministers to voluntarily become accountable to senior and seasoned ministers of similar gifts.