Leadership Development

Some Thoughts Around Leadership Development

Leadership is the critical issue confronting the church as it moves toward the 21st century. The challenge is to move the thinking and operational paradigms of church leaders, both pastoral and lay, beyond shepherd care and administrative efficiency to leadership effectiveness. Leaders must lead!

I find two compelling reasons for this supposition.

First, in any organization, church or otherwise, every issue — whether good or bad — is also a leadership
issue. When you find success in an organization, you find successful leaders. When you find failure, you
find leadership failure as well.

Second, as I observe the church today I find the greatest single growth restricting issue to be an inability to develop new leaders. The infrastructures of ministry must be enlarged as a church grows or the church will be unable to sustain the enlargement of a meaningful ministry to people. Leadership development is
critical to church growth.

What is leadership?

Leadership is influence.

It is the ability to persuade, to guide, to affect a particular outcome. This implies that there are a large variety of leadership styles from the charismatic leader of multitudes to the
relationships that are reduced to one person influencing another. That is why I believe it is true, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. A mother influencing a child is exerting leadership.

Most people in churches today do not think of themselves as leaders at all. Consequently the influence they could bring for the advance of the Kingdom of God is dormant.

Leadership implies followers.

Autocratic leaders coerce followers with force. Leadership within the church is more properly styled around relational skills that communicate a sense of value and love for people.

Because leaders often deal with issues related to change, I observe that one of the most important people skills is conflict management. A leader will work hard to create a “non-anxious” environment when important decisions must be made. A leader will address conflict in a positive, proactive way rather than deny it or simply hope it goes away.

Leadership requires character.

People may get excited about ideas, but they follow a person. Genuine leaders who serve for the long term in a church will be people of impeccable faith and character.

The character issue implies that leaders are also servants. A leader will be as excited about a foot basin and towel as an elevated position or a dream.

Leadership shapes destiny.

This is developed around both a sense of vision and values. Leaders understand that everything is created twice — first, in the mind as an idea or dream; then in reality as an outcome. But, leaders also understand that if corporate or personal values are violated, the vision may be lost.

Leaders recognize this highly dynamic relationship between vision and values, knowing that where there is congruence there is great power to achieve great things.

What are the implications for leadership development?

First, leaders must learn how to define and cast a vision. Vision will tell people where we are going.

Second, leaders must learn how to define and clarify values. Values inform people what they will become as they follow the leader and pursue the vision.

Third, leaders must maintain the integrity of the mission of the organization. Integrity creates an environment of trust. Trust is essential for any dynamic organization.

Fourth, leaders must clearly communicate how individuals can be involved in a great endeavor. They release people for service. They help the individual answer the question, “How can I make a difference?”

Finally, for the church, leaders begin and end at the same place — a passionate love for Jesus Christ and His purposes the church.

Posted on Oct 12, 01:57 PM by Rev. Stephen Wagner

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