Christian leadership development is inseparable from Christian discipleship
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A century ago, the trait theory of leadership was a popular idea. The trait theory proposed that leaders are born with specific, fixed personal attributes through which one was endowed with the ability to lead. Some attributes were physical (e.g., height and attractiveness) and others were internal (e.g., intelligence and extroversion). The idea that leaders are born and not made has largely been debunked. New theories and approaches encourage us to view leadership as a teachable skill.
In fact, the idea of leadership “development” is rooted in the belief that through intentional formation, we can learn practices and approaches that make us more competent leaders. This raises important questions for churches: - If healthy leadership is vital to congregational flourishing, why do many congregations invest so little time and energy in leadership development?
- Are we still unconsciously clinging to the idea that leaders are born and all we need to do is ask the nominating committee to find the right one for us?
- Do we think the corporate or professional leadership training our members encounter at work prepares them to be faithful leaders in the church?
What makes leadership unique in the context of a Christian congregation is that Christian leadership is inseparable from Christian discipleship. Jesus’ call to take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow him plays a significant role in how we approach leading ourselves and leading others. Business schools and corporations can define the hard and soft skills leaders need to be effective in those contexts. Perhaps the church needs to assess what it can teach disciples in our context. How can the church teach disciples to be transformational leaders as well as faithful followers? |
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| It’s tempting to think there’s a formula for leading people, but it’s important to read the context to understand how the Spirit is moving, writes the vice president of spiritual foundations for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.
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| An international religious order uses a teaching framework based on abundance, practice and peacemaking. Street Psalms offers a seminary, design studio and resources to its partners.
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| The parable of the sower and modern-day design thinkers challenge us to take risks rather than fear failure, writes an associate director for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity’s Thriving Congregations Coordination Program.
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Unfortunately, I do not have a perfect solution for leadership development in the church. But I do know that we don’t see different outcomes until we help people cultivate a more vibrant inner life. Spiritual transformation is an indispensable part of congregational leadership development. Christian leaders are not simply responsible for managing projects and people; instead, they serve alongside other faithful people who together are seeking to discern and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We need leaders who have a deep awareness of God’s movement throughout the Scriptures. We need leaders who are sensitive to the necessity of silence and stillness as a prelude to decisions and action. So as we look for the next generation of leaders, let’s not fail to teach the values, practices and vision that contribute to flourishing congregations. You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading! |
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| Editor Alban at Duke Divinity School |
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