Thinking About Leadership
The following question crossed my mind many years ago: What makes some churches grow by leaps and bounds while others decline? The obvious answers to this question lie in a clear sense of mission, spiritual health, resources, context, and leadership. Without including the multi-layered factors of place, timing, readiness, context, and culture this answer is too simplified. There is no error-proof formula for church growth. However, there are unquestionable complexities of what-ifs and maybes that move us into action or immobilize visions. The most significant factor is effective leadership, meaning individuals that not only see the way forward but also embody the spirit and wherewithal that inspire others. What leaders come to mind as you read this article?
Today, the definition of leadership shifts generationally. Amanda Gorman, poet and prophet, became a new model of leadership when she proclaimed, “For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” The United Nations recognized Donald Mudzengerere for demanding the truth about COVID19 in his country Zimbabwe. He organized meetings between local young people and government representatives from the Ministry of Health and Child Care to discuss the spread of the pandemic. Through these discussions, both youth and elderly participants were educated on how to stay safe from contracting the COVID19 virus.
Today, leaders of every generation raise the question of core value living. The Church and society are equally challenged to match their actions with a lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and the promotion of the common good. Eleven years ago, I began studying leadership and the below truths are from my research:
· Effective leaders can make disciples and can also orchestrate change.
· Effective leaders transform moments and movements.
· Effective leaders are authentic, vulnerable, and compassionate.
· Effective leaders steward relationships.
· Effective leaders empower others.
· Effective leaders are meaning makers.
This list is not exhaustive; nonetheless, it helps us begin a conversation about our current and future needs for individuals to fully show up with the gifts and graces needed for our world today.
My biblical model of an effective leader is Nehemiah. He was the prototype of the leader described by Ronald Heifetz and Tod Bolsinger. Read Nehemiah through the lens of a strategist, and you will discover a prayerful leader who marshals support, enlists new leaders, overcomes obstacles, and accomplishes his assigned task. Margaret Heffernan requests that we evaluate our thinking about leadership. Heffernan states: “We no longer need superstars; rather, we need to embrace a new definition of leadership. Leadership is an activity in which conditions are created and everyone can do their most courageous thinking together.” David Anderson Hooker says that leaders work with narratives, helping individuals identify and live into their preferred narratives. Additionally, Hooker says, “Preferred Narratives provide a range of choices and actions that validate equitable relationships, structures, the distribution of resources, and support participants in surviving, thriving, and making full contributions within their context” (Hooker, David Anderson, The Little Book of Transformative Community Conferencing, pg. 17).
Reformed thinkers identified four primary characteristics of leadership:
1. Having the ability to live in relationship.
2. Leadership is nothing more than a function of communicating with and relating to self, others, and God.
3. Leadership is nothing less than the day-to-day relational behaviors one exerts with self, others, and God in particular contexts.
4. Leadership is a universal human capacity, a result of the relational nature of the image of God in human beings.
In summary, good leaders make space for leadership succession. Effective managers are permission-giving. They seek to grant autonomy so that creativity can freely flow among employees. These leaders can create an environment of excitement and anticipation. As authentic leaders, they can work from their areas of strength and be honest about their growing edges. More than just working to build a team, influential leaders practice “teaming”, a concept of distributed leadership, blending related people, listening to other points of view, coordinating actions, making shared decisions, and calling for the development of both affective and cognitive skills within groups. The growth of the Church is dependent upon both the spiritual and professional growth of leaders.
After a year of uncertainty, loss, and crisis, we are entering a time of restarting again. The task is significant but not insurmountable. We can and should work differently. We can live into a new way of doing things. Effective leaders adapt. Take the summer to rest, reconnect, and reboot life. Care for your souls. The scriptures remind us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time and season for everything under the heavens.” Find the time to rest, so you can return this fall-ready for what’s next.
May you find strength through these words: “May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley