Leaders need to evaluate. This article analyzes church leadership and gives practical ways to address weaknesses.

Leadership Analyzed

(How Effective Are Our Teachers In Demonstrating Strong Leadership?)

Some have it. Most don’t. The one quality that is always constant in vibrant and growing churches is ... strong leadership. Yes, leadership must start at the top but without it trickling down to the laity, its results will be limited in duration.

Use the following graph to chart your church portrayal of quality leadership among teachers on a scale of 1-10:

Use the leadership qualities below the chart to assist in completion.

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 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

(A) Example - How well is your congregation able to depend on teachers?

Lay leaders must be prompt, prepared, and possessed with spiritual vitality in any area they lead. Spiritually, teachers cannot take people where they’ve never been themselves. They also must be able to be trusted. Another way to chart this quality is to ask, “Where does the strongest Christian example in your church fall on this chart? More than likely, the rest of your lay teachers fall one or two points below him or her.

(B) Ability - How capable are your lay leaders in leading?

Spiritual gifts are essential to effective influence. Do teachers know their spiritual gifts? If so, are they in positions where gifts are being used? Key lay teachers must possess the spiritual gift of leadership. How do you know? Do people follow them?

(C) Communication - Does the congregation know what your teachers say?

Communication must be to everyone in their realm of influence. Without communication, leadership does not exist. If communication is exclusive, camaraderie and feelings of acceptance go out the door.

(D) Authority - On the whole, how do your classes respond?

Good leaders have a following. Is their any resistance to lay authority? If so, what does this say about their effectiveness to lead. Lay teachers who have a following do so because they live a Godly lifestyle, love people, have a servant’s heart, and know how to rationally deal with opposition.

(E) Strategy - Do teachers know where the church is heading?

Good leaders have a strategy. Does their strategy encompass a means of fulfilling the church mission statement and vision? “Where there is no vision the people perish.” Lay leaders must be goal setters. To what degree are your teachers setting and meeting goals?

(F) Love - How well do teachers love people?

Love covers a multitude of sins. Weaknesses in areas A-E are overcome when people understand teachers love them. This is seen to the degree they minister to the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of those they've been entrusted to serve.

Scoring

Put a dot directly across from the appropriate number and above the right letter.

8-10 range - Excellent leadership

5-7 range - Good leadership: could improve.

3-5 range - Fair leadership: definitely needs bettering.

1-3 range - Poor leadership: Begin now addressing this weakness.Connect dots for a collective picture of present church leadership qualities among teachers.

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