All too often the success of churches can be seen in how leadership is handled, or lack of same. This article is an expose on truth axioms and the consequences bereft of them.
Okay, you’ve just finished a leadership course, or on the verge of completing one, and you’re wondering how and when will you put some of the training to use. I’m here to tell you that now is a good time, and please do it without delay. Your church needs you! Whether one would admit it or not, there’s quite a bit of truth emanating in church circles that must be addressed, as well as consequences that allow them to fall into patterns, good and bad. I’m one that will never stop believing how essential effective leadership is to the body of Christ. I ask the question, Are you ready for the challenge? It’s my way of allowing accountable action to wrought a sense of accomplished value. Too often, the plight of any church can be traced to complacency, and how pastoral staffs, leaders, and lay personnel are doing what should be done for the ship to sail…but then again, there are some that find it difficult to leave the port. Success is predicated on everybody working together to keep God’s house in order. The church is a unique organism in which Christ and the Spirit dwell. The church has a unique source of life, is directed toward particular ends and goals, and is governed by particular commitments and practices—such as prayer, worship, Bible study, witnessing, and service. Needless to say all of them give peculiar shape to the church’s life and ministry.
With that said, take time out to look around you, take inventory and ask questions, or better yet, hold accountable the leaders that are not performing up to task. Being a leader myself, I take my deacon duties seriously, albeit of late I’m in recovery from several surgeries. However, The goal of servant leaders is to love and serve those they lead by helping them find and productively use their gifts in the ministry of the body. I don’t waver on this. Leadership in the church is essentially and radically a matter of servanthood, love, forgiveness, redemption, sacrifice, justice, and obedience. Status quo can undermine good intent and may lead to complacency when leaders feel that everything is okay. Lack of basic tenets I find can put churches in dire straits that stifle growth. Leaders should be careful in their exercise of power and authority, just as they must realize the ways that positions of leadership should not inherently create an imbalance of power. It’s a fine line taking (their) responsibility exercising effective power as servants of the one who has all power and authority.
To illustrate the gist of this article, I will give an essential truth and a mitigating consequence that often churches fall into. Truth: Elders and Associate Pastors usually are given assigned duties and jurisdiction over respective ministries; the Head Deacon has responsibility also making sure that deacons under his watch are performing efficiently; and Deaconesses are performing as adjuncts in various capacities. Passivity in any leader should not be tolerated if everyone are performing parts of a whole. For every truth there’s a consequence. Here are the Consequences relative to the aforementioned truth: When autonomy is working successfully on all levels there should be no need for introspective second-guessing…but when levels of competence fall off it’s noticeable among the servants that are toiling amid inadequacies. It’s my belief that if you’re a leader your responsibility in NOT to sit on the pulpit and/or bask in a title without looking to see where your leadership skills can be used. Moreover, ministries make up the backbone of church activity and functional resolve. A church divided where ministries are allowed not functioning to capacity falls on the shoulders of leadership, or lack of same.
I’m loathe to single out ministries in my church that are not being given proper leadership acumen for fear of reprisal…but know this: I’m a leader that cares, and as long as I’m in position to use the gifts and talents God gave me, I will not shirk my duties. As such, I will continue to challenge all ‘leaders’ who have gone through respective channels of leadership training to be ready for the challenge. Remember, as a leader your every action has a consequence, make sure it is one you intend. Join me in this challenge to make our church more than what is seen on the surface!
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