A Very Short Essay On Church Leadership
A Very Short Essay On Church Leadership
Dedicated to the faithful Officers with whom I have served in Christ's Church
Books and articles on leadership sometimes make me a bit uncomfortable--because the spirit which seems to me to drive some of them appears quite counter to the supernatural and miraculous qualities required of those people called to serve the beautiful body (church) of Christ.
As per the danger in the spirit mentioned above, I am not claiming to be an "expert" on this subject; and indeed, I have made enough mistakes in church leadership to write a textbook on what not to be and do.
Still, by God's grace, I have learned a few things over the expanse of 36 years as the pastor of one (very special) church. In this short essay, I will try to give some encouragement to my brothers (who serve in the church's formal offices); and to my brothers and sisters who minister for Christ faithfully in their callings in the church and in the world.
It seems to me that the most important feature of good leadership anywhere (but especially in the church), is humility. Humility is bred through supernatural regenerative faith in Christ, and resulting love for God in and through Him (Christ). This faith and love engenders a deep-seated sense of liberty and security--which becomes, in my estimation, the "secret" of good leadership.
Probably most of us know what it is like, to have to "follow" an insecure, and therefore anxious and self-focused person. The inevitable result is at least twofold: one, nobody is happy; and two, the situation usually "implodes," and (mercifully) ends.
Leaders who are free and secure in Jesus do not look for applause (partly because they do not really need it); and they do not seek (or expect) to find their significance in *any* fallen human being whomsoever: be it themselves or any other Adam-sin-infested sinner. The entire focus of a liberated and secure leader is upon Jesus (alone)--who is The Human (non-sinner) who can and should be comprehensively (implicitly) trusted and relied upon.
When this is done, (by God's grace alone), several amazing ironies occur. One of them, is that the person called by God to lead His people (under Christ) willingly and gladly takes the "lowest place," (as per the many Gospel references that could be adduced); and he (especially in the case of church officers) seeks to go as far down in his own estimation, as possible.
The governing gospel principle behind these attitudes is a self-conscious unwillingness to implicitly trust self, or any other fallen human person or agency.
The other irony is, that when the leader wholeheartedly and sincerely (though imperfectly, of course) commits to this path, God's people gladly and willingly follow him. There is a sense in which they hear Christ's (own) voice through him (John 10); and they (God's sheep) get attached to him, devoted to him, and love him. All of this allegiance is centered, not on the fallen (though divinely-called) human leader, but upon Jesus Himself.
Then, another amazing thing happens: the person called to lead (especially in the church context), can and does sincerely and from the heart appropriately trust his faithful fellow-officers; and he encourages them to flourish in their God-given responsibilities and realms. They (the other officers), then, embolden the whole congregation in the glories of the service of Christ.
*All* the other aspects ("usual suspects") of church leadership, like vision-casting, setting an example, giving instruction (through preaching and teaching and sacraments), and counseling, etc., are all practically and spiritually dependent upon what is spoken of (above).
I hope this very brief missive is an encouragement to every single Spirit-regenerated Christian churchmen (man or woman) who comes across these words.
If you are in that blessed category and communion, then relax, and bless God's beloved people, the forgiven sinners who make up His cherished church.
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #2
24 January 2025
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