Moses on Leadership

One of the most fundamental elements of any successful organization is leadership. However, it is also one the most misunderstood qualities as it relates to congregational development and structure. We are in the midst of a drastic shift within many mainline churches, some would say the shift has already taken place, in that membership is declining, the impact of the church on society is questioned and effective leadership is a rarity. Perhaps the reason for the deterioration of many churches is a result of a misunderstanding of what leadership is and what it is not. If the church is to reverse this trend leaders must come to the realization that true leadership means guiding people into the vision that God has for them, individually and collectively. It is Lovett Weems’ book Church Leadership that has really helped me develop my theology of leadership.

First, it is essential to differentiate between being a leader and being a boss. A boss has authority and power based on his or her position. A boss tells people what they are supposed to do and people do it because there are consequences for disobeying. A leader, on the other hand, may have authority based on position; however, he/she does not have the luxury (depending on how you look at it) of telling people what to do. People don’t have to do what a leader tells them to do. Therefore, a leader has to convince people that what we are doing, where we are going is in the best interest of the group. Our congregations are made up of leaders not bosses and we have to persuade people to follow us.

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