LEADERSHIP

Where have all the leaders gone? Why is it so difficult to recognize displays of leadership
today? Are we in a leadership vacuum? Is failed leadership behind the failure of moral
and ethical patterns of service?

The answers would seem to be yes if we consider the nature of the criticism that appears
in the press and is expressed by frustrated workers and volunteers in very troubled
organizations. The church, academy and marketplace declare major unresolved conflicts
and challenges with their identity and viability to be a result of failed leadership.

Leadership literature has expanded significantly in the last ten years. Books are coming to
the bookstores each month attempting to explain this concept and give us instruction on
how to lead. Unfortunately, leadership is still not easily understood, and its practice is in
short supply.

The basic question is: What is leadership? Do we have an adequate understanding? Is

there a Christian view of leadership that could make a difference in these difficult times?

Most of us define leadership as decisive, appropriate and timely action on the part of a
person who holds a position of authority. When we say there is no leadership, we usually
mean that we feel like nothing is happening to deal with growing problems within our
context. We want “strong” leadership to deal with the problems we see or dilemmas we
face. Is this common understanding of a leader’s role an adequate description of
leadership?

The answer to this question is an emphatic no. It is not sufficient even though it holds
some truth. Leaders are in short supply in the church, academy and marketplace as a
result of misconceptions of leadership and its secularization. A Christian theology of
leadership has the most potential to respond to this problem. With a biblical
understanding of spirituality, character and community, a Christian approach provides a
powerful and effective model for leadership practice and transformation.

A Secular Perspective on Leadership

The standard model for leadership evolves and takes its shape from the predominant
worldview. It places a high value on independence and self-sufficiency. The leader
depends on learned skills, experiences and decision-making ability. These are regarded as
the key attributes of leadership. The emphasis is on doing-accomplishing tasks, achieving
goals-and little attention is given to relationships. When it exists, the relationship can be
termed transactional (contractual). The model is focused on the uses of power, authority
and position. With this secular approach leadership skills are focused on management,
“bottom-line” outcomes and quantifiable models. The model has given us the
independent “tough-minded” leader and suggests that leadership is essentially a
masculine enterprise.
This view of leadership has emphasized a reverse service model in that “followers”
provide service to the person in authority. Service flows up rather than down. An
organization exists to facilitate the leader in accomplishing his or her goals. Within this
model, relationships between leaders and others are merely a means to the end. There is a
low appreciation of community but a strong emphasis on the needs of the organization.
Persons are valued to the extent that they add value in reaching organizational goals. An
influential model for this type of leadership comes from the military and gives us lines of
authority with a very heavy emphasis on competing and winning.

The model also stresses the importance of personality or “persona” over against
character. Moral or ethical strategies might be employed to solve problems but are
considered secondary.

Vision comes from the leader or the needs of the organization as defined by the leader.
The potential of the leader and organization is virtually unlimited, given enough skill and
knowledge. There is no room for God or the spiritual dimension. The model does not
recognize evil or sin as a part of culture; nor does it see God’s active involvement in
history and our daily lives.

An Evolving Secular Model

New voices have been heard within the marketplace that are reshaping the accepted view
of leadership. A movement is developing around a growing criticism of graduate
education, clarifying distinctions between management and leadership, the influence of
cultural modeling from Japan, the idea of servant leadership, inclusion of women and the
introduction of the transformational leadership standard. Character, spirituality,
community and relational leadership have found new adherents. The standard model of
the marketplace is evolving into an understanding of leadership as an art with a focus on
character and the quality of community.

This model has been developing over the last ten years and is expressed in many recent
popular leadership books: The Web of Inclusion, Leadership Is an Art, Mind of a
Manager, Soul of a Leader, Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership, Leading with
Soul: An Uncommon Journey of Spirit, The Female Advantage: Women’s Ways of
Leadership and Spirit at Work: Discovering the Spirituality in Leadership. These writings
and the new movement are a response to failed leadership and an attempt to find meaning
in work. While this is reforming the secular model, it still lacks a developed philosophy
and a recognition of where these “new” ideas originate.

A Christian Perspective on Leadership

Christian theology contemplates the model of a triune God. From this comes the powerful
image of relationships and being in community. Christian leadership is about spirituality,
character and community.
The idea of the presence of God’s Spirit gives us a very strong notion of our inclusion in
and empowerment for the community of God. Spirituality is the center, heart and
beginning point for Christian leadership. This spiritual position determines everything,
from the character formation of the leader, to the interpretation of the leaders’ vision, to
the understanding that most issues of leadership can be resolved only at the spiritual (not
merely at the moral) level. Developing a Christian theology of leadership accents the
centrality of a radical discipleship to Christ.

Character is the conduit for producing Christian service and leadership. We lead out of
who we are in Christ. Our relationship with Christ forms and shapes our person. This is a
lifelong process and relies on the bumps and bruises of life to make markings that define
who we are when no one is watching. We cannot separate our service and leadership
from this composite picture of our values, beliefs and godly nature. Self-insight and a
learning and growing disposition ensure a maturing character and a more responsive
leadership style. Courage is the character trait that provides a catalysis for Christian
leadership. This is a byproduct of our relationship with Christ and a fully explored self.

The Christian leader’s obedience to Christ produces service. Both the horizontal and the
vertical relationship define and provide direction for leadership through service, close
partnership with God and a strong concern for community. We are drawn to God’s vision
of eternal life, and we know that bringing God’s kingdom to life on earth is a primary
goal of leadership. This is our highest calling, our driving vision. We also know that the
primary focus in this process is making disciples of Christ and bringing them into
fellowship with God and God’s community. But also central is extending justice and
compassion in and through every arena of life and every place where we work. God is a
partner in this process and shares with us divine “power” to help us accomplish this goal.
The presence of God is actively engaged in this kingdom-making process. Building
community might be the most sacred of leadership pursuits, for leaders are attempting to
bring their communities into full service to each other and God.

The Christian framework understands sin and the nature of evil. Therefore it is able to
define reality and cultural context more clearly. It also takes a very different position
when it comes to the notion of self-sufficiency. Dependence on and obedience to God is
the highest and best use of a Christian leader’s time and energy. The nature of
relationships in this model is covenantal and transformational.

A Definition of Christian Leadership

Christian leadership is an art form of worshiping Christ, a teaching and serving process
that envisions, influences, shapes and enhances so that both leaders and followers realize
God’s goals for change within their community. This definition has several important key
words and concepts.

q Art form-not necessarily an exact science, but rather a creative process that comes from
the expression of an individual. There is no formula for leadership behavior or
personality, as it comes in many sizes and shapes.
q Worship-the process holds up something higher than itself. Christian leadership from
beginning to end is done sacrificially to God.

q Teaching-the primary process of leadership. Christian leaders are “teachers” and

influence by bringing others along in the learning/shaping development process.

q Service-the vehicle of the leader is the needs of others. Service flows out of obedience
to a master, in this case God, who directs our leadership into service to others within our
community.

q Envisioning-we measure our leaders by their ability to interpret God’s vision. Without a
vision people perish, and this vision is the discovery of God’s best for us.

q Shapes and enhances-leadership is a sculpturing exercise that creates and builds in

positive ways.

q Leaders-leadership is not a solo event. It involves a team, and its goal is empowerment
of other leaders.

q Followers-they are an integral and potent force in the leadership process. We judge
leaders by the quality of the community formed in the exercise of leadership.

q God’s Goals-we are obedient to God’s call, both individually and corporately. We seek
divine direction and wisdom for our community.

q Change-the end of leadership is metamorphosis within the needs of community. This is

a transformation that brings God’s kingdom to light and its practice into the world.

q Community-everything is done within the confines of relationship. Leadership

accountability, service and effectiveness are measured within the standards of the
community.

The Practice of Christian Leadership

The Christian leader places himself or herself into the hands of God and becomes a living
sacrifice to Christ. This is expressed as a call to service. God provides the context, and
the community adds the confirmation. From this spiritual relationship, accountability to
God and community is exercised. To be a Christian leader is to be countercultural, to be
about the process of change. The leader is a radical follower of Christ and servant to
others who is marked by several key practices.

1. Serves God faithfully and obediently. Our attention and focus is on God. We lead out
of this spiritual relationship to God as servant and friend. This requires a very special
attentiveness to hearing God through Scripture, community and prayer. Our goal is to
serve God faithfully.
2. Discerns God’s vision. Leadership is about vision. The translation of this vision into
specific contexts is the role of leadership. God’s vision is in tension with current
“reality,” and leadership is the process of dealing with this dissonance.

3. Develops the leadership team. Leadership is about relationships and working together
for a common purpose. Solo leadership is not consistent with God, nor is it a particularly
effective leadership style. We need to build a team for leadership to become effective.
Spouse, family and significant others represent the informal dimensions of this, while
staff and selected position holders provide the formal component.

4. Communicates, prays and teaches. Leaders need skills to function effectively. The
teaching dimension serves as the primary stimulus and tool of leadership. Through it
communication flows and prayer becomes an intervening variable. People of prayer are
given greater access to God. This produces change, which is the goal of leadership.
Effective leaders are communicators that keep the vision alive.

5. Builds God’s community. The most significant leadership task is to build community.
Community is a representation of God’s kingdom on earth. It is culture, purpose, identity
and God’s love. We judge effective leadership in terms of the “tone of the body” that
they build up rooted in God.

6. Inculcates God’s values. Values (see Organizational Values) are a representation of

culture (see Organizational Culture) and set the context for leadership teaching.
Storytelling, word pictures and modeling are the leader’s tools in embedding values in the
community.

7. Disciples and empowers God’s people. In the Christian model, power is dispersed. It is
given away to those who would lead and serve. People in community are being prepared
to have their gifts used for the vision and purpose of the community.

8. Stewards God’s resources. Management is important to effective leadership. Planning,

budgeting, allocating and controlling are aspects that require attention from leaders.
Stewardship builds discipline and provides a view of resources as being on loan from
God.

9. Shepherds God’s people. Caring for others is the centerpost of leadership service.
Knowing those who have been entrusted to us and responding to their needs is a critical
leadership issue.

10. Renews God’s organization. The process of change is about renewal (see
Organizational Culture and Change). Leaders guide organizations and communities to
higher levels through transformation and renewal. Renewal begins with the individual
and moves to the edges of the community.

11. Develops future leaders. The preparation of leaders for the community is a primary
task of leadership. The successful accomplishment of this activity results in effective
leadership. This is also leadership development and succession. Emerging leaders ensure
the vitality of community and renewal of the organization.

Where have all the leaders gone? They are led to misconceptions about leadership. Most
are content with management practices that focus on making things work. Many follow a
secular model that does not produce and mentor leaders. While some are attracted to
ethical decision-making, spirituality that comes from the power within and principle-
centered leadership, unfortunately these strategies fall short. They explore only the fringe
of what represents the most powerful potential to deal with failed leadership in our
generation. We must rediscover the biblical model of Christian leadership that transforms
our character, community and organizations and produces love and service to others.

References and Resources

J. Autry, Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership (New York: Avon, 1991); W.
Bennis and B. Nanus, Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge (New York: Harper &
Row, 1985); L. Bolman and T. Deal, Leading with Soul: An Uncommon Journey of
Spirit (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1995); J. M. Burns, Leadership (New York: Harper &
Row, 1978); J. Conger et al., Spirit at Work: Discovering the Spirituality in Leadership
(San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1994); S. Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective
People (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1989); M. De Pree, Leadership Is an Art (New
York: Doubleday, 1989); J. Gardner, On Leadership (New York, Free Press, 1990); R.
Greenleaf, Servant Leadership (Mahweh, N.J.: Paulist, 1977); S. Helgesen, The Female
Advantage: Women’s Ways of Leadership (New York: Doubleday, 1990); S. Helgesen,
The Web of Inclusion (New York: Currency, 1995); J. Kouzes and B. Posner, The
Leadership Challenge (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1987); H. Nouwen, In the Name of
Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (New York: Crossroad, 1991).

-Patrick Lattore

See all topics from the book.

Originally published in The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity by Robert Banks

and R. Paul Stevens. ©1997 by Robert Banks and R. Paul Stevens. Used by permission
of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. www.ivpress.com