Something I have been trying to wrap my brain around lately in regard to leadership within the church is the difference between these two distinctions: seeing church staff as "leaders of leaders," vs. "lead discipler," or "lead disciple maker." What are your thoughts on this issue? (I am hoping this blog entry will become more of a dialogue than a single post of my thoughts alone. Post away! Is it one or the other? A combo of both? If so, to what degree? Which do you feel is most important (i.e. expectations of staff members)?
I have many friends all over the country involved in ministry as well as local Horizonite leaders. I'd love to hear from all of you.
DCC
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I'm not sure if I'd prefer one over the other. My previous Lead Pastor I found was very proficient at being the one out making disciples, he definatly had an evangelist heart. However, leadership development was something that his wife was super strong in. So I guess as a couple there was a balance.
I really got to thinking about leadership right before my Ordination. While reading Ephesians 4 talking about the responsibility of apostles/ prophets/ evangelists/ pastors/ teachers to "equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ". So I'm trying to see leadership through that view, however it's much easier to just "do" ministry yourself, rather then train up others to do it. I think that's the conundrum that I face.
To me each person that walks with God basically has a leader in some way or form. Be it just a member, paid staff or a "leader".
I've actually been trying to classify the difference within the differences recently. Within horizon we have leadership leaders but at the same time someone within the church that isn't in leadership can be a leader as well in one form of another. Just like in any other church. To me it all depends upon who are you discipling. I don't like that question for the simple fact a lot of the time when I receieve discipleship I am giving it back so it feels more like the two people are walking down the same road together and staying vulnerable to each other so we can help as the time comes we fall down and need to stand back up.
Also in things I have experienced discipleship just happens. You don't look for it. At least I don't, it just shows up one day. This has been the case for me however I am unsure of the cases of other people.
I know Jesus told his disciples to disciple others but did he tell them to be leaders in the sense we are talking about now? Things change over time obviviously. But from what I get when I read parts of the bible is that each person leads each other instead of one over the other.
You have lead me by simply your walk of faith and other things. Where as others I have known about I have lead and discipled in different ways that I didn't know about until they told me. So really is there ever a leader over another?
Dave,
Good post. I guess I would have to figure out how one would define 'lead discipler' first.
I think at least at Horizon, that it is a hopeful expectation that staff facilitate, grow, encourage, and even disciple the leaders. I don't know if this is where you could incorporate 'lead discipler'. But staff should act as an example to the leaders on what discipleship is, and how we the leaders can harness our individual gifts to do so.
You ask which is most important, 'leader of leaders' or 'lead discipler'. I would say that independently both are inferior. I would say that if staff is honoring God and having the community first, that these two would bleed over.
Many have their opinions on what they want in a pastor or staff. When in reality and not being selfish, it is what is most beneficial for the community at the time. We need to be dynamic to ever wish to have the ability to touch many, and understand that it is not our abilities that are carrying us, but God's.
Dave,
Its a great question. I think in the top down Mega-church structure, we see the "staff" as the main leader of leaders. In the emergent church, however, I think the desire is to have "staff" that is one of the lead disciple-maker as he/she leads the leaders.
So I guess my answer would be both. I think the staff needs to serve as a mentor/accountability for fellow leaders as well as being a practitioner of discipleing others.
In Horizon's context, this often looks like me investing in the leaders while at the same time, leading a link group and investing in folks there who are not leaders.
To take the question further in Horizon's context, should a "staff" person lead leaders, disciple people in link group, AND be "lead evangelist" drawing new people into the church. I definitely think that all the leaders should be drawing new people into the church. Maybe the staff should be doing this more than others, I don't know.
I don't think its a matter of whether staff does these three roles or not. I think its a matter of how much time do we commit to each of them. The time spent on each of these three roles will probably be determined by our giftedness and what we find most fruitful for the life-stage of our community.
Post a Comment