Actually leading means that these privileged pastors are allowed to pray down visions from God for their churches and to develop coherent, coordinated ministry strategies designed to achieve those visions.
I wrote that these pastors are allowed – and expected – to dream (seek God’s preferred future for the church), to design (a ministry strategy to make disciples) and to direct (to serve as the supervisors of the staff and/or volunteer ministry leaders).
I’m not claiming that the Bible demands this kind of arrangement. I do claim that the Bible illustrates it and experience demonstrates that it’s the most effective model for missional effectiveness.
Let’s face it, most churches are pursuing pasted together, composite, let’s-try-to-please-everybody visions with pasted together, composite, let’s-try-to-please- everybody ministry strategies.
But the objection I heard was valid: Many pastors aren’t ready for this level of authority. Many other pastors don’t deserve it.
So what are the characteristics of the pastors who deserve to be entrusted with this kind of leadership mandate?
(1) They have impeccable character, and everybody knows it.
While they may arrive on the scene with their godly character well-developed, it usually takes a few years for the congregation to realize they have it.
Don’t rush pass those words “…it usually takes a few years…” If the church has had difficulties in the past with pastors who were not godly, this challenge is going to be that much greater.
(2) They have a deep-down Biblical humility, which is not self-loathing, but an honest understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
When pastors only want to talk about their strengths, you know that they have only the fuzziest vision of God and probably haven’t seen themselves very clearly either.
How does real humility manifest itself?
- Teachability
- Approachability
- A sense of humor regarding our foibles
- The ability to calmly listen to criticism and advice
- An oft’ expressed dependence upon prayer and the Holy Spirit
- A willingness to trust, empower and honor other gifted people
- An absence of boasting, self-promoting story-telling and name dropping
- A deep respect for the “little people” who have nothing to add to the ministry
(3) They have a walk with God that lends credibility to their vision casting.
Moses had signs from God to build credibility. (The leprous hand and rod-turning-into-a-snake routines were pretty spectacular.) He also scaled a mountain which smoked and quaked and rocked out to the sound of a heavenly trumpet. He came down from the mountain with his face glowing.
Most of don’t have such wondrous special effects, so we have to convince people we have heard from God in more mundane, time-consuming ways, like:
- Reflecting God’s glory while under attack
- Enduring hardship and loss with heavenly grace
- Sermons that demonstrate that the preacher has truly heard from God and been touched by His Spirit (and this involves the display of actual emotion!)
(4) They have demonstrated love and devotion to their churches with no sense of ownership or entitlement.
There is “good ownership” and “bad ownership” of course. Good ownership means that we deeply care about our churches; we are not just professional pastors climbing the ladder to the next congregation. We are not just maintenance-mode pastors. We are working hard at focusing our efforts at leading our churches to become the effective missions which God wants them to be.
“Bad ownership” leads to pastors talking about “their people” and “the folks who are in the church because of me” and “the people who would follow me if I left.” These are actual quotes, not my exaggerations. These guys definitely don’t deserve the kind of authority I’m talking about.
Pastors who truly love their churches will stay on if they are convinced it is the best thing for the congregation or move on if they are convinced that that would be the best thing for the congregation. They’re obsessed with Jesus’ kingdom, not their own kingdoms.
They do not think for a moment that their years of service at their congregations have earned them “tenure,” the right to stay on for years after their effectiveness has waned, to change their doctrinal views but remain with the church indefinitely, to close their ears to new ideas or serious concerns, or to be immune from performance reviews or meaningful accountability. Sadly, these are behaviors I’ve seen again and again.
(5) They inspire others with a faith and enthusiasm which is long-term and genuine.
Just about anybody can pump up some enthusiasm for a short sprint. But can you keep it going, because you have learned to rejoice in the Lord and enjoy Christ, for the whole marathon?
Even more challenging is the need to dig down deep – very deep – into a relationship with God that enables the pastor to be encouraged and joyful in spite of months or even years of discouragement and decline. I liken this to the team which has had a poor first half going into locker room and “turning it around,” coming back unto the field like new people in the old uniforms.
Athletic teams can do this, and, by the grace of God, pastors can do it too.
(6) They have demonstrated skill in the nuts and bolts aspects of leadership.
Leadership begins with a discontent with the present and a dream of a better future. That’s the fun part, but it’s just the beginning. As a friend concluded a few years back, “the trouble with all this leadership stuff is that eventually it deteriorates into hard work.”
The hard work aspects of leadership involve persuading others to join you in achieving the vision and then actually getting them to the God-given destination. Most of us have to demonstrate some ability to do these things on a small scale before our churches are willing to let us try it on a larger stage.
Can you work with people well? Do you have enthusiasm for the vision along with patience for the people? Can you get a disparate group of people on the same page? Can you organize a project or two (small wins) which will demonstrate that you have the abilities needed to lead the church to some bigger wins?
Our church members want and need to know that if they follow us into the future, we’re going to have the organizational and people-managing abilities to get them where they’re going successfully.
Are YOU a pastor who deserves to be followed?
