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>From the Baptist Standard (www.baptiststandard.com)
Many American churches suffer from a woeful lack of leadership, religion researcher George Barna claims. Fortunately, leadership can be cultivated, he told two groups of Texas church leaders recently. Barna explores church leadership in his "Inward, Outward and Upward: Ministry That Transforms Lives" seminar, which he launched on a nationwide tour in Texas. "People need to be led," Barna insisted. His organization, Barna Research Group, studied a cross-section of effective churches and polled Americans to examine the status of U.S. church life. "More than four out of five people are followers, although up to 60 percent of people describe themselves as leaders," he reported.
"Most people hate the responsibilities of leadership," he explained, noting they don't like the burdens of criticism, loneliness and pressure that accompany leadership. But people need leaders, because "left to their own devices, people make wrong decisions," he said. "A leader has the vision to make right decisions." Unfortunately, most churches have too few leaders, Barna contended. "Most churches have about 4 percent of adults in leadership," he described. "But effective churches have 8 percent to 12 percent of adults in leadership. "A church cannot be understaffed in leadership and make progress." Barna said a Christian leader is "someone who is called by God to lead, leads with and through Christlike character and demonstrates the functional competencies that permit leadership to take place." "A Christian leader leads people by motivating, mobilizing, resourcing and directing them to fulfill a vision from God that they jointly share." Leadership takes place on at least three levels, he said. "Micro-level" leadership influences small groups, like a youth group, a ball team or a Bible study class. "Most leadership is micro-level," Barna said. "Therefore, the church primarily is shaped by the cumulative effect of micro leadership." "Mezzo-level" leadership provides modest leadership, such as that of a pastor of a small church or a church Sunday School director. "Many clergy and lay leaders operate at the mezzo-level," Barna said. "Inability to grow beyond mezzo-level leadership will halt a church's growth." "Macro-level" leadership is extensive and affects many people. Such leadership includes pastors of dynamic mega-churches. "These are the global agenda-setters," Barna said. Although most churches are not likely to exert macro leadership, churches can take effective steps to identify and cultivate their leaders, he added. Churches should look for three primary traits in its leaders, Barna noted. They are: * Calling. Leaders should have the spiritual gift of leadership, Barna said. He cited the 12th chapter of the Book of Romans, which affirms the traits of exhortation, generosity, aid, mercy and cheerfulness. They also should be called by God to lead, he added, noting such a call usually is confirmed by the personal conviction of the individual and the affirmation of others who see leadership qualities in the person. *Character. "Character determines how a person responds to pressure," Barna suggested. He noted a variety of positive character traits¡¡optimism, integrity, servant mentality, influence, intelligence, self-confidence but not arrogance, high standards, diligence, humility, willingness to take risks, interpersonal skills, respect and discipline. * Competency. Experience and results build competency, Barna said. Christian leaders can articulate God's vision for themselves and others, develop other leaders, strategize, motivate others, mobilize people for ministry and resolve conflict, he said. They're also effective at identifying and acquiring resources, reinforcing commitment and success, objectively evaluating the ministry, shaping "corporate culture," modeling Christian character and commitment, and attracting and maintaining leaders and workers. Churches need to develop a process for "building champions," or developing leaders, Barna urged. "Subject every (leadership) candidate to a thorough assessment," he advised. Before assigning a person to leadership, look at personality, gifts, leadership aptitude and spiritual commitment. "Assess their heart," he said. Each leader also should be provided a customized development plan, he added. For example, Baby Busters will learn best if they are coached through a relational learning process, while Baby Boomers learn best through experience and respond best to goals. Regardless of age and background, leaders should be led and trained by a mentor, someone who already has experienced leadership, he said. Leaders, especially new ones, should be given "ample, regular access to the 'directing leader,'" the church leader who is best at describing the congregation's "big picture" vision, Barna said. "This tends to maintain motivation and creates a deeper sense of trust," he explained. Churches additionally should provide their leaders with "formal classroom-style instruction on leadership," he noted. "This is not just theology and doctrine. You need to go beyond that point" to help them understand the challenges of leadership itself, he said. Leadership education also should include peer interaction with other leaders in the church as well as aggressive exposure to a range of leadership resources, such as books, videos, tapes and conferences. Barna reinforced the necessity of providing intercessory prayer support for all church leaders. "These are the people on the front lines of (spiritual) battle," he stressed. Developing leaders should be given "progressive leadership experiences," Barna said. Their responsibilities should be increased incrementally, so that they are not given more than they can bear. Finally, all leaders should be engaged in a "reasonable accountability process," Barna said. "Don't evaluate competency so much as ensure that character is in place," he explained. "Help leaders learn from their mistakes." "Raise up heroic leaders," Barna urged churches. "It will revolutionize your ministry." Texas portions of George Barna's "Inward, Outward and Upward: Ministry That Transforms Lives" seminar were conducted in partnership with the Texas Baptist Leadership Center, directed by Bob Cavin. The Houston- and Dallas-area meetings attracted 428 participants from 364 churches. The leadership center provided local arrangements and advertising, as well as some scholarships for the events. CREDITS: Taken from the Texas Baptist Standard April 22, 1998.
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.