What is true leadership? Are the principles of servant leadership effective in the church community today? Are servant leaders’ wimps or pushovers that do not have the respect of those who serve with them? This article addresses these questions. Servant leaders serve alongside those who serve with them as opposed to attempting to dominate and manipulate those they serve with. The key to servant leadership is learning how to follow. Nelson states, “to be a servant leader, you must first become a servant.” Jesus tells us in Matt. 20:26, “whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.” So as Servant Leaders we must embrace servanthood and search within so that we know what are motives are as leaders. If we are benefiting the church organization, casting vision for the body of Christ, seeing the potential of the followers and positioning them to walk in their gifting then we are servant leaders who recognize that the road to the destination is just as important as reaching the destination. So how do we serve effectively as Servant Leaders? Remember that our heart is more vital in this role than our hand, remember that no one is greater than anyone else (meditate on 1 Cor. 12:12), remember that in leadership we are building relationships and ask the question “am I creating disciples for Christ?” As Servant leaders we must motivate, inspire, communicate and have some charisma to draw people into the vision so that they align themselves with the will of God for their lives.
The big question I have is how does a servant leader handle conflict? I agree that servant leadership is effective in forming disciples of Christ and empowering them to serve the church. In the picture you described of servant leaders as “serving alongside” and helping others to grow as disciples, we assume the cooperation of those who we are leading/serving. What about when that is not happening? Maybe you are mentoring a young believer who thinks you are old fashioned in your views against co-habitation. Perhaps, you are leading a church where several long-term members are constantly reminding you that you are their servant and not in charge of their church. They say this to target the vision God has given you for the church and attempt to persuade other people in the church to vote you out. At this point, servant leadership seems like a nice idea that is insufficient for the times at hand. The bottom line is you can’t serve everyone in a congregation, and you can’t always give young disciples the news they want to hear. Our service to others must flow out of a deep, confident, and clearly defined service to God. Then we have ground to stand on in conflict.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that Servant Leadership is not a leadership style that we should operate in at all times in ministry. It is a style that should be used as we disciple those we are serving. I think that Servant Leadership is a style that allows those you serve alongside of to sense one aspect of how Christ lead. As leaders who take on the charge to lead God's people I think all types of leadership styles should become a part of who we are. I have dealt with conflict from the aspect of a Servant Leader and disciplined someone in such love that they did not even realize that I had disciplined them but it also manifested a change in them. I do not believe that we should be stuck in one leadership style but embrace aspects from various styles to emulate Christ and lead His people.
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