Ken
Sande, the president of Peacemaker Ministries, writes that, “There is no more
difficult place to enter than the inner life and deep struggles of another
person. If you want people to welcome you into their world – their real, messy
world, not the smiling façade we all put up – you must earn a relational
passport.” In other words, leaders, especially pastors, must be approachable.
It is not enough to be able to debate theology, discuss doctrinal issues, be an
excellent preacher, and have all the right answers. In order to gain access into
the lives of those being led, pastors need to be aware of the questions that
people will often ask themselves concerning their pastor: Can I trust you? Do
you really care about me? Can you actually help me? Sande argues that it is
vital for pastors to relate to others in such a way that they would answer “Yes”
to all of these questions. In this way, an authentic relationship can be forged
where there is mutual growth in Christ.
Leaders
should be “gentle” in their authority. They should not demand submission simply
because their position demands it. Similarly, leaders should fight pride and
cultivate humility. They need to be able to take criticism. People should know that
they don’t have to hide their true selves and thoughts around their pastor.
Finally, leaders must make sure that their institutional structures do not
undermine approachability and have a shepherd’s heart. They must care more about
what God is doing in another person’s life than in ministry tasks.
I will comment on this article.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a great article and approachability is something that people (especially leaders) often overlook. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the vision and other things that leaders(or anybody for that matter) can often overlook how others perceive them. I believe that one key component to this is being more self-aware and aware of how others are responding to you. It would also be helpful if leaders ask people whom they can trust for insight. I know there have been times when I had made friends and only after talking to them later realized that they had perceived me as ‘unapproachable’ or intimidating.’ In actuality, I am nothing like that but I can see how sometimes if I am quiet etc people could have gotten that idea. Authenticity also plays a role in this because people do want to know that you do care about them and that they can trust you. As mentioned in the article, as leaders, we must not demand submission simply because their position demands it. We must be able to take criticism and ultimately; “We must care more about what God is doing in another person’s life than in ministry tasks.”
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