"Manuals and courses on leadership tend to focus on personality strengths and various skill-sets for leadership. But the biblical narrative focuses on faith, obedience and vision. The effectiveness of our native gifts and skills as leaders depend on these. Without them kingdom leadership is not to be found. "
In this article, Sven Eriksson, a minister in the Mennonite Church of Canada, highlights the crucial difference between leadership theory and a theology of leadership. While he acknowledges the value of personality assessments and theories, Eriksson reminds us that, "when God chooses men and women for Kingdom leadership, there is something afoot that may not appear on a personality inventory." Eriksson cites David, the unlikely leader of Israel, recounting that God found leadership qualities in David that the world did not see.
Another poignant reminder brought by the author is that there is no Biblical personality or theory of leadership. The hall of witnesses in Hebrews 11 is a diverse group who carried out different tasks, but were united under a theology of leadership.
Eriksson sets out three building blocks of this theology:
1. Faith - believing what God has said
2. Obedience - taking risks, audacious behavior that counteracts societal norms
3. Vision - future vision "so profoundly compelling it gave them the ability to suffer and die for it"
As we step out into ministry this summer, I wonder, not only at the styles with which we will lead, but the theology that grounds them. What is your theology of leadership?
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ReplyDeleteGood thoughts Lindsey. We all need faith, obedience, and vision as we head out into the service of the Kingdom. Eriksson writes, “The effectiveness of our native gifts and skills as leaders depend on these.” I think that my theology of leadership is one of imitation. As God works in my life to make me more like Jesus – than I will naturally influence others with the presence of the Holy Spirit to become more like Christ as well.
ReplyDeleteWhile we need faith, obedience, and vision to be effective we also need to internalize the many tools and methods of awareness that we have covered in this class. My theology of leadership includes the phrase “all truth is God’s truth.” The more I can internalize an understanding of the way I am naturally wired, capable of working, and the way people tend to respond, the more effective I will be for the Kingdom of God. This does not amount to manipulation or boxing people into their personalities, but it increases the potential for effective communication, and provides tools for people to discover how God has made them.
Theology and theory are interrelated in many ways, and as we internalize both, we can grow in our effectiveness for the Kingdom.