UNDERSTANDING THE CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP

There are some many definitions and depictions of leadership. Due to these plethora, people's understanding of leadership is more confused than clarified. One that description of leadership that is most appreciated by the author can be drawn from the biblical text of Matthew 5:13-16. The bible describes the leader as a light amid darkness. Leadership is the act of creating or crafting out a way where there is none. On that basis, a leader is one that "knows the way, goes the way, and shows/leads others the way." This means a leader cannot be what he is not. For leadership to become a light to others (followers) it must, of inherence, be the light itself. The definition, moves leadership from a theoretical exercise to the pragmatic experience. Leadership is not about knowing, rather becoming. When this is done, leadership will be seen as the spot/searchlight to which others depend upon for guidance in their respective paths. It will be a radar that gives direction to the drivers. Hence, leadership is lightening, empowering and influencing others to shine. That is, leadership is the creation of pathways out of darkness; a leader therefore, becomes someone who stands out in the midst of an association, and in turn helps others to achieve same status.

The Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, 2006

What is “Christian” about Christian leadership? In this article, I propose that theories of Christian leadership can be defi ned, implemented, and evaluated through qualitative and quantitative research (Alvesson and Skoldberg, 2000). Qualitative-research methods suit the complex (Heifetz, 1994), context-embedded nature of leadership, which involves an interrelation of contextual boundaries and leader characteristics (Antonakis, Cianciolo, & Sternberg, 2004). Qualitative research can prepare the way for quantitative research, which is better suited to testing theories (Lowe & Gardner, 2000). At the pre-theoretical level, leadership is common to all people. Everyone participates in leadership within his or her spheres of infl uence, and everyone does so with or without refi ned refl ections about leadership (Goleman, Boyatzis, & McKee, 2002). Various models of leadership exist at the theoretical level. In this article, however, I focus on a specifi c model of Christian leadership. In...

2018

Secular leadership has failed to deliver. Christian<br> leadership as modelled by Jesus Christ presents an<br> alternative. Contrary to secular leadership, which is<br> characterised by power and dominance, Christian<br> leadership begins with a premise that if one wants to<br> lead, one must first develop a servant's heart. The article <br> explores the twin dimensions of Christian leadership; <br> servant leadership and steward leadership. While the<br> primary role of the servant leader is the wellbeing of the<br> people being led, the steward leader focuses on<br> accomplishing the purpose of the owner. Christian<br> leadership seeks to emulate Jesus the servant Lord, who<br> came not to be served but to serve and to fulfil the<br> mission entrusted to him by his Father.

2019

2019

2018

The nine articles of this issue of <em>Jnanadeepa </em>focus on Christian<br> leadership. The various dimensions of a Christian leader would<br> necessarily be different from those trained with purely secular<br> understandings. Some dimensions include acts of stewardship<br> (leadership) servant leadership roles, the importance of values or<br> character strengths, kingdom-oriented action and discipleship.<br> These dimensions of a Christian leader arise at points of interaction<br> between faith and secularism. Leaders have different personalities<br> and styles of functioning and therefore operationalize their decisions<br> in different ways. They develop their organizations or institutions<br> according to their perspectives. Therefore, for a Christian leader,<br> models and theories need to be developed that address leadership in<br> Christian ways to influence the functioning of all leaders in ...

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, 2011

The church’s leadership experience spanning the centuries places it in a unique position to contribute to leadership studies. Any contribution should grow out of the development of a theology of leadership. Consideration of that development should be informed by general leadership studies while uniquely drawn from its faith. Its primary elements should include a Scripture-based, God-governed, Christ-centric reflection on the use of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has empowered all believers with in order to accomplish His mission in and for the world. A theology of leadership must constantly balance the biblical narrative and contextual application. This leads to both ecclesiology and practical leadership being advanced simultaneously. Research can be furthered through greater analysis of both scriptural and historical leadership contexts.

This paper presents key aspects of church leadership as taught by the Apostle Paul in the second chapter of his second letter to Timothy. Other references pertaining to Biblical teaching on church leadership, which are greatly needed in the church today, are also included.