Empowering Leadership
Cynthia Woolever & Deborah Bruce
Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration – of oneself and of others….It is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. Lance Secretan
Few worshipers seek out a faith community with the goal of being passive observers. As a matter of fact Doug Pagitt says the people of this new day want to be a part of a church where they can participate, share their gifts and be accepted for who they are. That means we need to be less focused on finding people to sit in the pews and put money in the offering plate and be more concerned about including people in meaningful roles of and for ministry.
The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. Ralph Nader Robert Greenleaf shares this idea by suggesting that a committee or board may actually have a revolving chairperson. The role of moderator would shift as the different gifts of the board were called upon in special ways.
The secret of clergy leadership effectiveness is the art of seeing congregants as people with great potential. I am amazed at the number of times I find myself involved in conversations that actually berate church members because they won’t do this or they can’t do that. How often, however, do we get involved in conversation about ways we can help church members discover their gifts, use their gifts –even if it is outside the church – and help them determine their own personal mission for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Congregations strong in empowering leadership are also more likely to be strong;
1. Experience meaningful worship
2. Share a strong vision for the congregation’s future
3. Be involved in the community