Missional Leadership

How does church leadership become missional leadership? Isn’t a shame we have distinguish between the two?

Depending on the polity of the church, most church leaders are elected by the congregation or selected by a nominating committee of some sort and presented to a group for ratification. The conversation often revolves around getting so-and-so more involved in the church by asking them to lead something.

Here is the problem. A leader by definition is a change initiator. Therefore if leaders are not united as to the mission of the church, the congregation is in for a bumpy ride, to say the least. In actual fact, most church “leadership problems” are rooted in the lack of understanding as to the mission of the church. Some people think it is worship, other fellowship, still others service to the community. All have a measure of the truth and yet none has the big picture. The result is a ponderous church leadership making uncoordinated, and at times, contradictory decisions.

Let me suggest an alternative.

What if the leadership was agreed that the main purpose of the church is to make disciples? What if every trustee, deacon, elder, board member of any kind, would constantly ask “How does my decision, my ministry, affect our mission as a church to make disciples?” Crazy thought, huh? How can it happen? Here is a start:

• Be sure to have a discussion with every potential leader about the mission of the church.

• Have each board or committee in the church take 15-20 minutes at their next meeting to discuss how their actions affect the mission of the church.

• Begin a class/series investigating the purpose of the church like Discover Your Windows. Take note of who responds, of who “gets it.” Those are some of your potential leaders.

Only when leaders are agreed on the mission of the church, will the leadership be missional.

(First published at churchdoctor.org/blog, Feb 2, 2011)