"What Have I Gotten Myself Into: Leading from the Center of God's Will" -The Church Doctor Report

How Do You Break the Cycle?

If you are in the position of a leader, the previous paragraphs sounded familiar. Perhaps, momentarily, those paragraphs added to or affirmed your frustration. Don't quit. Instead, think about how you can change the system.

Start by promoting a high view of leadership in the church. John Maxwell says it this way: "Leadership is a privilege. It is like being a dog in a dog sled. Unless you are out in front, the view is the same for the rest of the dogs. It's all about vision--the leader gets to see the view first." (John C. Maxwell, audio resource, The Privilege of Leading).

Think about the concept of vision. What is the focus of your Leadership Board? Maintenance? Reporting? The past? Or, looking to the future, casting vision? Remember: if leaders don't look toward the future with vision, it is unlikely anyone else will.

Another dimension is Esther's question: "How did I get here?" In her case, she was elected because she agreed to let her name stand on a ballot. Consider, instead, a biblical approach. Think about how this would change your system. Move from elections to mentoring leaders. If you can't change your constitution, you can always be a mentor for someone. Ask God to lead you to a potential leader to mentor. This is what Jesus did: He modeled discipling--on-the-job, relationally-based, training and teaching; doing and becoming. This is the context in which values, enthusiasm, attitudes, and worldviews are as much caught as taught.

Most churches operate on some schedule of term limits. A few people, every year or two, go off the Board (as if your leadership gift dried up or the call to service moved on without your awareness). In this approach, the church adds to the Board a few people each year. This approach of adding is contrary to God's plan, as well.

Think Multiplication

When God gave directions to fill the Earth, the command was, "Be fruitful and multiply." When Jesus called His servants to expand the Kingdom, it was all about multiplication, being fruitful and "making disciples." This, too, is a multiplication strategy. Someone once said, "A leader who develops people ADDS. A leader who develops leaders MULTIPLIES." Another way of thinking about this is asking yourself the question, what do you really want to accomplish? What will be the result, the legacy of your leadership effort? "Leaders impress others when leaders succeed; leaders impact others when followers succeed" (John C. Maxwell, Leadership 101, page 113).

As I have worked with churches throughout North America over the past three decades, I have rarely seen this discipling culture. Many pastors go about their daily routines and, most often, are not equipping someone, as they serve. For example, every day pastors are ministering to those who are hospitalized. Usually the pastors are alone. Why?

1. Pastors know it takes more time to arrange for
    someone to go along.
2. Church people have a high expectation of
    caretaker pastors. Members expect pastors
    to do ministry as a primary role.
3. Many have lost the biblical notion of Ephesians
    4: 15-16 where pastors and other leaders are
    primarily called to equip other people to do the
    work of ministry.
4. Churches seem to ignore Jesus' model of
    on-the-job training.
5. Most church leaders have a limited view that
    disciple-making only happens in a class.

The end result is more frustration. Pastors preach discipleship and there is little change. Leaders challenge others to attend a Bible class under the false assumption that more knowledge equals changed behavior. The frustration, in many churches, leads to a quick-fix mentality. This is desperation behavior: "We need leaders now--we don't have time to go through the long process of mentoring and discipling." This is a perpetual, self-destructive approach for leaders to follow.

So what would you do for Esther? You could ask a former leader like Sally to mentor Esther for her first year on the Board. Sally is a seasoned leader with deep Christian wisdom. She understands discipling and might be willing to invest her life in Esther. Sure, it would be far better to develop a system of discipling for potential leaders, five-to-ten years before they are asked to serve in a leadership position. Reinventing the system is not the only alternative. Would Sally be allowed to sit with Esther at the meetings? Would she be willing to debrief afterward, perhaps the next day over coffee? Will Sally invest in the spiritual dimensions of Esther's life including modeling the ministry of discipling? Will Esther catch the discipleship model and pass it on to the next generation? That would, in a small way, start a movement.

What other ministries could be slowly and methodically changed to begin discipleship preparation? It's not that hard to start. Challenge your Sunday school teachers to seek out helpers and train them in the fine art of mentoring, discipling, equipping, and training. Do this consistently and persistently throughout the church for five years and you'll see a dramatic change in your church. Future leaders, like Esther, will thank God you did.