Leadership Development
Clergy are called by God and given authority to be leaders in their communities (Matthew 10:1-20). While this leadership can mirror forms of leadership in the secular world, pastoral leadership takes specific forms: shepherds to the flock (1 Peter 5:1-4), spiritual fathers to God’s children (1 Corinthians 4:14-21), teachers of Christian doctrine (Acts 11:25- 26; 13:42- 45; 17:12-13), preachers and presiders in the context of worship (1 Cor 11:17-34). The goal of all Christian leadership is to equip the saints for the work of ministry by building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). At the core of Christian leadership is the call to be the servant hearted (Mark 10:42-45) in all we do.
Leadership is best learned through active reflection on the practice of pastoral ministry. The following resources aid in this reflection.
Contents
Recommended Reading
Beeley, Christopher A. Leading God’s People: Wisdom from the Early Church for Today. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2012.
Friedman, Edwin H. A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix. Rev. ed. New York: Church Publishing, 2017.
Resources for Further Study
Bolsinger, Tod. Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory. Exp. ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2018.
Clinton, J. Robert. The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development. 2nd ed. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2012.
