October 30, 2006
How should a pastor lead?
Over the last decade I've had the opportunity to take in many pastoral conferences. To read some of the brightest minds (I think, anyway) on the issue of church and, in particular, pastoral leadership. To look at the lives of pastors who are considered successful. To watch those who don't get too much airtime, and will never be asked for their opinion on a current event covered by Time Magazinge. I've also had some good opportunities to read and discuss and think much on the issue as well. Now even though, I start off saying all that, I'm no expert! I do have some opinions and since my life is undergoing change in this area, I'll share some of them. I'm pretty sure there's nothing I'm going to say that's new, but it's what's being real to me in this season of my life.
Many years ago I came to a realization, the issue isn't so much about what I can and can't do, but where am I anchored. That is, there are things I can accomplish on personal talent, giftedness, charm, and my ability to relate to most people. There's a chance that I can even create a pretty spiritual looking institution that most people would call a church based simply on those things. I could probably visit people, help them, counsel them, baptize, marry, burry and even preach to them week to week on my own strength. Some would argue here, I understand.
Here's my point, I've realized several things. Something others have realized before me. The best place to lead from is from a place of followership. Or as Jesus said, the best place to follow & lead is by remaining yoked to him. Remaining connected to the vine. (All pictures not unfamiliar, but not really common to us westerners) The answer is abiding in him.
You see the issue isn't that you can't lead a church on your own strength or not. I wish I'd understood this earlier on, but you really can. You can lead an institution and make it apparently successful, when measuring success by the standards of our culture. You really, really can!!!
But the issue is what will is being built and what eternal value will it have?
One of Jesus' principles that impacting more and more is the concept of abiding in him and of being yoked to him. A concept he tried to illustrate by talking about where his authority and leadership was centered, stemmed from...
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
I guess the question I've been asking myself is, how do I lead this way? How do I get to the place where I am actually truthful in saying, nothing I can do is of any value unless it's based on what I see Jesus & the Father doing. The things I do and the words I speak are done because Jesus is living in me. It's easy to say that, it's easy to appear that that's reality, But what needs to happen so it's really the truth and not appearance?
I'm finding there's a couple of things that I think need to happen. There needs to be much prayer. And you need to lead in community. Like I said before, I'm not saying anything new today. But I think these things are crucial for the man or woman of God who's been entrusted with leading God's people, at any level. from Sunday School to the pulpit.
Pray lots about everything! Give prayer top priority in your ministry. Truth is, I'm only really figuring this out this past year. Or maybe the truth is, I've finally come to a place where I realize all the success that I can accomplish on my own is only skin deep. No matter what it might appear like to others. Truth is many of the circumstances are finally so far out of my place of comfort and expertise (it really didn't take much). That I know I can't do it on my own ability. I need more. I'm also finding when I start giving up excuses like, I can't concentrate long enough and I'm just not a prayer warrior, then I'm left with only one reality, if I'm going to be a successful leader I must pray lots and about everything. I used to feel guilty about this. Now the reality is simple, don't surrender it to God, don't expect God results. That doesn't mean large numbers flooding the doors of my church, at least it hasn't meant that. But it does mean that I can be at peace with where I am, and where we are as a church, because I know everything is being placed on God's hands and out of mine. In light of that I'm also calling our church to this...I'll keep you posted.
The other thing I'm learning is that leadership must happen in community. Most pastors I know are lone rangers. I used to be a lone ranger. Don't get me wrong, I still have a ways to go here. Almost every week I find another way this needs to change. But I'm trying to learn and surrender. I think the biggest issue here is not just accountability, but accountability to people who really know us. I find that it's easy to be what I want others to think I am. It's just way too easy to relate at that level. And although you probably can't do it with everyone, you need to find at least one or two people who you can get to the place of letting them into your inner world, all of it. This might be the hardest thing you do, but eventually it's the most freeing, as well as the most protective thing I think you can do to keep you grounded and faithful. Actually this is not just true for pastors, but for any follower of Christ.
These are the things that I'm learning, the things that continue to shape who I am, how I follow, and how I lead.
Posted by ed