Loading ...Leadership from the Center
Most organizations are structure from the top down. You have the leaders at the top with those who are under them on the next level. The flow chart continues along these lines. This is the corporate model for leadership from the previous generation. This model of leadership has been implemented into the church. It is the model of empowerment from the top down. I have been thinking about a different metaphor for leadership in the church. It is one from the center. The elders are in the center of the congregation. They are in and among the people. There leadership is from Jesus Christ who is the perfect center and the elders are the mature Christians within the flock who most exemplify Christ likeness. These men are influencing the rest of the flock through being close to Christ in life and in character. This leadership resonates through the flock. The elders will be the spiritual leaders of the flock because they are trusted to make the wisest choices for the rest of the body. The people follow them because of this closest to Jesus. This could be a different way of looking at headship. The head is not so much a top down system, we are thinking with poor understanding of how the human body works, but rather the head is the central point of the body. Everything flows from the head or brain. This analogy would help to stop elderships from becoming aloof from the church. The eldership is not on top but at the center of the church.
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- Read “Ultimate Leadership”
About The Author
Right now in my ministry/life I am dealing with very poor skills on my part. I am also dealing with poor leadership in the church. For me and others work on this some more if you have time. Thank you.
Good thoughts. I prefer to think the only thing at the center of the church is Christ. I hesitate to put anything else as even remotely central to the church. I would see the elders as more in and among the circle – moving toward those who are grounded as well as those on the fringe working pastorally to shepherd the flock. If you see the circle as a sheep pen full of sheep then I would hope the elders would be both in and out of the sheep pen tending to those inside and reaching toward those outside. I don’t know…just rambling here.
Thank you for the insight and the examination of the metaphor. It is amazing how a new metaphor can help with thought.
I totally agree. I love that idea… Jesus in the middle, spiritual leaders around Him, with us not as close a little further back. In order to get closer to Jesus we may have to latch on to those a little closer in. Neat.
Have you heard of the book, “Brothers, We Are Not Professionals” by John Piper? I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard it deals with ideas like this.
Love the new blog.
I have never read the entire book, just consulted it for a paper on calling and professionalism within ministry.
“They smell like sheep” by Lynn Anderson and Mx Lucado is very good on this idea. The best thing an elder can do is be a serious disciple a becomer and overcomer.