Church Leadership in the 21st Century

What characteristics are needed for the leader or pastor in the 21st century.  Depending on who you ask you may find a variety of answers.  Some would say the leader for the future will be technologically savvy.  Maybe some may say he needs to be relevant with the times.  Some have suggested, at least to reach the younger crowd, he must dress down.  Wear blue jeans and lose the tie.  The answers to that question are all over the map.  Call me crazy but I think that the answer to that question actually lies within the Bible.  Go figure?

I was recently at a training that we offered and heard a great presentation from Rev. Barry Whitworth, Team Leader for Church Planting for the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania and South Jersey.  He said that they look for a church planter to be AED.  As he described AED I realized that the characteristics they are looking for in a church planter are the same characteristics needed in pastors and leaders if they are going to lead their church into Kingdom work in the 21st Century.

Let me describe AED:
A is Apostolic.  Now what does that mean.  It means to have a mindset and life style of a Missionary.  (see Acts 17)  Pastors have viewed themselves as administrators, CEO's, and professionals to name a few titles.  We call ourselves senior pastors, lead pastors, teaching pastors etc . . .  While that is all OK.  What we really need to call ourselves is missionaries.  The Apostle Paul was always going where the people were and exposing them with the realities of the gospel.

E is Evangelistic.  (2 Timothy 4.1-8)  Why do we think our people will share their faith if we are not doing it?  We have a great excuse, "I don't know any lost people.  I am always dealing with church people."  The truth is we are too busy doing church stuff in our sanctuaries and offices that we haven't developed relationship with lost people.  We rarely have or take the opportunities to meet lost people.  (let me refer you back to A)

D is Discipleship.  Call it what you will, mentoring, discipleship, equipping.  Just do it!  I firmly believe the reason that 70-80 % of established evangelical churches are in decline or death is because we have not been discipling.  But what method do we use to do that?  Not the way we have been doing it!  Go back to the Scriptures.  Look at the example of Jesus, Paul, Barnabas and see Paul's instruction to Timothy (2 Timothy 2.2).  That will be a great place to start.

This is a great challenge to us but if we are to see revival, Pastor it will have to begin with us!

Pastor as Celebrity

Pastor, you  may not feel like but you are often viewed with a celebrity like status.  Don't believe me?  Let me ask you, do church or community members want to be seen with you in public. Does your church family expect you to shake everyone's hand at the end of a service?  Are you ever invited to a function in the community or a family event that you are not a member of the family, to pray or just to be present?  There is a sense of celebrity status we must deal with.  James MacDonald addressed it recently in a blog (see link above) with some great advice.  Let me summarize

1. Try to avoid the front or back hand shaking lines.  Visit with folks in neutral places and involve other leaders for the greeting after services and discussion about the message.
2. No matter what size of the church involve yourself in the regular things of ministry.  But recognize that you don't have to do it all.
3. Avoid picture taking and book signing.  (OK really most of us don't have to deal with this one, just James).
4. Make sure they know and that they know that you know that it is not about the messenger but the message.

God's role for Pastoral Leaders

Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?

Heb 13:17 (MSG)

One of the challenges of ministry is that we often can have too many who think they should set the agenda for what we do.  I am not an employee of my church I am their Shepherd.  My boss, the person who sets my agenda and give my job description is God.
While that may seem arrogant it is not intended to be so.  God has great expectations for His under shepherds.  The Message paraphrase of Hebrews 13.17 I think is a great place to begin to be reminded of what God's role is for us.  Here is our job description from God (based on Hebrews 13.17).

1. Be a leader.
2. Counsel others in life, ministry, family, and Spiritual growth.
3. Pay attention to and understand the conditions in the lives of God's people
4. Obey God.
5. Serve with joy in everything.
6. Don't get bogged down in stuff that will make ministry a drudgery.

Enjoy Serving Him!