verse4today: "How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you." (II Samuel 7:22)
Posted on 2012-04-30 via Twitter
As the church moves from the hands of one generation to another we observe changes both in the context within which the church lives and works, as well as in the manner in which we do church. The healthy congregations find ways, with the help of God, to navigate these changes. One change that has already come upon us is in the area of leadership. The AARP generation, more often than not, has affirmed a solo leadership model. They believe that the Lord can and often does inspire and empower one person to lead an organization into a new future. The up and coming generation of church leaders, again more often than not, shares a shared leadership model. Their decision making processes include several people who relate to one another as equals.
The impetus for this change leadership may be, in part, the information explosion and the correlating increase in specialization. The amount of information available to us humbles even the best of us, encouraging us to find security in knowing a lot about a little, rather than a little about a lot. Hence, when making decisions for our organizations and churches we depend on teams of people in open conversation. We hope such dialogue will provide both an accurate portrait of a particular reality and develop a specific and informed plan for a new future.
Interestingly, we find both models in Scripture. We find the shared model operative among the apostles as they deliberated on the discipleship of Gentile converts (Acts 15). We find the solo model in many places, including this morning's Old Testament reading in the "One Year Bible." In the first chapter of the book that bears his name, Nehemiah tells the story of his decision to rebuild Jerusalem. It is a classic "right person at the right time" story. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the king, says, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." The king granted his request and the rest is history.
Shared or solo leadership? What is the best option? Since Scripture offers both options, perhaps the better question is "What form of leadership is best for this situation?" There may be times when one person must step up to the plate and get the job done. There may be times when the leadership of a group must be shared. How do we discern between the two? One clue may be the complexity of the issue. The more complex, it seems to me, the more voices are needed in the decision-making process. In a simple situation, like a battle with Goliath, shared leadership may give way to solo leadership and let the shepherd boy fight the giant. In a more complex decision, like those facing our nation, more people are needed, if but to share the criticism that comes upon those who lead.
In the church, the bottom line to both forms of leadership remains the Holy Spirit. The exercise of either form of leadership without dependence upon the Holy Spirit leads to trouble. That's why, in the congregational setting, without the Holy Spirit, it doesn't make a difference what form of leadership a congregational employs. Christ, the head of his Church, can and will lead his people through one or many, but only as the one or many depend upon the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit.
Good thoughts! Especially at the end there. If the HS isn’t in it, it’s over before it’s begun.
We had these exact questions and conversations re: solo or shared leadership in a class this fall. The book The Leadership Jump by… some guy… laid out the situation pretty darn well. My read on the author is he’s a boomer trying to convince other boomers to make way for what’s coming. It made a lot of sense.