10 Types of Christian Leadership David Murray Recently I was asked to give a conference address on “Positive Leadership.” It got me thinking about how many different kinds of pastoral leadership I’d come across in my ministry.
Mr. Passive never takes a step forwards. Like a snooker ball, he just waits to be hit by the next event. If he can maintain the status quo or manage a congregation’s gradual decline, he’s quite happy.
If Mr. Passive is a snooker ball, Mr. Dictator is the snooker cue. He’s always pushing his way around, pushing others out of his way, and aggressively pushing his own agenda with little thought about the knock-on effects for others. Sometimes he pushes so hard that he rips the cloth and ends the game for himself and everyone else too.
Mr. Crisis is neither too passive nor too aggressive. He doesn’t try to avoid difficulties like Mr. Passive and he doesn’t create difficulties like Mr. Dictator. But he loves difficulties when they come. Not so active in normal times, he thrives in a crisis, especially when the spotlight is on him. He’ll lead through the Red Sea, but he’s not so keen on the wilderness bit.
Mr. Inconsistent can clear the table sometimes and hardly hit a ball at other times. You just don’t know what to expect on any given Sunday. He’s up, and then he’s down. Sometimes his sermons soar, and sometimes they sink. Happy and encouraged one day, miserable and depressed the next. Determined to stay for the rest of his life, threatening to resign the next day. Completely unpredictable and unreliable.
Every leader has fears – he’d be foolish not to – but Mr. Fearful is characterized by fear, overwhelmed with fear, never gets past fear, is dominated by fear, and makes decisions based on fear. But, just like the animals, his people can smell his fear, especially in his preaching. Most have stopped following him, and some have started intimidating him.
When people think of Mr. Pessimist, a little passport picture of him pops out of their mental files and displays a glum sad, hopeless, and depressed expression. A dark cloud hovers above him and rains whenever there’s a hint of sunlight in his life or ministry. Growth in other churches is suspect. A cheerful Christian is a shallow Christian. Sin and judgment are his themes and shall be till he dies – which always seems to be just round the corner.
Mr. Boastful knows how to make other preachers feel really bad, and seems to enjoy doing so. He’s an expert with statistics and always seems to have his latest church attendance, Sunday school figures, baptisms, conference invites, etc., at the tip of his fingers. When people visit his church, it never seems to be quite as big or as lively as he claims, but then you can’t lie with the stats, can you?
Mr. Academic has read every book you’ve every read and twice as much again. He can quote early church fathers, reformers, puritans, and modern church leaders as if he knew then all personally. Calls himself a “Pastor-scholar” but there’s little of the former and much more of the latter. Argues that the best way to pastor his flock is to spend 40 hours on each sermon. The sheep just don’t know how lucky they are.
You’ve probably already met Mr. Sociable. Everyone else has. He loves socializing and plans a lot of it every week: lots of visits for lots of hours. And he especially welcomes unplanned visitors and calls. People are far more important that studying the passage in Greek or simplifying that complex paragraph towards the end of the sermon. He’s greatly loved in the community, but those who have to listen to him every week are growing less enamored.
Paper, emails, reports, committees, church law, and bureaucratic procedures are Mr. Administrator’s favorite companions. Given the choice between ministry and administration, the latter always seems more urgent, if not important. I mean people can wait, but this report is due next week. Rather than squeezing in paperwork between sermons and visitation, sermon prep and pastoral visitation are squeezed into ever-smaller gaps between the vital office work.
I’m sure you’ve met some of these Pastors, and more. Why not describe some other characters in the comments below?
As a Pastor myself, I recognize all of these people almost every time I look in the mirror. Yes, I have been all of these people at one time or other, and sometimes all in the one day!
Yet, for all of our faults, the Lord still uses “earthen vessels,” that the treasure of His grace might shine all the more beautifully in us and through us (2 Cor. 4:7).
At the end of every day I bring my multiple sinful personalities to the cross and appeal once again for forgiveness, looking to the Christ who died for my sins, and for the sins of every Christian pastor. The more I preach and pastor people, the more I value Jesus’s atoning work, and the more I marvel at His perfect life and ministry over 33 years.
Whoever else we follow, let’s make sure we follow Him above all. Because He promised, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19).
David Murray is professor of Old Testament and PracticalTheologyat Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He blogs at HeadHeartHand and you can follow him on Twitter @DavidPMurray.
http://youtu.be/N_lrrq_opng MERCY ME I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
http://youtu.be/kkdniYsUrM8 MERCY ME ALL OF CREATION
http://youtu.be/e8HgAVenbUU MERCY ME BRING THE RAIN
http://youtu.be/e8HgAVenbUU CASTING CROWNS PRAISE YOU
http://youtu.be/Gnf1xczuOrA CASTING CROWNS LIFE SONG
http://youtu.be/ipwEtvWL_3c CASTING CROWNS JESUS,FRIEND OF SINNERS
http://youtu.be/7I4SzZbamrc CASTING CROWNS GLORIOUS DAY
http://youtu.be/ga1YTvcOLho CASTING CROWNS WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
http://youtu.be/s099Omqw1_E CASTING CROWNS ALREADY THERE
http://youtu.be/ivM1ytYswNA IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW
IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER, FATHER, AND SISTER.. RIP NOT A DAY GOES BYE THAT I DO NOT THINK OF YOU ALL.. LOVE YOUR SON AND BROTHER WADE
http://youtu.be/JTY-UKgLlXs MERCY ME WORD OF GOD SPEAK
http://youtu.be/MUWbmtbzDno PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM W/LYRICS
http://youtu.be/sza4rh1YzsM YOU RAISE ME UP
http://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg CASTING CROWNS WHO I AM
http://youtu.be/9xfgxWAIcxQ WHEN TOMORROW NEVER COMES IN MEMORY OF THE LIVES LOST ON 9-11-2001 A THE HANDS OF TERRORIST IN NY, WASHINGTON AND PENN. RIP
http://youtu.be/EhygM116OuM CASTING CROWNS IN ME
http://youtu.be/9xfgxWAIcxQ HEAVEN WAS NEEDING A HERO..DEDICATED TO ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS OF 9-11 WHOM LOST THEIR LIVES IN SERVING TO PROTECT AND SERVE...ON THAT HORRIFIC DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY
http://youtu.be/nLh5vbBLpxI ALYSSA LIES "THE ORIGINAL VIDEO"
http://youtu.be/BKu-u9DsDYQ IF YOU GET THERE BEFORE I DO
JAMES TAYLOR PREFORMING ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS OF HIS. I DEDICATE THIS SONG IN THE MEMORY OF A DEAR FRIEND TO US ALL THAT THE WORLD LOST IN NASCAR AUTO RACING IN 2001 THE LATE GREAT DALE EARNHARDT SR. WHOM HAD LOST HIS LIFE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY FEB OF 2001. CAROLINA IN MY MIND...VIDEO PERFORMANCE IN OAKLAND COLLIESIUM .http://youtu.be/m2U8mUDGUJs
http://risingstarrecords.weebly.com MR WADE L SMITH /PRES/CEO OWNER NASHVILLE,TN AND SCHERERVILLE,IN FORMER NASCAR WINSTON CUP SERIES 4OTH COCA-COLA 600 NO BULL 5 WINNER 5-30-1999 CHARLOTTE,NC AND FRIENDS TO THE EARNHARDTS
No virus threat detectedFile: Christmas In TN (1).mp3Download File Singer/ Songwriter/ Composer : Sherry Gibson BreckenridgeMusic Producer : Larry Rogers/ Studio 19 Music Arranger : Dwain Rowe Vocal Producer and Harmony : Judy Rodman/ Mainframe Studio Mastered and Engineer : Nathan Smith/ MainFrame
Becky Kelley - Where's the Line to See Jesus - OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEOPerformed by: Becky Kelley www.wheresthelinetoseejesus.comwww.youtube.comwww.beckykelleymusic.com Available on iTunes!itunes.apple.com For booking and management: Nate 314-650-2121 The true inspiring story behind the music: "Where's the Line to See Jesus?" While at the mall a few years ago, Becky's then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus"? Becky's sister mentioned this to her father, Steve Haupt, who immediately became inspired and jotted some words down to the song in just a few minutes. After putting music to the words, and doing a quick home recording, he received a great response from friends. Her father asked if Becky wanted to record the song to see what could happen with it. Becky listened to the song, made a few changes and headed to Shock City Studios. It was at the studio where Chris Loesch, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus... with goosebumps and emotions high, they all felt like they had something special and recorded the demo in just under 2 hours. 2 weeks before Christmas last year, her cousins decided to do a quick video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day it had 3000 hits and it soared to a million from there! Becky received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over over the world asking for the ...