Thinking in Spheres - not Hierarchy!

All too often leaders in the Church find ourselves replicating hierarchical models of leadership found in our own culture (e.g., government and/or the business world). We typically use these paradigms to help our institutions understand the flow of “authority” for making decisions so that all people in that institution know the ebb and flow of power. All of this is to keep some sort of order, process, and predictability to the institution so it can move forward to achieve its objectives. Okay, so a “hierarchy” works, but does a hierarchy adequately represent the values of the Kingdom? If we practice hierarchal models in the Church, then what should we do with Jesus’ statement in the Gospels about the non-existence of hierarchal authority in the Kingdom? If no-hierarchy exists in the Kingdom, then how should we understand the function of leadership in the church?

Read Jesus’ statements in Luke’s Gospel (22: 24-27), then come back to this blog.

From what I see Jesus inverts the hierarchy of authority, stating the greatest in the Kingdom are those who serve. Providing Jesus is the greatest in the Kingdom due to his earthly life of service (consider Phil 2: 5-11 where Jesus took-on the status of a slave and endured suffering/death), then I suppose those who follow him should be expected to endure service like him, and, as a result, be “greater in the kingdom”. My point is this: Service involves suffering, maybe not to the point of death for us Americans (perhaps in some cultural-contexts this might result in death), but service is uncomfortable and it stretches us; service breaks our selfishness so that our acts become an embodiment of Christ’s suffering for others in love. Wow, this very expression of selfless-service is what builds relational-equity and “influence” with others in the Kingdom!

Since leadership in the kingdom is built on relational-service, then I’m wondering if we should consider hierarchal models to be an inappropriate metaphor for understanding the so called “ebb and flow of power” in the church. If the “ebb and flow of power” in the Kingdom is measured more in terms of selfless-service (which builds relational-equity and “influence” with others), then perhaps we should think about leadership more in terms of concentric spheres of influence instead. With a “concentric sphere” model (like the picture above this post), the larger circles would represent leaders who have connections with others in the church on the basis of selfless-service to them. In other words, the larger circles have earned the right to be connected to other circles by their humility, selflessness, suffering, authenticity, etc. Perhaps leadership in the kingdom is much more natural in terms of relational-connectedness and earning this “connectedness” through acts of humble service. If so, then the church (and its leadership) should look more like the picture above where all members of a body work harmoniously together (Read Rom. 12: 4-14; I Cor 12: 12-27; Eph 4: 1-16). In other words, the “ebb and flow of power” should perhaps flow horizontally, not in vertical-hierarchies.

As a leader in the church, how does this model of leadership affect your perspective about leading? Does this model encourage you to be more intentional about building relationships? If so, then your role as a LifeGroup leader is absolutely essential to our church's health, what do you think?

Feedback...

I don't know about you, but when someone says; "I'd like to give you some feedback" I tend to brace myself for some negative comments. Maybe I'm in the minority, but it seems like we live in a world where everyone seems to have feedback to give and more often it's negative as well...

Let me clarify something before I get too far... I'm weird... OK let me tell you something you don't know... I decided very early in my leadership a few things. One was I had a lot to learn. Two I knew I had to always continue to learn how to lead better. And Three I knew I had to seek and be open to feedback from trusted people.

Let me say that again... I seek feedback. I don't like it, but I seek it. I don't like to hear the things I either did wrong or things I need to grow in, but I know that it is something I need to hear. As a leader I'd argue that feedback is one of the most essential parts of leadership. I'd also argue that how people receive feedback says a lot about what type of leader they are.

Here is what I am NOT saying... All feedback is true. All feedback is given at the right time. All feedback comes from a encouraging spirit... Again these are things I am NOT saying...

Here is what I AM saying... In order to grow as leaders we need to be open to feedback. In order to learn about some of our blind spots we need to receive feedback. How a leader responds to feedback will often reveal how teachable a leader is. Not all feedback is negative.

So how do you approach feedback? How do you give feedback? Who in your life do you seek feedback from? Why wouldn't you seek feedback? How do you respond to feedback? When was the last time you received feedback? Has feedback been helpful in your growth as a leader?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Andy

Leaders Reproduce, Period!

“To lead people, walk beside them . . .
As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence.
The next best, the people honor and praise.
The next, the people fear;
and the next, the people hate . . . .
When the best leader’s work is done the people say,
‘We did it ourselves!’”

~ Lao-tzu

Simply put, I’m convinced the best leaders are those who create opportunities for others to lead. A leader in God’s Kingdom should not be interested in securing a position of leadership for him or herself, but always seeking to empower others to lead. This means stepping aside – all that we try to harness and control in others – only to help them reach their potential in Christ. Jesus did the same with his newly formed leaders. John’s Gospel (16:7) tells us that Jesus told his disciples, “It is for your good that I am going away.” Why is it good for Jesus to leave them?

Besides the obvious fact that Jesus knew his fate (i.e. sacrificial death), he also knew that his mentoring had reach a limit. Jesus taught his disciples about the Kingdom in both word and deed, gave them on-the-job training, and then disappeared. What’s up with the disappearing part? Again, Jesus knew his mentoring limitations and simply suspended his efforts to allow the Spirit who could do far more to help them live-out their potential (read chapter 16 and compare this with John 14:12 where Jesus said they will do greater things than him as a result of going away). After Jesus leaves his newly formed leaders, we read in the Book of Acts how his leaders emulated Jesus’ leadership in both word and deed, even reproducing leaders who changed the world without Jesus being physically present (of course Jesus was present via the Spirit). Greater things can happen if leaders just reproduce themselves and step aside; that’s what Jesus did and that’s what we must do. Leaders reproduce, period!

Why don’t we see more reproduction in the Church? It seems to me, from my experience in churches, that co-dependency (on leadership) is bread instead, why? Without getting too theological about John’s Gospel, why is it good for leaders to step aside? How do greater things happen as a result of reproduction?

I’ll conclude with thoughts from George Barna:

"Leaders of growing churches concentrate on empowering other Christians for ministry. They do not use lay workers as helpers in attaining their own goals and fulfilling their own visions. Rather, they invert the pyramid of authority so that the leader assists Christians to attain the spiritual potential God has for them. These pastors equip, support, motivate and mentor individuals, enabling them to become all that God wants them to be."

Leading out of quietness...

Have you ever had this feeling that God wanted you to read something out of the Bible? Well I can't say it happens to me that often, but about a month ago I felt like God wanted me to read the Gospel Mark. I now know it was really only the first chapter; Mark 1:35.

Did you go read it? If not then do it... This will still be here.

Did you notice that even Jesus went to a solitary place to pray? I know for me I get distracted by things in my house or in my car, but if I go to a solitary place I find myself connecting to God much easier and often in a much deeper way. So what does this have to do with "Leading out of quietness" you ask... Good question.

Have you read the Gospel's and noticed how Jesus lead? I mean really paid attention to some of the things He did. After reading Mark 1:35 I find myself continually thinking and praying over that verse and I think it has finally dawned on me...

Jesus lead out of quietness. It was because of the quiet times with His Father that He was able to get His strength to continue, out of the quietness that Jesus was able to figure out the will of His Father. It was out of quietness that Jesus was able to model for us how to lead.

As I think about Jesus and His quiet times with His Father I can't help but think of how tired He had to have been most of the time. It wasn't like He got the weekends off...

I know for me it is so easy to make excuses why I don't make more time to spend in quietness, but I also know when I do make the time my leadership benefits from it. I tend to come back from those times refreshed, energized and often with more passion for what God has called me to than before I left.

Do you lead out of quietness? Do you believe it is possible? Do you believe that we should lead out of quietness, why or why not? What would it look like for you to do this?

By the way I find it no coincidence that the following His quiet time (Mark 1:35-38) that Jesus made the decision to go to a different village...

I'd love to hear your thoughts/comments.