by Father Matthew Attia

Leadership is more easily recognized than it is defined.  It is exercised in different ways by people of widely differing personalities.  Leaders may be liked or disliked; they may have a positive effect or a negative effect.  Whatever, their leadership style may be, however, the common factor in all leaders is their ability to cause people to follow them.

Leadership is not synonymous with natural ability, academic excellence or self confidence.  The most skilled person in a particular discipline or sport does not necessarily make the best leader or captain.

A person may be a brilliant academic but not necessarily a good leader.  Similarly, raw self confidence may impress people for a limited time, but on its own it has no staying power.  It does not automatically make a person a good leader.

Leadership and Management

Leadership and management are also quite different functions.  Good leaders are not necessarily good managers and good managers do not automatically make good leaders.  Many of today’s problems are caused by over management and lack of leadership.  Leadership will therefore always include management but does not regard it as an end in itself.

Good leaders us management to implement their vision and achieve the goal in the best possible way.  People need to be led not managed.  It can be argued strongly that when management becomes an end in itself, it will inevitably tend towards inefficiency and a lack of productivity.

What does the new testament

It is clear that the spiritual gift of leadership is recognized and honoured in the New Testament.  When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome; we have different gifts according to the grace given to us: if a person’s gift is leadership, let that person govern diligently (Romans 12:6-8).

Biblically, leadership involves the following: to teach, manage, direct and guide, to be concerned about and to care pastorally for the people of God (1 Tim 3:4-5, 1 Tim 5:7 and 1 Thess 5:12).  It also includes the role of ruling, leading and exercising authority.

Leadership in the distinctively Christian sense involves, therefore, the management, direction, teaching, supervision, pastoral care and guidance of people in the name of the Lord Jesus.

It is imperative to note that the authority of the Christian leader is the authority Christ exercised through HIS WORD.  Christian leadership must be exercised in accordance with the spiritual gift which has been given.  The spirit will never equip or motivate us to act in a way that is contrary to God’s will.  Hence, Christ is our example and model for Christian leadership.  Thus, leadership in the body of Christ is always servant leadership.  Thus, leadership in the body of Christ is always servant and leadership for the good of others.

It therefore patterned on CHRIST and exercised in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Leadership of this quality will always be carried out in such a way as to reveal Godly concern and care for other people.

Although there may be different styles of leadership within the church, all leadership that is truly Christ-like will reveal a deep and strong concern for the welfare of Christ’s flock.  It will be other person centred, never self centred.

We must never lose sight of the fact that the church is the body of Christ of which Christ is the head.  This any leadership within any area of church service must be carried out under the authority of Christ.  Finally, as leadership is in itself a service within the body of Christ, it is functional in character not structural; that is, any structure/organization must be for the purpose of aiding the ministry function not vice versa.