Running Head: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN
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Leadership Development Plan
LEAD 510 Liberty University
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Introduction
In the Christianity religion, leadership concept is given high importance. Jesus
Christ, the epitome of Christianity had himself served others to the best of his ability.
According to Bill Lawrence, the President of the Leadership Formation International,
leadership is the act of serving or influencing others because of the interest of Christ.
Leaders exhibit their behavior so that they can add value to the lives of others and
accomplish the purpose of God through them (What Is Christian Leadership? 8 Principles |
CU Online, 2018). Christian leadership is not exactly rooted in the worldly notion relating
to success like the love for power or money. Leaders are the individuals who are not
supposed to oppress or overpower others. They are responsible to serve who are under
them. Jesus was the live example of a true Christian leader who played the role of a
bondservant (What Is Christian Leadership? 8 Principles | CU Online, 2018). He was a live
example of a true leader. He showed the exact extent to which a leader can go to serve his
disciples in the best way possible. Some of the core leadership principles that have been
captured in Christianity are love, modesty, self-development, motivation, correction,
integrity, and follower of God’s Will.
Leadership is considered to be extremely important in the Christian life. In fact, a
Christian leader can be said to be nourisher and feeder of the sheep. The best example of a
Christian leader is no one other than Lord Jesus Christ. He had declared that “I am the
good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11) (What is
Christian leadership? | GotQuestions.org, 2019). Christian leadership has a number of
layers which must be explored in great detail to get a deeper insight into the leadership
concept. The leadership development plan that has been presented here focuses on biblical
theology relating to leadership, the core principles of leadership, the types of leadership
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styles that can be deployed in the organizational setting, creating a healthy ministry by
equipping leaders and serving organizational mission effectively.
Theology of Leadership
This area of the leadership development plan basically focuses on the key Biblical
passages that are associated with leadership. Various segments of the Bible focus on the
concept of leadership. One of the most inspiring statements that have been captured in the
book reads “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any
participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the
same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from
selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than
yourselves…” This statement by Paul, the Apostle of Jesus has been guiding Christians
from all around the world for many decades and centuries.
Leaders have been given an important role to play so that they can serve others
with love, affection, and sympathy just like Jesus Christ (Philippians 2, English Standard
Version (ESV) | The Bible App, 2019). The passage is one of the most valuable and useful
passages which is referred to in order to get a deeper insight into how leadership perceived
in Christianity. But with the passage of time, the concept of leadership has been molded to
a certain degree. For example, in the current times, leadership is often connected with the
concepts of power, authority, and influence. Thus human beings have tried to give
emphasis on these concepts so that they can take the position of leaders (Philippians 2,
English Standard Version (ESV) | The Bible App, 2019).
In order to resist this kind of behavior that is molding the leadership concept in a
negative manner, a set of biblical passages has been highlighted in the Theology section.
The objective is to help human beings get a proper understanding and insight into Jesus
Christ’s true intentions relating to leadership. Jesus Christ took up the role of a genuine
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leader by serving people until his last breath. In Matthew 20:25, Jesus made the statement
that “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors
exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be
great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be
slave of all.” This idea shows that Jesus Christ believed a true leader is one who is able to
take up the role of the servant and serves others without thinking of himself. The statement
also sheds light on the fact that the individuals or leaders who will try to showcase
authoritative power on others must be actually considered to be slaves (Matthew 20, New
American Standard Bible (NASB) | The Bible App, 2019). The words that have come out
of the very mouth of Jesus indicates that he believed that a true leader is a servant who
will be willing to serve others in a selfless manner. There are also instances when true
leaders serve others at their very own expense (1 Corinthians 9:7) (Bloom, 2017).
Similarly, in Luke 22:25-26, it is highlighted that “The kings of the Gentiles
exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But
not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader
as one who serves.” (Bloom, 2017). The words of Jesus has shed light on the true meaning
of a leader. A leader is not someone who exercises authority. Instead, leaders are the ones
who are willing to serve and help others to the fullest. The majority of the professing
Christians believe that a true Christian leader is an individual who is a servant leader.
Philosophy of Leadership
Philosophy is one of the most integral areas of the leadership development plan
which mainly focuses on the Biblical principles relating to leadership. The theology on
Christian leadership acts as the foundation on which the core principles of leadership are
based. The biblical principles of leadership play a vital role in the area of the church as it
guides Christian leaders throughout their leadership journey. Dr. J Robert Clinton who is
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considered as the spearhead in the study relating to Christian leadership has said the
awareness of one’s ministry philosophy can help leaders to be effective while playing their
roles. At the lower level, the role of leadership philosophy might reduce but the leaders
who are responsible to function at the higher level need to get a detailed understanding of
leadership philosophy. This is because leadership philosophy acts as the ultimate
foundation or guideline to develop core leadership values.
In his book on Christian leadership, he has highlighted that leaders are the
individuals whom the Almighty has given strong character as well as ministry skills
(Clinton, 2018, p 10). A leader is an individual who has succeeded to learn some valuable
lessons in the life process. He has also used the learned lessons for giving a definite shape
to his influence in order to accomplish the ultimate purpose of the Almighty. Leadership
emergence has given rise to ministry philosophy which comprises of the ideas, values, and
principles that a leader employs in order to make decisions and exercise his influence
(Clinton, 2018, p 10).
Jesus Christ throughout his existence has served as a true servant leader. His leadership
approach and philosophy has, in fact, molded the essence of biblical leadership. In John
13:1-17, Jesus Christ focused on servant leadership. This is evident from the fact that he
washed the feet of twelve of his disciples himself. This act by the Lord was the live
example which showed that a servant leader is an individual who is willing to serve others
without thinking of his own good or needs. Some of the core elements that must be taken
into consideration in order to act as a true servant leader include saying yes to the
leadership challenge, focusing on serving others, starting the leadership approach with a
call from the Lord, understating the meaning of shepherding and giving emphasis to a clear
mission statement (Biblical Philosophy of Leadership | Lausanne World Pulse Archives,
2019).
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The instance where Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples shows how selfless
his actions were. This act was actually the duty of slaves. John highlighted in great detail
how the Lord removed his “clothing, wrapped a towel and poured water into a basin”. (v 4-
5) The selfless actions had bewildered the disciples of Jesus Christ before as well. His
serving attitude was evident from every walk of his life. When his disciples came up to
him and asked about who is the greatest, he called a little child and made him stand among
them (Matthew 18: 1-9). This shows the extent to which he had a serving attitude. He
made sure that little ones were also included and given the importance and respect that
they deserved under the servant leadership model (Biblical Philosophy of Leadership |
Lausanne World Pulse Archives, 2019). According to Nsiah, the servant leadership
philosophy of Jesus has shaped Christian leadership to a significant extent. It basically
encourages Christian leaders to place others before them and give the disciples, followers
or subordinates the highest priority (Nsiah, 2013, p 1).
Methods/ Models of leadership
In order to construct a proper method or model of leadership, it is necessary to take
into consideration the leadership practices that have been exhibited in church over the past
decades. The knowledge can help to get a deeper insight into the different leadership styles
that individual leaders can implement at the organizational level (Palmer et al., 2001, p
33). In addition to the past leadership behavior and approaches, it is also necessary to keep
in mind the current practices and styles that are being implemented for the purpose of
managing the modern churches (Palmer et al., 2001, p 33). As per the modern leadership
theorists as well as the New Testament, leadership is not about giving high importance to
the leader. It is about achieving the ultimate mission of the entire group.
The church of Christ is nothing less than a mystery. One of the main reasons for its
mysterious nature is the course that it has been through since its very inception. A number
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of models have come into existence in the Church arena which influences the leadership
approach to a significant extent. All of these methods have played an extremely vital role
to encourage Christian leaders to employ constructive leadership strategies. The traditional
church model has one pastor and he or she is primarily responsible to carry out all the
activities relating to the ministry of the church. The traditional churches that can be found
in different towns or countries share striking similarities with one another. The attractional
church is another model which primarily focuses on the concept of evangelism. Thus its
objective is to attract non-believers to the place so that they can come and experience what
God has been doing in the church arena. People are encouraged to interact with the Lord
in this model so that they can feel connected with him.
The organic church model basically shifts its approach from “come and see” to “go
and be” (Four Church Models!, 2015). This method basically enables individuals to play
an active part in church by directly being involved in the activities and processes. This
church is generally led by a number of elders and it has a flatter leadership structure. The
last model is known as the hybrid church where the elements from the attractional church
are combined with the elements from the organic church. Thus the ultimate result is the
formation of a model which has the characteristics of the missional model as well as the
attractional model.
The role of each of the models is of primary importance to shape the leadership
approach that is implemented by the Christian leaders. But it also necessary to keep in
mind that each of the methodologies has its own pros and cons that cannot be negated. In
the traditional church model, the leadership model was extremely simple and the pastor
took up the leadership role. But at the same time, complexities could come into the picture
if influential families tried to lead the church.
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In the case of the attractional church, even though non-believers were encouraged
to experience the church life bur their extent of involvement was restricted to a significant
degree. The organic church model comprised of a small group of church leaders who
served as the foundation for the entire discipline making the process. The hybrid model
basically took the best elements from all the previous methodologies where there was the
involvement of a senior pastor as well as a professional staff. But one of the major flaws
of the hybrid model is that it failed to find effective measures for the complexities that
were associated with the models that were fused together. So while looking for the perfect
methodology of leadership that can be employed in the Church arena, it is necessary to
keep in mind the pitfalls as well as the benefits that are associated with each one of them
(Four Church Models!, 2015). Christian leaders need to carefully craft their leadership
strategic framework so that they will be able to bring about constructive transformation in
the community setting as per the will of Christ.
Healthy ministry Culture
In order to make sure that a healthy ministry culture and work environment is
created, it is necessary to imbibe discipline at various levels. Church discipline is of
primary importance as its primary objective is to safeguard the honor of the Almighty. The
proper discipline can act as a major source of inspiration which can offer adequate support
to the concept of leadership. In fact, it will also help the Christian leaders to successfully
accomplish the mission that has been given to them and take up new initiatives which
focus on the common good (Why is Church Discipline so Important, 2019).
According to the well-known author Tom Rath and popular leadership consultant
Barry Conchie, a leader can be an effective leader if he takes into account some of the key
elements such as knowing individual strengths and investing in the strengths of others,
putting the people in the team who have the right set of strengths and getting a detailed
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insight into and meeting the four core needs of the ones who kook up at the leaders to
deliver inspirational leadership (Rath & Conchie, 2009). Thus a leader can be called an
effective leader in the true sense if he focuses on the growth of himself as well as others
around him. A leader needs to focus on critical elements such as discipline, empathy,
strategy, creativity decisiveness and humility. In the context of the church, discipline plays
an important role as it can encourage people to follow the path that has been shown by the
Lord. Dave Earley, in his book, has stated that raising up multiplying leaders is considered
to be one of the most effective and fastest ways of fulfilling the fundamental objective of
the Great Commission. In the church setting, leadership and disciplined approach go hand
in hand. Even though it is not easy to achieve discipline but it is more complex and
difficult to live without discipline. Earley has stated that effective Christian leaders focus
on discipline aspect and make sure to establish necessity disciplines into their individual
lives (Earley, 2012).
In addition to this, they make sure to follow a disciplined way of living on a day to
day basis. Culture is something that must encourage leaders to understand the importance
of discipline in their daily lives. It must, in fact, encourage them to believe that
professional fitness, spiritual fitness, and personal fitness is just like physical fitness that
must be taken care of (Earley, 2012). The culture and work environment of the ministry
must revolve around the primary objective of Christ which is to serve others in a selfless
manner. Such a healthy and disciplined culture can play an active role to employ suitable
leadership strategies that can encourage leaders to serve their disciples and followers to the
best of their ability.
Missional Connection
A true Christian leader is an individual who plays an active role to develop people
and leaders who will be empowered to fulfill and serve the organizational mission.
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According to Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey, the mission of a church plays a critical role
and is one of the main reasons for the very existence of the church. As God is a
missionary God, the mission of a church is not secondary to its existence (Earley, 2012, p
74).
The mission is something that encouraged individuals and leaders in the church
context to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ and accomplish his objective on his behalf.
Saints and Pastors are the individuals who have been equipped so that they can help to
accomplish the mission of the church and help people who are in need of any kind of help
or assistance (Earley, 2012). Saints are the ones who are encouraged to play an active role
so that they can help the ministry to create value in the lives of people. In order to
accomplish the mission, other than leadership, it is also necessary to focus on discipline
ship which acts as a core foundation in the church setting. In Eph 4:11-16, it has been
identified that the main job of a pastor is to ‘eqiup’ the saints to carry out the works of the
service (Earley, 2012, p 224).
The mission of Jesus Christ can be achieved by focusing on the “proper working of each
individual part”. Thus an individual has to make the optimum use of the gifts of God that
has been given to him so that it can help to serve and help others (Earley, 2012, p 255).
Discipline acts as a foundation whether it is at the individual level or at the group
level. Inside a group setting, discipleship will enable a leader to give the necessary
attention to each of the disciplines, challenge them and explore their own gifts. For
example, in the group context, one individual who has mercy in his heart can take the
initiative to keep a track of the prayer requests in the church. Similarly, another individual
who has the gift relating to administration can volunteer for the purpose of playing an
active role in planning a future group outreach program. Such kinds of disciplined
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behavior at the individual level and the group level can help to achieve the ultimate
organizational mission to the best of the ability (Earley, 2012, p 225).
Leadership Development Plan
In order to get a detailed insight into Christian leadership, the biblical theories,
principles, methodology culture and mission have acted as the main foundation. In order to
serve the people to the fullest, it is necessary for a leader to adopt a disciplined approach.
The presented leadership development plan can be implemented at the individual level as
well as at higher levels. Thus it can be implemented in the ministry concept to achieve the
fundamental purpose of the Lord i.e. to serve others through leaders.
At present, I am working at a church where I can get the opportunity to employ
some of the most vital leadership principles that have been highlighted in the leadership
development plan. For example, the grievances of others can be understood at a deeper
level so that the best possible solutions can be provided to bring about a positive change in
their lives. My experience in the church setting has helped me to understand the
importance of influencing others. Christian leadership is not just about serving but it is also
about influencing others so that the common good can be achieved in the best possible
manner. The plan that I have highlighted here can help me not just to be a selfless leader
but to encourage others to work in a selfless manner so that the ultimate purpose of Jesus
Christ can be fulfilled. So while focusing on my core leadership strengths, I also need to
equip others so that they can strengthen their leadership capabilities and strengths in a
disciplined way. Thus by focusing on an integrated approach, I will be able to able to
serve as a true Christian leader who can create value for others and act as a pathway to
accomplish Jesus Christ’s purpose. d d d
Conclusion
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The Christianity religion has a unique take on leadership and how leaders need to
carry out their roles, responsibilities, and duties. Jesus Christ has acted as the best example
that has shown that leaders act as the pathway to serve the ultimate purpose of the
Almighty. The leadership development plan that has been developed here primary intends
to create leaders who would follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ for serving others to the
best of their ability. Leaders face numerous challenges in their path, but it is necessary for
them to adopt the path of Christ while acting as a leader. Such an approach will play an
extremely important role and enable them to shower their followers or subordinates with
affection, sympathy, and love.
In order to be known as true leaders, it is necessary for human beings to take the
responsibility of the Almighty’s call on their lives. In addition to this, it is also necessary
for leaders to act as the ultimate priesthood of each and every believer, and comprehend
the true meaning of being the Great Commission disciples. The entire ministry needs to
focus on the mission that revolves around Jesus Christ. Since God’s ultimate desire is to
help one and all to serve others, leads need to understand how they can follow the
footsteps of Christ to lead people in the best possible manner. Such an approach by
Christian leaders will redefine and strengthen the power of the church and the leaders will
be able to lead and change the world for the better.
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References
Bloom, J. (2017). Five Marks of a Servant Leader. Desiring God. Retrieved 10 August
2019, from https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/five-marks-of-a-servant-leader
Biblical Philosophy of Leadership | Lausanne World Pulse Archives . (2019).
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https://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/perspectives-php/1440/08-2011
Clinton, R. (2018). The making of a leader: Recognizing the lessons and stages of
leadership development. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc..
Earley, D. (2012). Pastoral Leadership Is... B&H Publishing Group.
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Four Church Models!. (2015). disciplemakingblog. Retrieved 10 August 2019, from
https://disciplemakingblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/25/four-church-models-5/
Rath, T., & Conchie, B. (2009). Strengths based leadership.
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Why is Church Discipline so Important?. (2019). evangelicalfocus. Retrieved 10 August
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