1
Topic: Scenario 1 - Developing Relationships
Northside Church has stood as a beacon in the community for over 128 years. Over the past 30
years, however, instability in the role of senior pastor has created an atmosphere of slow
membership decline and low morale. Staff transition has been high, with numerous long-term
ministers resigning in recent months. In fact, the staff displays minimal trust with each other.
The new pastor, who has been at the church for 18 months and is energetic and visionary, is
struggling to connect with this congregation that is located in the center of a downtown urban
community. Based on your reading and lectures from the course, what are specific
actions/strategies that can be implemented to assist the pastor in developing strong relationships
in his current role?
In the ministry or church, there is probably no more tumultuous relationship than a lead
Pastor and a worship Pastor. I think there is more misunderstanding on both sides of this
equation than in any other role in the church and the main issue is lack of communication. As a
lead Pastor or a worship Pastor, the first way to develop a strong relationship is communication.
In his book Leading from the Second Chair Mike Bonem states, “Communication is both a
benefit and an essential element for a second chair who wants to build and maintain a healthy
relationship with the first chair.”1 As well as Bill Hybels former senior pastor of Willow Creek
Community Church once said, “Communication is a core leadership function and a key
characteristic of a good leader. Effective communication and effective leadership are closely
intertwined.” Therefore, leaders need to be skilled communicators at the organizational level, in
communities and group. Effective communication is being willing to convey our honest
thoughts, attitudes, feelings, and actions to others in a kind and active listening manner that
reflects and glorifies Christ. This is the vital foundation for every relationship. One cannot see
what is truly motivating the other, or what is or her ideas and intentions are without open
1 Bonem, Mike. Leading from the Second Chair: Serving Your Church, Fulfilling your Role, and Realizing
your Dreams, (John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2005), 85. ProQuest eBook Central.
2
communication, so we must have the desire to be heard and to hear the other person fairly in
order to be better communicators.
Moreover, we need to take a role of servant leader in order to have a strong or healthy
relationship in our church leadership. Servant leadership is the only approach to leadership that
Jesus validates for His followers. In his book The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make, Hans Finzel
sates, “Servant leadership is about caring for others more than for ourselves. It is about
compassion for everyone who serves the group. It enriches everyone, not just those at the top.”2
Servant leadership requires us to sit and weep with those who weep within our organizations. It
requires getting down and dirty when hard work has to be done.3 The servant leader does not
abuse authority but is a servant of all. A servant leader does not practice deplorable delegation
but gives people room and freedom to be themselves. The servant leader does not lack for
listening but focuses on the needs of others. The servant leader does not practice dictatorship, but
partners in the leadership process. The servant leader does not practice holding on, but letting go
with affirmation. The servant leader does not become egocentric but empowers others.4
Jesus is the greatest servant leadership role model of all time and He mandates us to
follow His examples. There are four domains of servant leadership or leading like Jesus
according to Ken Blanchard. First, Heart – leadership is first a spiritual matter of the heart.
Whenever we have an opportunity to influence other people’s thinking and behavior, we first
need to decide whether to act out of self-interest or to benefit those you are leading.5 Second,
Head – leading like Jesus starts in head heart then travels to the internal domain of the head,
where we examine our beliefs and theories about leading and motivating people. All great
2 Finzel, Hnas. The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make, (David C. Cook, 2007), 33, ProQuest eBook Central.
3 Ibid…,
4 Ibid…, 29-41.
5 Blanchard, Ken. Lead Like Jesus: Revisited, (W Publishing Group, 2016), 35, Kindle.
3
leaders have a specific leadership philosophy that defines how they see not only their roles but
also their relationships to those they seek to influence.6 Third, Hand – our motivations and
beliefs about leadership affect our actions. If we have a serving heart, we will help others reach
their greatest potential by establishing clear goals, observing their performance, and following up
by praising progress and redirecting any inappropriate behavior.7 Fourth, Habits – our habits are
those activities we do in order to stay on track with God and others. Jesus modeled two types of
habits for us: Being Habits and Doing Habits. We as leaders committed to leading like Jesus, we
must make time to replenish our energy and refocus our perspective. Jesus did this through His
five Being Habits: solitude, prayer, study of God’s Word, the application of Scripture to real life,
and supportive relationships – all of which are rooted in and fueled by accepting and abiding in
God’s love.8 When these four leadership domains are aligned, our perspective is changed, we
gain people’s trust, communities develop, and the organization’s culture is transformed.9
6 Ibid…,
7 Ibid…, 36.
8 Ibid…, 37.
9 Ibid…, 33.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
