Weekly Thought – August 6, 2024
Fred spoke, and wrote about leadership for decades. His thinking was not formulaic; he did not offer keys, secrets, or stepping stones – just principle-based approaches established through experience, scriptural study, and conversations with wisdom figures.
Leadership is More Than a Position
As the son of a preacher, I noticed a curious thing growing up. People in church leadership positions didn’t necessarily know how to lead.
My fathered pastored a number of small churches in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Unfortunately, many of the people were unprepared to lead. Factory workers who ran plant machinery by day came to church board meetings at night and tried to become executives. It didn’t work. Even in my early teens, I could sense the ineptness.
A man once told me “At work Bill is my boss, but at church I am his boss.” He served as chairman of the deacons and enjoyed the exchange of positions. He, like others, served the church without leadership training and often became dictatorial. Too often lacking understanding of organization, strategic planning, human dynamics, or vision, those deficient in these skills become religious mini-moguls.
Leadership is not a position; it is a function. It is not a title that grants power over others. It is a skill you perform, a service you render for the entire organization or institution.
I saw my father as a genuine man of God. His longest stay was in a small church in the cotton mill section in Nashville. He became something of a padre of the slums. He had no fear of walking through the most dangerous parts of the city. In the first place, he was strong physically as a former blacksmith with great power. In the second place (and most importantly) he was revered by many in the neighborhood as a godly man. It marks a son to know your father is held in that high esteem and regard.
But he was neither an adroit politician, nor an organizational expert. He was a people person who served the Lord and his people, but he struggled with the power plays.
My Mother was the manager. She was a very well-organized person, and I admired her skill, even as a young man. She saved a family of seven from starvation, stretching the $125/month my father made to cover meals (and often others who came to the door). I could see the church “leaders” were woefully lacking the leadership and managerial skills my Mother had.
These experiences convinced me of the value of an orderly way of doing things. I grew up wanting to become a leader – not just to occupy a position, but to perform capably.
This week think about: 1) What leadership traits do I have? 2) How am I developing them and using them for the benefit of others? 3) Who models effective leadership for me?
Words of Wisdom: “Leadership is not a position; it is a function.”
Wisdom from the Word: “If it (the spiritual gift) is leadership, he must do so with diligence;” (Romans 10:8 NET Bible)