Leadership

As Burlington Community Church approaches the New Year, my mind is being drawn to ideas of leadership.  We are at a stage where we could use some help but only if it is necessary and helpful.  It is important the time is taken first to spell out what leadership is, what is helpful to a church and pastor, and how leadership in a church setting has a few similarities and many differences from that of a business world.  To be frank, as a pastor I have run ahead in this area a few times and regretted it.  I need to be personally aware of what God is doing and resist the effort to move forward when God has not spoken.   

The men in our church will go through a series of Bible Studies with me on Saturday mornings in January to look at these things and determine what needs to take place before leadership happens.  It is in confirming God's selection on the church setting rather than ability or the consistent, annoying verbal resume a pastor may receive...  

How is a church leader identified and what are the qualifications?  I had the chance to sit down with one man in our church who has desire and potential.  We looked at a passage of Scripture together and he has been working to make changes and wonderful changes are taking place.  This is encouraging!  A leader should be able to identify changes God's Word has had on their lives.  

It is also good to point out present, helpful behaviors.  A leader for the church MUST mirror the pastor's heart in ministry and commitment.  A leader would be sure that church attendance is extremely important, giving of tithes are happening, and efforts to resolve problems and issues rather than cause division.  A leader would be very self aware of potential divisive measure of himself and that of others in the church.    

This is just a few of the ideas forming for this study in January with the men and praying it will be helpful and a guiding light to future leadership at BCC.