Empowering Leadership

Empowering leaders do not use the members of the church body merely as “helpers” in attaining the leader's own goals and to fufill the leader's own visions. Rather, they invert the pyramid of authority so they can serve and assist Christians to realize their full potential in God. Core values of these leaders are to equip, empower, and encourage others.

Effective leadership begins with an intimate relationship with God, resulting in Christ-like character and a clear sense of God’s calling for leaders’ lives. Effective pastors and leaders multiply, guide, empower and equip disciples to realize their full potential in Christ and to work together to accomplish God’s vision. Empowering leadership forms the essential foundation upon which a church grows and moves toward accomplishing its mission.

Each leader has a different, personal style. Some may be relational, managerial, charismatic, results-driven, laissez-faire, etc.; but all effective leadership seeks to empower others. Not only tasks are delegated, but so also is responsibility. The empowering leader is not asking the question, “How can I get things done?” but “How can I develop others?” Tasks and responsibilities are centered on the purpose of such development of others, stretching them into new areas of growth.

Sometimes people will fail, but that is part of the learning process. Only as leaders obey their calling in the development of others, can the church move toward reaching its vision.

Test Question
Is the ministry of the leaders, and is the church culture or environment, one of focusing on equipping other Christians to serve?

Scripture References

Ephesians 4:11-13 – It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
2 Timothy 2:2 – And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.