Introductory Lectures in Fundamentals of Christian Leadership

Types of Leadership

Session 2

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INTRODUCTION

• The best way to introduce this section is to try and find a reasonable definition of leadership. – Unless leaders understand what the term leader

means, he or she will have difficulty understanding what his or her role is.

– There are as many definitions of leadership as many people who tried to formulate one.

Leadership Defined

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Few noted definitions of leadership

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." - Ralph Nadar

"People are persuaded by reason, but moved by emotion; [the leader] must both persuade them and move them." - Richard M. Nixon

"The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. That sums up the progress of an artful leader." - Max DePree

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• Most simply defined idea of leadership is

“Leadership is the process of influence” – Edgar J. Eliston

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• The process always includes a number of key components:– Leaders– Followers– A situation in which the interact– Means of influence which emerge from the leader• Or from the cultural context

– Values– Right time for the interactions to take place– Goals the leaders and followers are seeking

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Leadership is a dynamic

• Leadership is a complex influence process in which leaders and followers interact in a context or series of contexts over time.– There are a number of variables which influence

the leader-follower situation.– Some of these variables are uncontrollable and

can affect the leadership relationship in a negative way.

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Contemporary Definition

• Therefore, the leader must be ready to make himself to respond to “complex contingency”. – J.R. Clinton offers a useful contemporary definition

which reflects this complex contingency leadership perspective.

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• Leadership is:– a dynamic process over an extended period of

time– In various situations in which a leader utilizing

leadership resources,– And by specific leadership behaviors,– Influences the thoughts and activity of followers– Toward accomplishment of person/task aims,– Mutually beneficent for leaders, followers and the

macro context of which they are a part.

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• Christian leadership differs from secular or business/political leadership.– Christians derive their models from the Bible, but

does not totally ignore modern techniques to enhance leadership.

– What is important for the Christian leader is to know that a the leader is:

A person with God-given capacity and God-given responsibility

to influence a specific group of God’s people toward God’s purposes for the group

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Three major metaphors used for leadership

The leader as a servant

The leader as a shepherd

The leader as a steward

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TYPES OF LEADERS

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• Christian leaders may be classified into five general types.– These five kinds of leaders differ in terms of:• the nature of their ministries (whether direct or

indirect.• Sphere of influence• Use of influence or power• Roles• Status• Training/education• Professionalism

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Types of leadership

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• Type 1 leaders. (adapted from Elliston 1992, 31).

– They are lay servants who provide massive grassroots leadership within local churches.

– Within the church they may serve as cell group leaders, Bible class teachers, youth organizers, and committee participants and leaders.

– Within the community they serve as beacons of light for the gospel--the front-line soldiers of the kingdom of God.

– Unbelievers have most contact with this type of leader, and new believers are typically nurtured by Type A leaders in vibrant, growing churches.

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• Type 2.– These leaders are also lay leaders, but they have

more authority and broader influence than Type 1 leaders.

– They serve as elders and deacons of local churches, supervisors of Sunday School programs, mentors of cell group leaders, and lay counselors.

– In various mission contexts, Type 2 leaders are unpaid evangelists who preach in local churches or work to initiate other churches.

– Like Type 1 leaders, their ministries are direct or face-to-face

– unlike Type 1 leaders, their influence extends beyond their immediate group.

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• Type 3 Leaders. – In Western contexts are full-time ministers in local

congregational settings involved in face-to-face ministry but are likely to be bivocational in the Two Thirds World.

– Their sphere of influence is the local church and the community in which community of believers exists.

– They usually have some form of theological education which has equipped them to preach, teach, and evangelize.

– Their influence is generally deep but not broad– significant among those to whom they minister but

not extensive beyond their local area.

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• Type 4 leaders. – have a regional influence much wider than in the

church or agency in which they work. – They serve as full-time ministers of multi-staff or

multi-cell churches, as administrators of small agencies, or as missionaries planting churches, nurturing new Christians to maturity, and training leaders in a domestic or foreign context.

– These leaders have completed a formal system of training and their influence reaches beyond the people with whom they personally relate.

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• Type 5 Leaders.– Christian leaders who have national or

international influence. – These are highly competent professional leaders,

who because of their writing, teaching, and speaking, greatly influence the nature of ministry.

– They provide the philosophical models out of which ministry occurs.

– Although much of their ministry is indirect, they influence many people.

– Type 4 and 5 leaders, to some degree, must remain Type 1 and 2 leaders in order to continue to be connected to real life.

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The importance of knowing and understanding these types

• Understanding these different types of leaders enables local and national church leaders to make plans for appropriate leadership training. – After considering these types of leaders, it

becomes apparent that mature churches need more of Type 1 and 2 leaders.• It is our responsibly as TEAM to provide training and

education to these important groups.

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• For effective evangelism to occur all people in our churches must be influenced personally, face-to-face. – Elliston says: "The number of people one may . . .

directly influence at a worldview level may range between ten and twenty."

– If there are 400,000 people in a country and if leaders relate to an optimum of ten people personally within the community, then, these number of leaders are needed• 40,000 Type 1• 4,000 Type 2• 400 Type 3• forty Type 4• four Type 5

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Types 3, 4, and 5 leaders need to have a broad theological education, they tend to understand leadership training and education.

They need to know what types of training types A and B need.

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Knowing the types leads to know the functions of leadership for each type

•Search for opportunities

•Experiment and take risks

Challenging the process

•Envision the future

•Enlist others

Inspire a shared vision

•Foster collaboration

•Strengthen others

Enabling others to act

•Set the example

•Plan small wins

Modeling the way

•Recognize contributions

•Celebrate accomplishments

Encouraging the heart

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Conclusion

• These functions apply to each type of leader. Whether one is a Type 1 or a Type 5 leader, he or she will be involved in all of these functions from time to time.– Too often leaders are narrowly or simplistically

views in terms of only problem-solving, coordination, motivation or decision-making

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End of Session Two