Our church has experienced a transition in the Senior Pastor position recently – something that had not been done previously for over a quarter of a century. Our new Senior Pastor, Kirk Barger, is challenging the Advisory Board with a study on Leadership in our monthly Sunday evening meetings. In a workbook he developed, Pastor Barger discussed Servanthood first and gives these characteristics of a servant leader:
- Servant leaders humble themselves and wait for God to exalt them.
- Servant leaders follow Jesus rather than seek a position.
- Servant leaders give up personal rights to find greatness in service to others.
- Servant leaders can risk serving others because they trust that God is in control of their lives.
- Servant leaders take up Jesus’ towel of servanthood to meet the needs of others.
- Servant leaders share responsibility and authority with others to meet a greater need.
- Servant leaders multiply their leadership by empowering others to lead.
These characteristics are necessary for leadership in the church. The pastorate, or other leadership positions, are too quickly filled with those who lust for power and think that the position allows for complacency and laziness. I think it will be good to be challenged by these truths from God’s Word as a leadership team at Calvary Baptist. I also think that these characteristics are vital to the walk of any member who attends our church. We all should be servants of God…and one another.
Chance to Interact: What other leadership qualities can you think of would be necessary for Church leadership?
Grace Dependent 