Identity and Authenticity in Developing Leadership; Patristic Report (original) (raw)
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Ansgar Teologiske Høgskole, Örebro Teologiska Högskola, Høyskolen for Ledelse og Teologi, 2018
This article discusses how the theological-spiritual dimension, which has to do with the specific identity of the church, has implications for and partly determines the application of leadership theories and tools in the local church. The article also examines how leadership research can provide the means to realize a church's theological or spiritual identity or its true nature. This implies a two-directional relationship between theology and leadership. On the one hand, theology should influence how churches are led, and on the other hand, leadership may facilitate the realization of the theological-spiritual dimension. There are a number of important articles on the theology of leadership. Scripture provides ideas and values relevant to leadership. However, these articles run the risk of pressing the biblical texts in order to provide advice on leadership in all areas in the church, and they risk ignoring leadership theories that can improve church leadership. A second approach is to base the leadership of churches only on leadership theory. Here, the risk is to treat churches as businesses and not as theological-spiritual entities. A third approach is to make a sharp distinction between the contribution of the leadership profession and theology. In this article, I argue for a fourth approach. I try to let the theological-spiritual dimension of churches communicate with leadership theories. This dimension should influence leadership and, on the other hand, leadership should facilitate the development of the theological-spiritual dimension. According to this fourth approach, theology and leadership theories should influence each other. For instance, leadership theories can help the church apply leadership styles and structures that may facilitate the development of the theological-spiritual dimension. Thus, there is an area where theology and leadership overlap and cooperate. To advance this area of research, this article presents a series of themes and topics that future researchers may focus on, both through the literature and in empirical studies.
Affiliation: Leadership for the church: The shepherd model
The scope of this article is to expand the shepherd model of leadership functions as portrayed by the shepherd metaphor. The identification and the biblical usage of the shepherd and the sheep is explored, with special focus on the role of the shepherd. This role is identified as that of caring, courage, and guidance. The caring function includes activities such as restoration, feeding, watering, grooming, shearing, delivering lambs, leading, and protection. The function of courage focuses on activities of assuming responsibility, serving and participating in change. The function of guidance gives a special highlight on hodegos [leader or guide]-to lead or to guide in regard to a decision or future course of action. This is where the leadership training is based. The conclusion is the call for leaders in the ecclesiastical community to pursue the shepherd-leader model for the advance and the effectiveness of the mission Dei [mission of God] in the world.
The Christian Leader: Servant and Steward
2018
Secular leadership has failed to deliver. Christian<br> leadership as modelled by Jesus Christ presents an<br> alternative. Contrary to secular leadership, which is<br> characterised by power and dominance, Christian<br> leadership begins with a premise that if one wants to<br> lead, one must first develop a servant's heart. The article <br> explores the twin dimensions of Christian leadership; <br> servant leadership and steward leadership. While the<br> primary role of the servant leader is the wellbeing of the<br> people being led, the steward leader focuses on<br> accomplishing the purpose of the owner. Christian<br> leadership seeks to emulate Jesus the servant Lord, who<br> came not to be served but to serve and to fulfil the<br> mission entrusted to him by his Father.
Sharing the Incarnation: Towards a Model of Mimetic Christological Leadership
Servant Leadership Research Roundtable
This paper proposes an early mimetic Christological model of Christian Leadership in Roman Philippi by exploring the judicial, rhetorical structure and the social function of the Philippians hymn (2:5-11) as a cursus pudorum (course of ignominies) that stands in stark contrast to a cursus honorum, the formalized sequence of public offices in first-century Roman cities. The Philippians hymn challenged the notions and principles of the prevalent shame/honor social matrix of Roman societies by offering an alternative set of behaviors and values that stood in stark contrast with those of the dominant culture. The hymn makes use of a cursus pudorum in which the voluntary abasement, humility and obedience of Christ becomes an exemplum that offers a critique of the tyrannies of the timocratic leadership style of Roman Philippi and offers an alternative vision of service oriented leadership rooted in humility and common mutuality.
Anglican Theological Review
The 2003 report by the Episcopal Church Foundation, The Search for Coherence, concludes that the Episcopal Church has no theology of leadership. This paper posits that a strong and coherent theology of leadership does exist for the Episcopal Church to reclaim. This theology is based not on pragmatic methods of discernment and experience, but first and foremost, must be grounded in scripture and tradition, particularly Anglican. Furthermore, this theology of leadership must have as its foundation a theological understanding of the mission of the church, to save souls, and the power of God, often confused with human power. This paper seeks to challenge the Church to reclaim this coherent theology of leadership, through the theological understanding of mission and power in the Pauline corpus, in Gregory the Great’s medieval ecclesiastical texts, and in the letters, sermons, and writings of William Temple.
Leadership for the church: The shepherd model
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 2014
The scope of this article is to expand the shepherd model of leadership functions as portrayed by the shepherd metaphor. The identification and the biblical usage of the shepherd and the sheep is explored, with special focus on the role of the shepherd. This role is identified as that of caring, courage, and guidance. The caring function includes activities such as restoration, feeding, watering, grooming, shearing, delivering lambs, leading, and protection. The function of courage focuses on activities of assuming responsibility, serving and participating in change. The function of guidance gives a special highlight on hodegos [leader or guide] – to lead or to guide in regard to a decision or future course of action. This is where the leadership training is based. The conclusion is the call for leaders in the ecclesiastical community to pursue the shepherd-leader model for the advance and the effectiveness of the mission Dei [mission of God] in the world.
Christ-centred leadership in the Pauline Letters
Theological Perspectives on Reimagining Leadership in Post-Covid-19 Africa, 2023
Christ's headship and lordship are prominent themes in Paul's letters. This chapter explores the way in which leadership within the Christian community functions within a church structure of which Christ is the head. Paul's perception of leadership flows forth from a high Christology in which even the highest positions of responsibility in the church remain subordinate to the pre-eminence of Christ in all things. Christ-centred leadership does not merely involve the adoption of certain attitudes or even certain models of leadership but forms part of the core structure of the way in which Christians ought to relate to one another. Leadership in the Pauline Letters is not to be understood in terms of different levels of worth or even influence. Rather, leadership is characterised by mutual submission, respect and servanthood that is animated by the indwelling Spirit of Christ. A better understanding of Christ-centred leadership is aimed at bringing a needed correction to the way in which leadership is often perceived in a post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Africa, both in ecclesial and sociopolitical environments.
2008
New Testament Church Structure – Paul and his Coworkers – An Alternativ Theological Education – A Critique of Catholic Canon Law This volume contains the English translation of the chapter on the church structure from the author’s “Ethics” as well as essays on Catholic canon law, on the interaction of New Testament missionaries with one another and on theological education.