A Current Commentary From Biblically Balanced Ministries, Inc.
A New Definition of
“CEO” (September 2002)
Recently while leading
a pastors’ open forum on “Transitions in Ministry,” the subject
of leadership style became a topic. The “CEO” model became a
significant part of the discussion. A value of the CEO model is
that it faces the reality of the need for someone to lead.
However, the dangers of the CEO model may overrule the value.
Finding a balance in the role of leadership is essential to
preserving the biblical model of leadership.
The common definition of
the CEO is “Chief Executive Officer.” Translated into practice it
often reflects an autocratic and hierarchical pattern of
leadership. A reality is that this type of leadership is often the
most effective in getting things accomplished. Often churches
demonstrating high growth have pastors who follow the CEO model.
Effective ministry
requires leadership. Biblical examples of leadership are presented
throughout the Old and New Testament. Characteristics of the CEO
model are reflected in numerous examples but are balanced with
other characteristics.
OVERCOMING THE DANGERS OF THE CEO MODEL
A consideration of what
should be the model for leadership will begin by looking at the
dangers to overcome in the common CEO image. The first danger is
self-centeredness. Leadership models in Scripture reveal a servant
attitude not self-interest. Biblical leaders are not driven by
personal gain or interest. The biblical leader is interested in
God’s interest not his own.
Secondly, there is the
danger of a dictatorship style or being self-confident. In such
cases one becomes “the leader,” rather than seeking the input or
participation of others in leadership. Moses was beginning to
become this style leader when his father-in-law Jethro showed him
a better way.
A third danger is the
abuse of power. The abuse of power is often related to cult
groups, but this is all too often seen in churches. When one
individual has too much power the end result is often abuse. The
common CEO model can lead to the abuse of power.
A
BIBLICAL MODEL OF CEO
The church today needs
to recognize and accept the role of the pastor as the leader. Many
churches are so afraid of the dangers listed above, that they
refuse to allow for biblical leadership. The CEO concept has
validity but must be balanced by biblical character. A biblical
definition of CEO could be “Coaching & Empowering Others.”
THE
CHIEF AS COACH
Do we need a leader?
This should not be the question. Throughout Scripture God reveals
that when there is a task to be done, God raised up a leader.
(Note: a leader, not a committee or board.) The question for the
church is not who is to lead. God has clearly defined the leader
as the pastor. The question that needs to be addressed is, “What
is the model for leaders and pastors?” A suggestion is to define
the role of the “chief” as “coach.”
Coaches like chiefs must
be able to give direction and have a vision to lead. They also
must be given the authority and respect to be able to lead. The
coaching model emphasizes the recognition of the gifts and
abilities of others and sees them as vital in the fulfilling of
biblical purposes.
Jesus Christ Himself
demonstrated the coaching model both in His relationship to His
Father and with His disciples. Two of the keys to the ministry of
Jesus were gentleness and humility (Matt. 11:25-30).
Characteristics of Coaching
• Reassured by a
clear call to ministry. Moses, Joshua, Jesus, and the disciples
all had a definite sense of calling. Ministry will include
discouragements and disappointments. Not all coaches know the
thrill of victory but almost all know the agony of defeat. The
call of God is essential to the pastor or leader in ministry to
persevere in such times.
• Relational in developing team ministry. The coach
recognizes that he can do nothing without the team. Leadership
that is relational becomes participatory not autocratic.
• Resourceful in methodology. We are living in changing
times. The coaching style ministry seeks to “understand the times,
to know what to do.”
• Revitalized in spirit. The spiritual coach must be
spiritually “renewed day by day.” He is willing to rethink his
priorities seeking balance in every area of his life and ministry.
THE
COACH EMPOWERS
Call it empowering or
call it delegating, a coach entrusts others with responsibility
and authority. The controlling or self-centered leader is unlikely
to share his power or position.
Jethro, Moses’
father-in-law, taught him this valuable lesson on leadership. He
was making the mistake of many leaders, trying to do it all
himself. Moses demonstrated his willingness to listen to counsel
not just give counsel. The coaching model of leadership is both
willing to be taught and to teach. He established his position as
making the major administrative decisions and delegating most
other decisions to others.
The apostles followed
this model in appointing deacons in Acts 6. The results were not
simply getting a job done but also restoring unity in the church.
Generally when the leader feels responsible to do all of the
ministry it results in neglected areas of ministry. Reality is no
one person can do all of the ministry. Further, God never designed
the church to function that way.
Marks
of Effective Empowering
• Discerning the
who and where of ministry. Recognizing the giftedness and
abilities of people is essential to coaching. A good coach knows
his players and their abilities. He knows how to position people
according to their value to the team. The empowering process
begins with discerning who is fitted for the team and where they
fit. A special note: Leaders should be granted the freedom to
carefully discern who fits on the team.
• Defining the roles and responsibilities of the team is an
essential part of coaching. Flexibility in leadership is vital.
When delegating authority it is crucial to define roles,
relationships, and accountability. Delegation without
accountability can result in disorder. Defining roles must avoid
the temptation of micromanagement.
• Discipling is vital to the empowering process. A biblical
qualification for leadership is they “must be apt to teach.”
Effective leadership requires effective communication skills. The
coach must teach the team members what is expected of them and
clearly define the vision and plan. Paul’s relationship to Timothy
exemplifies the teaching coach (2 Timothy 2:2).
Empowering is not for
the weak of heart. The task of delegating to others requires faith
in the people you empower and in your own call from God.
OTHERS
ARE THE KEY
Think of those in the
Bible who were empowered by people like Moses, Paul, and Barnabas.
Joshua, Timothy, and John Mark all became effective leaders.
Before they became leaders they served as team members with great
leaders. The relationship that developed between these coaches and
the “others” on the team increased the effectiveness of the whole
team. Each of these coaches expressed appreciation for the work of
his team members. Coaches know the value of “others” on the team.
The selection of the
others on the team is one of the most crucial decisions of
leadership. Others will either make or break a ministry team. Most
pastors have experienced the destructiveness of a divisive staff
or board member. The opposite should also be true. Pastors and
leaders need to recognize that the effectiveness of their ministry
is never solely because of themselves.
What
should you look for in selecting “others” for your team?
• Teachableness
is an indispensable quality for both the coach and others on the
team. Paul instructed Timothy how to develop his team. “The
things you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these
to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2
Timothy 2:2). Underlying the instruction is the need for those we
choose for team membership to be teachable. Likewise leaders must
be both apt to teach and willing to be taught.
• Faithfulness is the second quality essential for team
membership. One definition of this term is “full of faith.”
Ministry teams must begin with faith based ministry. The Bible is
clear, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”
Faithfulness also means that each team member is dependable to the
other members.
• Giftedness is the third quality essential for team
ministry. God has gifted all believers with special enabling to be
used in ministry. The ministry team needs to reflect the diversity
of gifts to provide a balance to meet the complexity of ministry
needs. A team is unlikely to have all the gifts. However, the team
members should have gifts that supplement one another rather than
duplicate the gifts of the senior leader.
Chiefs are still
essential to the functioning of a team. The difference is in how
you lead not if you lead. Coaching requires a chief who
understands the value of each team member.
Leadership that is
biblical knows the importance of having a leader (chief). The
difference is in the objectives and style. “Coaching and
Empowering Others” follows the priority established in Ephesians
4:12; “God gave some as . . . pastor –teachers for the
equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.”
The complete series of
articles is being entitled: The Biblically Balanced CEO Builds
a Team
I. Team Unity
II. A New Definition of CEO
III. Changing the Focus
IV. The Coach’s Coach
by Gary R. Becker,
President
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