The purpose of this series is to offer some basic “entry points” for beginning to explore your Minimum Factor graph.
This post is for those whose Minimum Factor is Empowering Leadership.
Two initial points need to be made.
First, all the questions relate to the degree to which the leadership is focused on empowering others for the work of ministry through a combination of explanation, motivation and liberation. The higher a question’s result, the greater its contribution to overall empowerment.
Secondly, the questions are included in the survey because it has been shown to high degree of accuracy in international statistical terms that they distinguish healthy growing churches from those in decline. In effect, churches attracting higher scores for these questions are more likely to be growing, and vice versa. Not liking the questions, or thinking other questions would be better, in no way detracts from the 11 appearing on the graph.
So what has international research shown to be of vital importance in healthy growing churches when it comes to leadership which is empowering?
1. Leaders empower more by enjoying their job
Q13 – Our leaders seem to enjoy their ministry in our church
If leaders constantly “broadcast” by word and deed that they enjoy ministry in their church, it impacts significantly the mood of the people, releasing energy, commitment and passion.
And vice versa. How difficult is it to engage people and take the church forward if you’ve convinced them that you’d rather be elsewhere? They’ll end up going where you lead – elsewhere. Enjoyment cannot be manufactured. Leaders should review regularly their commitment to and passion for their current role.
2. Leaders empower by not holding ministry to themselves…for any reason
Q51 – The leaders of our church prefer to do the work themselves rather than collaborate with others (neg)
Q28 – Our pastor(s) have too much work to do (neg)
Q73 – The leaders of our church concentrate on the tasks for which they are gifted
It’s not uncommon to hear: “They pay me to do this job.” “It’s easier for me to do it.” “I have to do it because no one else will.” Whichever way you look at such comments, a mentality which fails to see a fundamental role of leaders as “equipping the saints for the works of service” disempowers which, in turn, impacts a church’s growth potential.
It is made worse if the people perceive you as overrun with work. It’s worth pondering why being labelled “out of control”, “constantly exhausted”, “always rushing around”, “driven” or “has little time for people” disempowers others. International NCD statistics show that, on average, as churches grow in size pastor workloads decrease. Go figure.
A vital part of developing an equipping mentality as a leader is having an intimate understanding of your own spiritual gifts and their place at the core of your ministry. Doing so has a direct bearing on your personal ministry fruitfulness. And knowing what you’re not gifted for is the starting point for looking at the giftedness of others and from there the need for teamwork.
3. Proactively “equipping the saints for the works of service”
Q17 – I know that someone in our church will hold me accountable for meeting the commitments I make (See Q24 in ES)
Q20 – Our leaders actively seek to remove barriers that limit my ministry
Q38 – Many people in our church are given the opportunity to actively participate in our worship services
The Body grows if the parts of the body are growing. To grow your church you have to grow your people. This is a step beyond the previous point: proactively equipping people for the work of ministry is at the heart of empowering leadership.
Interestingly, I often encounter leaders who confuse delegation (important though that is) with equipping. Delegation is often task-oriented not people-oriented, and focused on the leader; equipping is focused on everyone contributing to church life in such a way that they are continuing to grow to spiritual maturity.
The above questions have strong links to a multitude of questions in Gift-based Ministry and Effective Structures reflecting the importance of this growth principle from Ephesians 4:11-13.
4. “Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em; tell ‘em; and tell ‘em what you told ‘em”
Q31 – Our leaders are good at explaining things
It was Ralph Neighbour, of cell church fame, who said that if you want your people to “get it” you have to communicate the same message six times. And that’s presuming you are an effective communicator in the first place. It is incumbent upon leaders to develop and hone communication skills to avoid activity in the church based on ignorance, confusion, misunderstanding and incorrect assumptions.
A ‘rule of thumb’ is that communication is not about what’s said but what’s heard. How good is communication in your church? It plays a vital role in empowering.
5. Taking the church into the future
Q45 – Our leaders clearly believe that God wants our church to grow
Q22 – Our leaders are clearly concerned for people who do not know Jesus Christ
If you have leaders who do not intrinsically understand why these questions are important for empowering people in a Christian church as a vital part of achieving sustainable healthy growth, you may need new leaders.