Join the conversation on Forming Leaders
The subject of leadership development seems to be on everyone’s lips. In response to this interest, and acknowledging the important role of leadership for world evangelization, the Lausanne Leadership Development Working Group was created.
In 2008 this working group launched a survey process to define Christ-centered leadership and describe what is most effective in building Christ-centered leaders. One unexpected outcome of the survey was the discovery that most of us think Christian leaders are doing a devastatingly poor job.
When asked to describe their worst experiences under Christian leaders, and what characteristics those poor leaders had, 1,000 leaders answering the survey said:
- Prideful, always right, and always the big boss
- Lack of integrity, untrustworthy
- Harsh, uncaring, refusing to listen, critical
Slightly lower on the list:
- Inability to manage people and enable them to work together
- Spiritually immature, no evidence of holiness or prayerfulness
Keep in mind these words were not used to describe non-Christian leaders, but rather “Christian” leaders, or those who said they were “Christian.”
This conversation on Forming Leaders is designed to highlight and identify these problems in Christian leaders today, then respond by defining Christ-like leadership and discussing leadership development methods that help all of us who are leaders to grow in Christ-like qualities. Our hope is that understanding the problem and highlighting effective keys to the solution will enable more effective and lasting evangelism.
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RyanHannah
Malawi
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Cote d'Ivoire
Grant Lovejoy
United States
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United Kingdom
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United Kingdom
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Sweden
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United States
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India
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Featured Conversations
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Recent Responses
- I would agree that having rejection would keep you humble, and maybe that’s why there’s a cycle of popularity followed by rejection (or maybe said,…
Mary DeMuth - 02.09.2010 - In Response To:
Ministry: Are you in Obscurity? Popularity? or Rejection? 
- Great blog, Mary. Thanks.
I see all three at work in my life and ministry - usually in constant tension with one another. I’m…
Pete_Houston - 02.09.2010 - In Response To:
Ministry: Are you in Obscurity? Popularity? or Rejection? - Passivity is a problem that cuts to the heart of simply doing church or being a missional church.
Paul said, "Imitate me, then, as I…
Pete_Houston - 02.09.2010 - In Response To:
Craig and Moreland on The Church Condition and It’s Relevance on Indonesian Churches 
- Gracias Carlos. Recién me he dado de alta y eres el primero que escribiendo en Español ofrece aportes por este medio. Leeré el documento y…
osfarfan - 01.09.2010 - In Response To:
¿Entienden lo que he hecho con ustedes? 
- Adjunto documento ¿Entienden lo que hecho con ustedes?
Carlos Scott - Mision GloCal - 01.09.2010 - In Response To:
¿Entienden lo que he hecho con ustedes? - In terms of leadership, perhaps the solution is a more rigorous training of leaders, and a longer period of time of internship in community. We’ve…
Mary DeMuth - 01.09.2010 - In Response To:
What do you do with wolves in the ministry? - Yes, I think the key is compassion. We’ve had instances when we’ve had to confront leadership and they responded beautifully. Other times, not. But either…
Mary DeMuth - 01.09.2010 - In Response To:
What do you do with wolves in the ministry? 
- Obviously, you are right. I have met wolves in the ministry and will meet some again for sure. Now, I am no longer surprised, but…
David Hausmann - 01.09.2010 - In Response To:
What do you do with wolves in the ministry? 
- This is not a secret. Yes there are people whose actions do not match with their words. But isn’t that true of most of us…
Vijayesh Lal - 01.09.2010 - In Response To:
What do you do with wolves in the ministry? 
- Have a look here to see if any of this inspires you: www.vulnerablemission.com
Jim_Harries - 31.08.2010 - In Response To:
We Have A Problem! - But There Is Hope!
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