Cam's Blog
Secret #4: It’s the Leadership Stupid – Your Leadership
The word “pastoral” has become synonymous with conflict-avoidance and passivity. Be a leader and save the pastoral stuff for the hospital and hospice. Leadership is about mobilizing the congregation to discern and fulfill its mission and that will not take place without engaging people at a visceral level. High emotion and conflicts of interest are bound to be part of a mission discernment process, but then again, so is congregational growth if you lead it well.
Leadership ignites the passions of the congregation and that won’t be done without also raising the temperature of the atmosphere. Managing conflict and tension are necessary elements of your responsibility. If you shy away from these uncomfortable aspects of your job then you are in the process of abandoning your station. Always remember, it is about the mission, not you, so if you become the issue it is time to redirect the conversation toward the mission or the golden thread it represents. If you do not have adequate skills in these areas then go out and get them. If you want to be liked and loved too much to get it done, then go get some therapy. This may seem a cruel or unfair charge but if your congregation is not growing and thriving then you are failing in your job as a congregational leader and probably in your vocation as preacher.
Check back tomorrow for #5
Posted on Jun 21, 2010
