Developing Leaders
Thursday, September 18, 2008 :: 382 Views ::
4 Comments ::
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If your church has too many leaders, ignore this post. For that matter, if your congregation has a process for developing leaders, click on another page of this web site. However, if by the off chance your church could use some assistance in the area of leadership, keep reading.
Every church where I have facilitated has expressed the need for more leaders and more mature leaders. One of my challenges is providing resources that can be used at any size congregation. Another issue is finding resources that are holistic, treating leadership development as part of discipleship. A final obstacle is convincing church leaders that training is done through hands-on experience, not DVD presentations during meetings.
From Followers to Leaders, by Bob Logan and Tara Miller, addresses all three challenges. Logan, best known for the CoachNet coaching process, uses a hiking expedition as an metaphor for leadership development. The actual process for leader development is modeled on Jesus' method of discipleship.
This resource can be used by churches with 42 in worship or 420 in worship. The process is dependent on a relationship between one Christian leader and another potential leader.
While vast majority of books and training materials treat leadership as a specific skill, the authors present leadership as part of being a follower of Christ. This holistic treatment of leadership opens the doors for almost all Christians to serve as situational leaders.
The authors also understand the distinction between information concerning leadership and training in leadership. Information about leadership is what one receives reading a book on leadership or watching a DVD on leadership. Training in leadership occurs in the field, through trial and error, with the support and tutelage of a more experienced leader. From Followers to Leaders is designed as a field manual.
So if your church is one of the very, very, very few that sees the need for developing more leaders, From Followers of Leaders could be a useful tool.