Leaders must provide guidance and direction to others. As church leaders, you have been tasked with the role of servant to the church and your parishioners. In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide on church leadership, what the bible says, different leadership roles, their models, and the character traits that define great leaders, we’ll give you tips on fundraising for your church.
Leadership is an act of guidance and providing direction to others. Church leadership isn’t any different; but in addition to providing guidance, it also encompasses how the leader behaves, communicates, and manages the church.
When Paul spoke to Timothy about his role as leader of the church, he mentioned several qualities one would find in a servant leader. The concept of servant leaders has been documented since the seventies but ties back to the bible and the very beginnings of the church.
Defined as leadership that focuses on others, with the desire to serve being front of mind, servant leadership is a perfect reflection of the qualities a church leader should possess.
In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how church leadership works.
Church leadership is about serving others following Christ’s interests so that they can see and accomplish God’s purpose for them in the world. A church leader needs qualities that influence and morally support the congregation, the volunteers, and the community. Such qualities include moral trustworthiness, social aptitude, empathy, pastoral care, and more.
The Apostle Paul wrote several letters to Timothy defining his role as the leader of the church. In his teachings, Paul focused on the importance of following the word of God and being above reproach. He expected Timothy to stay faithful to the teachings of God regardless of the opposition that was destined to come. Paul’s teachings remain vital for the health of the church.
Following God’s word is vital to church leadership and is not only the first role of a steward leader; it is the most important. At the time of Paul and Timothy, there were several versions of God’s teachings, but Paul believed he held the truth. Paul’s teachings to Timothy were meant to help spread God’s word and determine how the church’s leaders should act and live.
The Bible refers to a leader as one above reproach, like the husband of one wife. He must be sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive. The reason is that if someone does not know how to manage his household, how will he care for God’s church?
This description is hard to live up to, but it is what most people expect of their church leaders. When leaders fail to live up to this expectation, there can be internal strife and a loss of faith in the congregation. This has led to several splits within the church.
For churches to serve their congregations meaningfully, they need to have various leadership roles in place that manage different aspects of the church. While certain responsibilities, like tithes, might depend on the church’s denomination, a few common leadership roles in every church. Let’s take a look at them:
Pastors and priests are often looked at as the backbone of the church and the glue that holds their congregation together. And as you can imagine, this role comes with a varied list of important responsibilities, such as:
Church elders or deacons are sometimes considered as the second-in-charge or right-hand of the pastor or priest. They assume many responsibilities and most are in support of the work the pastor or priest performs, such as:
The church board or leadership team is made up of a group of elected or appointed individuals who are tasked with overseeing various aspects of the church’s operations, like:
Ministry leaders oversee different areas of church operations like worship, discipleship, outreach, and youth programs. They are responsible for ensuring these functions of the church run smoothly. They might also be tasked with:
This group of people might take different forms at different churches. Usually, they are responsible for facilitating gatherings like Bible study sessions and prayer groups. But they could also manage:
Worship and choir leads manage and coordinate worship and music during church services and events. Additionally, they:
This is by no means an exhaustive list of church roles and the different responsibilities each role holds will change depending on the size, structure, tradition, and denomination model of the church. Let’s explore some of the models of church leadership.
Divides within the church are not new. The best-known rift is Martin Luther’s Reformation and split from the Catholic Church. Because of these splits, churches have different models that define their leadership style and expectations. Within each of these models are the expectations and roles of the leaders and their congregation.
Congregationalism is the belief that each church should have the power to determine its future as long as they are led by the teachings of God. Each church following the principle of Congregationalism is independent of the rest. The Puritans were the first Congregationalists and fought for their independence from the Church of England. Today, Quakers, Baptists, and Methodists all follow the model of Congregationalism.
The Presbyterian church started with Martin Luther and the Reformation. The word “Presbyterian” means elder, and thus, churches that follow this model have remained governed by elders. Church officers elect Church leaders in these churches who lead the congregation.
Presbyterianism has retained the same governing principle that it started with and has a definite hierarchy within the church leadership. This form of leadership is based on Paul appointing pastors to oversee the church. In these early churches, the pastors appointed the elders who then appointed deacons.
Episcopalians continue their connection with the Church of England and are more formal with their leadership. The man with the highest authority in this church is the Pope, followed by Arch Bishops and Bishops. The hierarchy of this leadership model is clearly defined. The best example of this method is the Catholic church. The Roman Catholic Church remains the largest Christian church worldwide.
Leaders who focus too much on their power and authority will lose it and cause rifts within their church that are difficult to repair. Servant leaders have less chance of falling into this leadership trap. That may be why servant leaders are often the best leadership style for the clergy.
Regardless of the church’s leadership method, many church leaders have similar traits that make them servants to their congregation and the Lord. Leaders with these characteristics can bring out the best in their followers and build great success for the church as a whole.
Here are 11 Character Traits for Excellent Church Leadership:
Before being a servant to your parishioners, a church leader must be a servant to God. The best example of this type of leader is Jesus Christ, who gave his life for others in the name of the Lord. This is an extreme form of servant leadership that cannot be repeated, but Jesus’s other actions and teachings continue to show how servant leaders must act and treat their followers.
Jesus is known for his compassion for those who followed him. His treatment of Lazarus and Mary are only two examples of the way Jesus saw himself as a servant first instead of a leader.
Another of the more defining moments of Jesus’s servant leadership is when he chose to wash his disciples’ feet. This treatment was historically performed on the most powerful people.
The actions of Jesus allowed his followers to become more than they believed they could be. A true servant leader in the church can do the same.
A true servant leader will listen to the needs of their congregation and learn what their parishioners need.
As they listen, their aim should be to serve and heal by shepherding people through the various trials of life. This selfless listening makes a church leader stand out among others.
A servant leader will feel the pain and fear that overwhelms their followers. In this way, church leaders can be closest to God with their actions.
Empathy is not about offering an instant solution to your people. It’s about being at one with their problems and struggles. It’s only then you garner their trust and reliance. It makes people believe in you and also the church and its mission as a whole.
Healing is the primary role of a servant leader. While no one can heal others the same as Jesus, servant leaders in the church can use their gifts to connect and help their congregation heal from grief and fear whenever possible. It can be done by imparting the profound knowledge gained from the Holy Bible or with life experiences and a sense of understanding.
Church leadership is about treating the whole. As a church leader, your responsibility to your congregation and the church is to ensure it remains healthy and whole.
Church leaders mustn’t let their failures and fears get the best of them and affect their relationships with others. Self-awareness can help church leaders mitigate the feelings that could potentially overwhelm their actions when faced with difficulty. Jesus was once again a servant leader in this regard. Jesus took the time to fill himself with awareness even when that awareness was the hardest thing he had to face.
No one spoke with as much authority as Jesus could, but instead of commanding that they follow him and believe he was the Son of God, Jesus used his words and actions to persuade people. As a servant leader, it is crucial to use persuasion over authority to reach your followers.
When a church leader speaks to the people, the tone he adopts is important. While listening to him, they should feel a sense of relief and find peace in his words. The approach should not be that of authority or command but of guidance and support.
Can you see the bigger picture? The day-to-day grind and tragedies can overwhelm us and make our missions feel impossible. As a servant leader, you must conceptualize and continue to see the bigger picture. By believing and seeing the end, you can share this image with your followers.
It’s the same with people; they feel fatigued by the daily struggles and often lose faith in the future. When a leader listens to them, has an attitude of understanding, and speaks with the bigger picture in mind, they find direction in his words. Such is the duty of a church leader. As a leader, you’re not only managing their present issues but leading them in the right direction.
As a servant leader, you must be able to predict how something will end. When church members put their faith in you, they want to know you have the experience and knowledge to steer them on the right path. As a church leader, you will use your past mistakes to develop better plans to support your congregation.
That’s one of the main reasons why churches often choose elders for the positions of church leaders. They have experience, can speak with assurance, and can gain the trust of the members.
A servant leader will look after and steward others and take responsibility when they make the wrong choice. As a church leader, you must learn to steward your flock and lead by example so others may follow.
When preaching about faith, you must show how your faith can make a difference in your congregation. Jesus was able to encourage his disciples to have faith when they began to doubt. In Mark 6: 8-11, Jesus was a steward to his followers and taught them to rely on God while sharing his message.
Your responsibility as a church leader is to help each member of your congregation reach heaven. Those who falter must be able to depend on you to catch them when necessary. As a servant leader, you must be committed to helping your entire congregation reach their destiny no matter how long it may take.
As people approach you, ensure that you’re available for them. They should feel that you’re committed to the purpose of serving them. Once again, your commitment does not imply you can solve all problems instantly; it only means you’ll listen and guide them in the right way.
Even Jesus needed his disciples, and to fulfill your role as a steward leader, you must create a community within your church. One person can not solve all the problems of a church. As a steward leader, you must strengthen your church by enabling others to take leadership roles and connect with others in your community. As a church leader, you can help your parishioners develop the same characteristics you have practiced as a servant leader.
A leader offers guidance, ensuring the church is running well, and can help others. Church fundraising becomes essential in this case.
These days churches and their leaders are reaching out to people through marketing – on social media or otherwise – and through fundraising events/campaigns. The leaders are often in charge of these fundraising campaigns and inspire the congregation to support and give. Without an efficient church fundraising tool that takes care of everything automatically starting from donations to donors, this would be impossible.
A church should settle for a fundraising solution that not only lets them raise funds but also helps with crowdfunding (good for upcoming mission trips or building funds), peer-to-peer campaigns (helps turn supporters into advocates), membership programs, text-to-give, and more. Donorbox is one such tool that has been helping thousands of churches around the globe raise funds with the help of these advanced features. This short 1-min video will give you a peek into our fundraising solution for churches –
Servant leaders can create a community that fosters empathy, stewardship, and commitment to others. This leadership style can help a church grow and share the Word of God with people far and wide. Church leaders who fit within the servant leadership framework can develop other strong leaders in their congregations who can carry on the message.
In addition to helpful fundraising ideas, Donorbox’s online fundraising platform allows churches like yours to easily collect online tithes and offerings. Our wide range of features includes some of the best fundraising and donor management options that will enable you to get more online donations and boost church outreach.
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As your church continues to grow, your leadership may need guides, tips, and best practices on church fundraising. Find loads of other resources on our Nonprofit Blog and subscribe to our newsletter to have them delivered to your inbox every month!
Kristine Ensor is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience working with local and international nonprofits. As a nonprofit professional she has specialized in fundraising, marketing, event planning, volunteer management, and board development.
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Kristine Ensor