The 10 Commandments of Effective Leadership
by Ken Idleman
Serving as a local church elder can be a life path you choose or a life path that chooses you, a ministry to which you aspire or a ministry in which you are affirmed/appointed by your church. A sense of 'calling' from the Lord is vital, but that calling can be more subjective or more objective. Usually, it is some combination of both!
Regardless, your leadership calling as an elder should be underpinned by some leadership basics. Just as the 10 commandments are the foundation of both moral and civil law, here are 10 Biblical fundamentals that are the foundation of effective elder leadership.
1. Thou shalt not be a dictator. The church and her ministries are to be led by kind shepherds with staffs, not cattle drivers on horseback with bullwhips. Jesus said that the military, government or corporate business leadership models are not the way Christian churches and organizations operate (Matthew 20:24-28, Luke 22:24-27). We embrace a servant leadership ethic. Faithful elders see themselves not at the apex of a pyramid, but at the fulcrum of an inverted pyramid.
2. Thou shalt not be a poser. The strongest denunciations in the New Testament are the indictments Jesus leveled at the teachers of the law and Pharisees. He railed against their pretension and insincerity, calling them hypocrites, blind guides and snakes (Matthew 23). It is required of church leaders that they be true-hearted, pure-hearted and whole-hearted.
3. Thou shalt put people first [after the Lord]. Effective elders don't just get a job done, they are about meeting the deepest pastoral needs of real people. Jesus saw people as His mission, not an inconvenience. Interruptions were not distractions. They were occasions for a demonstration of compassion, because Jesus came to change lives and destinies. And life transformation happens through associating with people!
4. Thou shalt be an encourager. Barnabas is the gold standard here for a great local church elder. He was generous, selling land and laying the proceeds at the feet of the apostles for distribution. He was optimistic, always anticipating positive outcomes. He was grace-filled, consistently believing in giving people second chances. He advocated for Saul in Acts 9:26-27 and John Mark in Acts 15:37-39. He was an affirming leader.
5. Thou shalt value the uniqueness of others in the family of God. The family of God is made up of people who are from every tongue, tribe and nation. The oversight of a Christian community requires a love for people who are not always 'normal' ... like us. (Are we really “normal?”) Personalities are unique and love languages will vary. Shepherds must adapt themselves relationally to befriend, teach and serve a diverse population and actually enjoy the differences!
6. Thou shalt be a collaborator. When it comes to making decisions that give direction to the church's ministry, get input from the principal people who would be affected. Be a team-player and a team-builder. 21st century church leadership involves giving people heart-ownership of the mission. We must move forward as one! It is OUR ministry.
7. Thou shalt be a delegator. Elders do not do all the work. In a high impact church, elders know how to trust other gifted people in the church family and share the work of ministry with them, in a strategic manner. Recruitment and training are ongoing to multiply ministry. Occasionally the work will not be done well or on time. Sometimes there is a lack of follow through. But failure can be a valuable component of growth.
8. Thou shalt be a careful and clear communicator. Timely and orderly communication makes for no confusion about direction, fewer disagreements about priorities, less conflict, good morale and better productivity. Honesty, openness and transparency are key words to describe written and verbal communication.
9. Thou shalt monitor morale. Every church has a culture, and a healthy culture for ministry is vital. Elders are entrusted with the responsibility to keep their finger on the pulse and address the church's 'felt needs.' The boundaries of the church property and the personalities of the elders should define a geographical area inside of which people will experience the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
10. Thou shalt keep a focus on the future. The elders must live with two churches - the one that is and the one that can be. They personify contagious joy in the present and anticipation about the future. Setting aside time to dream and plan, guarding the mission, developing fresh vision statements, formulating strategic goals are the vital work of elders. The accomplishment of these initiatives will move the church forward. And everyone wants to be a part of a church that is moving forward with the love of God, the grace of Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit!
