As students at a Christian university, we are told we should think critically, globally, missionally by the time we graduate and enter the world where we will make a difference. Although this difference will take place while we are at our jobs and in our families, it also means in our churches.
Often, in preparing to leave Abilene though, we look only to how we can make a difference in our career path and leave the task of being the future church’s leadership to the Biblical text, youth and family ministry, and children’s ministry majors. This can’t be the case anymore. Everyone is called to lead the church, whether that happens in a mega-church, a back road country church or even a church that meets in a house.
The question is, what should a church leader look like?
More than a week ago, Reverend Ted Haggard was fired from New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., a mega-church with more than 14,000 members, after a male acquaintance made allegations that Haggard was involved in a homosexual relationship with him and had a methamphetamine habit. This was a church scandal that shook both Christians and non-Christians to have a church leader as prominent as Haggard admit to a lifestyle he preached against so adamantly from the pulpit.
In a letter read to his congregation the Sunday after he admitted to a “sexually immoral” life, Haggard asked for the congregation’s forgiveness and love for the sinful lifestyle he gave in to. Although many question the sincerity of the letter, it mentions several mistakes Haggard made that could have helped him fight his battle against temptation.
In his letter Haggard writes, “Through the years, I’ve sought assistance in a variety of ways, with none of them proving to be effective in me. Then, because of pride, I began deceiving those I love the most because I didn’t want to hurt or disappoint them.”
Men and women in leadership positions in our churches are humans, like the people in the congregations they lead. They just have a different calling in life to spread the good news from a pulpit. Leaders need to guard themselves against feeling superior because they are in a position of power, and congregations and Christians should be careful not elevate their leaders on a pedestal that separates them from the congregation.
Haggard also writes: “The public person I was wasn’t a lie; it was just incomplete. When I stopped communicating about my problems, the darkness increased and finally dominated me. As a result, I did things that were contrary to everything I believe.”
Leaders need to be held accountable to someone. It wasn’t until Haggard stopped talking with others about his struggle that he began to slip into “sinful” habits. As a leader, be prepared to talk with others about struggle in your life. Find a group of people you trust that can help keep you accountable in all aspects of your life. And listen to others. Be aware that no one is perfect and everyone will struggle in life.
He also writes: “I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I’ve been warring against it all of my adult life.”
As a leader, be honest with yourself. Know your limits and weaknesses, and know that you believe in a God that will fight with you through your temptations and pick you up when you fall.
Leadership qualities are not things you can necessarily learn in class before you leave ACU; they are characteristics that make up the heart and soul of a person, and they’re the characteristics that will lead our churches.
