Learning and Leading in Ministry: Introduction

(This begins a series of leadership articles that I am presently working on for a sequel to “Living and Leading in Ministry”.  I will post the ones I have finished each day, and the rest will follow as they are completed.  Like the first book, this will have thirty-one chapters.  Each chapter will feature something about leadership that needs to be learned…or unlearned.  I hope you enjoy them.)

Preface

We all know about Jesus and the twelve disciples, but imagine if we referred to Jesus and the twelve learners? Or, the twelve students? How about pupils? Ah-h-h…no. Not the same. Jesus and the twelve “disciples” has a ring to it that “learners”, “students” or “pupils” don’t have. The core definition of disciple is actually “one who learns.” Jesus knew that learning goes with leadership like sun goes with moon and leaves go with trees. He knew that leadership is dynamic rather than static and leaders who stop learning will lead their followers astray or lose them entirely.

Twenty-first century business gurus speak of the learning organization, “a group of people who are continually enhancing their capabilities to create what they want to create.” The old model led organizations to train workers for one-dimensional jobs—-duties that they performed until the day they retired. Plebes down the chain of command were informed on a “need to know” basis. Inflexible and bloated, corporate methodologies descended from sacrosanct penthouse boardrooms. Today, with change measured in nanoseconds, that old construct guarantees certain disaster…quick. New ideas do not wait for osmosis. In this volatile environment, learners must aggressively pursue new methods and technologies.

Age-old principles in scripture will always provide our underpinnings for today’s ministry, but their effectiveness depends on how well we use them. Unless we implement them through cutting edge techniques, relevant vocabulary and continual attention to present dynamics, we will get disappointing results. The best leaders are learners. Leaders need to learn. They need to learn how to learn; what to learn; when to learn; and what to unlearn. Greater energy, stronger convictions and better decisions will flow from the learning leader.