Our Leaders in the Church: Shepherds with great gentleness?

In all denominations, there are church leaders. These may be priests, pastors, preachers, elders, bishops, deacons or simply, overseers of the different functions of the church. The functional titles may vary from one church to another but leadership in general in any denomination implies having care and authority to oversee and as a representative of the congregation (1 Peter 2:25). In the church we go to, how is this responsibility of care and authority exercised? How does the Bible direct that this be exercised? Let us take the example of the New Testament teaching on leadership in the church; it shows us various types of leaders who serve the church through physical services (ministries taking care of physical and internal needs of the church- administration) and through the Word (spiritual ministries like preaching, teaching, instruction, intercession, and healing). Leaders of the church are also responsible for directing or managing the church. The Bible teaches us that none-the-less, all services, whether through the Word or serving, or decision making, should be for the common good, in the interest of the beneficiaries, the church members. Leaders who are more visionary and who set the tone as builders and developers of the church are described as incarnational leaders. Bill Hybels of the Global Leadership Summit gives us indicators to look for in this category of leaders: first, the people who influence others because leadership is all about influence; we choose leaders to influence others. Second, people with character because we need people who will steward their influence well. Third, we need those with people skills who will be sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of others. Fourth, we should look for initiators with drive and energy who will be "always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Co 15:58). Finally, we should search for intelligent people who are mentally quick, show intellectual elasticity and an ability to make smart decisions. To this, John Maxwell adds that, While some people are born with huge leadership potential, leadership can also be taught. That means we can take many people of average intelligence and, with their cooperation and commitment, we can develop them into outstanding leaders - especially if they have the slightest sign of the gift of leadership (Romans 12:8). Retired Bishop Rt. Rev. McLeod Baker Ochola II from Kitgum shared with us his understanding of leadership whose influence must be based on the truth: my understanding of leadership is that it is not a position or a title, but leadership is influence. A leader must always listen to what other people are saying, but must not do the wrong thing. If need be, he can even stand alone on the basis of the truth. As expounded in the Bible, a leader must not accept compromise because this undermines his integrity. The stand she/he takes is a balance which must ensure that the truth prevails. Retired Bishop Ochola affirmed that his mentor in the Bible is King David. When he committed adultery and murder for someone elses wife and God spoke to him through the prophet Nathan, he broke down and pleaded for forgiveness. That is true leadership because we must always listen to God. A leader must have the wisdom of patience and listening so as to understand that his/her leadership comes from God. The Bible talks of sinning in thought and deed. It is very easy for a [church leader] to say that I am above everybody. That is sinful in the eyes of God. In my work as Bishop I understood that I

was playing a pastoral role and not above anybody. In the church, we are all lead by God, not the Bishop. The most important verse that has helped Bishop Ochola (Rtd.) in leadership is Matthew 5: 23-24. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you; leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift. In other words, he explains, do not go before God when your relationship with others is not right; your vertical relationship with God is linked to your horizontal relationship with your neighbour. This is the meaning of the cross; relating with God and others resting on the principle of the truth. The challenge in such type of leadership Bishop Ochola cites, is that many many times, when you are following Gods principles you have to stand alone. As a leader, many people will want favour from you even when they know that what they are asking for is wrong. For instance as a father and spiritual leader, all politicians in my area are my sons and daughters. Colonel Walter Ochola in Gulu is my very good friend. Hon. Jacob Olanya is one of my best friends, so is Mao Norbert of Democratic Party. Recently when Dr. Kizza Besigye visited Kitgum during Christmas, Hon. Beatrice Anywar of Forum for Democratic Change(FDC) invited me to celebrate the day with them and I did. But some people may think I am now supporting FDC. That is not the case. Kizza and all presidential candidates are Ugandans. They are all one of us, except that they now want to play the role of President. Accompanying each one of them is one of the challenging roles I had to practice as a leader, not favouring one against the other. The lesson we learn from the elders words is that all leaders, whether in the church, or government, spiritual or secular must always do what the Lord wants. The church leadership who are more into the physical hands-on work of the Lord are referred to in church literature as servant leaders, with the basin and towel attitude (John 13:1-17).This is the leadership type that is stressed in Matthew 20:25-28: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45 and Luke 22:25-27). The relationship between the leader and the lead in this type of leadership has been explained by writers like R.P. Nettelhorst, through the biblical image of how women should relate to their husbands. When the Bible teaches woman to submit to man, it is, at a deeper spiritual level, actually demanding the man, who is the head of the household, to submit to the woman. The true leader of the household should be a servant. This does not mean accepting to be disrespected and abused, but rather being a true lover, caring for the needs of others, doing what is best for the other, mutually. In the same way that Jesus Christ humbled himself in Philippians 2 :1 -8 and became a servant for the sake of saving the human race, so should the true leader in humility seek to satisfy the interests of others with no conceit, or vanity, or greed for power. He/she works with the same love, compassion and purpose as that of Jesus Christ who humbled himself and became obedient even to death on the cross. Based on the scriptures quoted above, there is no space in the church for leaders to lord it over those who they lead. Similarly, there is no room for the lead to blindly follow

the whims the leader may impose; the Bible demands that we follow the leader, respect and obey only when he/she is doing what is right. In the Christian context the scriptures suggest therefore, leadership means practising mutual love, respect and submission. In our context of Uganda, do we have leaders who carry these basic Christian principles to their place of work outside the church? We put this question to Mrs. Alice Muwanguzi, the Resident District Commissioner, Kampala District and here is what she had to say: When you try to live by Christian values among people who are not Christians, they think you are strange. We have a fellowship at my place of work every Thursday before office time. But you can hear comments like Ah Oyo kyakola kusaba busabi ( You know what that one does, it is only praying). They even gave me a nick name Yesu amala (Jesus satisfies). Does living by Christian principles help you at work? Oh yes she says: Sometimes you know we have clashes. We are expected to do a task and someone wants to do it in an unprincipled way. At such times, I call fellow prayer warriors, even from outside my work place and those problems always get solved! Even my superiors know my stand on principles. They tease me a bit but in fact they trust me more. What verse most comes to mind in carrying Christian principles of Christian leadership to the work place? Mrs. Muwanguzi refers us to Joshua 1 :8 9 ; Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. The you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. She adds I also have a biblical model in leadership: Daniel. The Bible says that even his detractors knew that they could not easily frame him, for he was neither corrupt nor negligent. The voices or our leaders cited above echo the words of authors like Dr. Richard J. Krejcir who define leadership as : the duty and call of the person who is in charge to take charge with courage and character, and to risk leading his/her people where they need to go and how they need to be led. It is a position that seeks vision, opportunities, and needs and then motivates others to get it done through the resources, talents, and time they can contribute. In other words, though God has given various gifts to leaders in the church, theirs goal should be, as illustrated in Ephesians 4: 11-16, to prepare Gods people for works of service. Leaders in our church should organise, inform, train, direct, support, encourage, motivate, influence , inspire, and admonish so as to bring out the best in us for the common good: so that the body of Christ may be built up. Whether this work of leaders makes inward, outward or upward impacts within and outside the church, the final result is that the church is built. The work of leaders therefore helps build the church and the Christian community. When the purpose of building and unifying the Church in faith is done to the satisfaction of biblical standards, then Christians grow and progress towards attaining maturity in Christ. In every church where the leaders have served as shepherds with the humility of lambs on that throne of leadership, the church grows, both in biblical principles and in love; a reminder of the image of mutual care, love, and respect in a joyful, healthy and loving couple. The church which is caring, stable, and mature in Christ is sustained and held together by its members, both the leaders and the laity, who are working together to in turn further build the church. We are all called to run our church this way, in His way,

and we can take time to learn and practise how to implement it, by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus Christ.