tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657772.post114136716048419119..comments2023-07-25T10:52:13.925-05:00Comments on Because I said so: Church Leaders Struggle with StrategyChris Meirosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717903860701408008noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657772.post-1141604766591423052006-03-05T18:26:00.000-06:002006-03-05T18:26:00.000-06:00I don't know that I would specifically disagree wi...I don't know that I would specifically disagree with you OSO. Part of being a good leader is knowing your limitations and mitigating them. In the case of the church just avoiding your weakness is decidedly NOT God honoring, so surrounding yourself with others who are strong in that area is critical. I'm not particularly gifted in pastoral care types of things, so I know that while I can accomplish what needs to be done, there are others for who this comes naturally and who will do a far greater job at this portion of leading a church. I will gladly partner with them, allowing them to do their portion in God honoring ways, and I will do my part. This is why God has gifted as God has chosen, we don't pick which gifts we are blessed with. We must work together as a body to fulfill the God honoring/glorifying redemptive potential of the Church. Doing less is not honoring the bride of Christ.<BR/><BR/>Big ChrisChris Meirosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05717903860701408008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657772.post-1141604152300562642006-03-05T18:15:00.000-06:002006-03-05T18:15:00.000-06:00You've actually posted about an issue that I think...You've actually posted about an issue that I think has infested the American church and harmed it considerably - the "leadership cult", that somehow Christian pastors need to be "strategic leaders" and "CEOs" and "Visionaries".<BR/><BR/>I believe in Sola Scriptura - the idea that the Bible and the Bible alone is sufficient for "thoroughly equipping" the life of a Christian (2 Tim 3.16-17). Thus the Bible contains all that is necessary for us to determine what sort of qualities we need in leadership.<BR/><BR/>What emerges from this attitude (Sola Scriptura) is that the qualities of pastoral leadership are found specifically in Titus 1.5-9 and 1 Timothy 3.1-7. What you see there are some very important things:<BR/><BR/>* Sound doctrine<BR/>* The ability to teach<BR/>* A godly character<BR/><BR/>The third one encompasses things like being above reproach, not a drunk, not quarrelsome, not arrogant and so on.<BR/><BR/>And as far as I am concerned, those three characteristics are the ONLY things a pastor needs. If he is talented in some areas, like music or in strategic thinking, then that's fine. But if he is not talented in some areas, like organisational skills, then that does not disqualify him as a pastor - in fact, the church he pastors should try to understand and accept his weaknesses, and try to plug those "gaps" themselves.Neil Cameron (One Salient Oversight)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03143948543305522865noreply@blogger.com