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The myth of Ministry Leadership.


The myth that all leaders are leaders.



Not everyone who leads in church is a leader. I think it is wrong, for Church leaders to believe that those they train up to take various ministry leadership positions, are in fact leaders in their own right. They are not. At best I would categorise these people- that many churches call 'ministry leaders' as ministry managers.

                "At one level there is nothing wrong with title inflation; it is a cheap way of recognising people who work hard and make serious contributions" Jo Owen.

I am of the opinion that this title inflation undervalues both the leader and the 'ministry manager' and can often bring about confusion and mismatched expectations.

Many churches have ministry training evenings for their volunteers. Many use the reason for this training is "to make a person a better leader," when in fact the only thing actually happening is that they are making volunteer 'ministry managers' better managers.

Let me state right here and now- that it is these 'ministry managers' who enable the Senior Church Leader to lead and envision their congregations and direct people to change their communities. Without good effective 'ministry managers' a Senior Church Leader can achieve very little.

Church Leaders control the resources of the church, but the 'ministry managers' are the ones who get great results from very little. The Church Leader influences the congregation to their vision. However it is the 'ministry manager' that has to find ways to influence people to participate in the vision. In small and medium sized churches the senior church leader has a clear direction but, the 'ministry managers' often have to wear more than one hat and therefore more than one demand on their time and small resources, is expected.

If you are a' ministry manager' celebrate this fact, because you are the ones that help make the church succeed and reflect the salt and light to the world.  Without your spirit of excellence nothing is achieved.

If you are a Church Leader, value and honour those 'ministry managers' as they are the ones that take your vision and ideas and help make them become reality.

                If you pretend everyone is a leader or that everyone will one day be a leader, you will end up with people, who become frustrated and look for greener pastures, where they will feel that their so called leadership abilities will take them on to higher things.

Eph 4:11 says that it is God who sets in the church some to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. To equip his people for works of service.


God appoints leaders, men appoint 'ministry managers'

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