Religious studies

Introduction

Leadership is an often confusing concept, especially in the religious sector. Individuals assigned with the role and responsibility of guiding God’s people must always act according to the holy teachings. Leadership is a biblical given role, as evidenced by God’s act of giving Jesus Christ with the mandate of guiding His people. First of all, leadership is a role and an activity that revolves around showing followers the right path. However, as a leader, one is not expected to decide on behalf of the followers but provide viable religious information that enables them to make the best decision. Also, leadership is a relationship where a leader acts as a bridge between God and the people. A leader establishes a quality relationship with the followers to act in line with the expectations. Another aspect that revolves around the theological foundation of leadership is modeling. God expects leaders to portray appropriate behaviors and actions that followers can emulate. Leadership also revolves around attention to missions with the central aim of changing lives. Lastly, leadership is service to others. Leaders are expected to develop keen attention to issues affecting God’s people and intervene accordingly. The theological foundation of leadership is based on undertaking Biblical roles, creating a viable relationship with followers, being a role model, attention to missions, and service to the people across various religious organizations and churches.

Theological Foundation of Leadership

Leadership as a Role

Leaders are called to undertake the role of directing and guiding God’s people into the right path. Every individual who occupies a leadership position in a religious setting is called into that position. Religious leaders are deemed as ‘careholders’ due to their faithful stewardship[1]. They transform, conserve, and protect God’s creations. Leaders with a calling to serve others commit their time and efforts to handle their roles effectively. In most cases, those who occupy these positions without a calling do not last long; neither do they make any positive change. Pastoral and church leaders have the role of directing God’s people into the right path. For example, they have a role in offering appropriate support at the family and community level. Families encountering issues such as the loss of loved ones and properties acquire religious leaders’ support through prayers, financial aid, and other forms of support. Leaders must always engage effective communications to keep in touch with their followers and accomplish God’s mission. In the Bible, communication broke down, leading to chaotic procedures, especially during the Lord’s Supper, where the disciples failed to believe in the resurrection process[2]. Interactions in the Christian community must always be guided by effective communication to enable them to understand the procedures and expectations.

Leadership as a role in the Biblical context is evidenced by God’s directive that humankind takes care of His creation. In the Book of Genesis (1:26), God hands to man the responsibility of taking care of everything on earth. This is a huge responsibility that God handled man, calling for caution when leading and guiding them to achieve God’s desire for humans and animals. In the same way, religious leaders in a church setting are expected to oversee the believers’ spiritual growth and non-believers. They should not only concentrate on the believers but also be willing to deliver God’s word to non-believers to follow the right path. The modern church is characterized by massive turbulent changes that undermine the achievement of religious goals and objectives. Banks notes that changes such as technology, political climate, and new inventions have a significant threat to meeting the future church’s demands[3]. Leaders must always be positioned to handle such occurrences for the welfare of their followers. They must always rely on the Bible for appropriate guidance regarding managing their roles amidst threats and risks.

Leadership as a Relationship Building Process

Religious leadership is based on the development of quality and lasting relationships with God and others. It aligns with the follower-centric approach as opposed to self-centered perspectives[4]. Religious leaders are called to serve others and thus should sideline their interests of the needs, concerns, and well-being of their followers. Leaders based in the church environment are called by God and live-in relationships with the almighty one. For instance, in the Bible, God had built a potential relationship with Moses, where he used him to lead the children of the Israelites into the Promised Land. In Exodus 24: 12-13, the Bible says that “The Lord said to Moses, Come up to the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablet of stone with the law and commandments written with instruction.” God wanted to hand over the laws to Moses so that he could take them to the people. This act shows that God has trust and confidence in Moses, which is why he used him as a vessel. This is a challenge for religious leaders who are mandated with the duty and responsibility of guiding and directing followers.

Biblical leadership is a partnership with God. Leaders must always incorporate tactics and approaches that allow them to communicate with God for appropriate guidance. For example, fasting is considered one of the potential ways of connecting with God to provide desirable answers. Church leaders are God’s servants who rely on their instructions on how best to handle a congregation and other community members. Fasting helps to boost mental and spiritual status[5]. Leaders take their time to seek God’s presence to acquire the answers they seek as they avoid any obstacle likely to tamper with the process. God has promised his people that he will offer Spiritual guidance anytime they seek his presence. In their daily endeavors, leaders handle a wide range number of persons with distinct attitudes and perceptions. Possessing the Holy Spirit enables them to offer suitable assistance and support when dealing with all church members.

Leadership in the church is a communal activity. In John 13: 14-15, religious leadership is based on partnership and service, where leaders are expected to liaise with their fellow team members and the followers to establish a viable environment. For example, a leader should pray in conjunction with their fellow leaders to boost the outcome due to the development of a collaborative environment. As the Bible states in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or more are gathered, there I am in the midst.” Thus, collaborative prayers are highly beneficial. Notably, Christian leaders must always understand the significance of the truth and always live by it. They can only establish an excellent relationship with the followers if they abide by the truth. Spiritual leadership revolves around moving people to God’s agenda[6]. This is possible by utilizing truthful statements that enable the followers to understand God’s mission in their lives and the expectations they must meet to acquire his kingdom.

Leadership as Modeling

In the modern setting, the majority of religious leaders have been associated with poor behaviors and actions that cannot be emulated by the followers. The issue of morality and religion has created confusion surrounding leadership actions. Leaders can not be moral without religion or God[7]. Thus, religious leaders depicted as having inappropriate actions have no viable spiritual teachings and basis. Also, they fail to align their beliefs and values with God’s teachings emerging from his interactions with people. Leadership and character walk hand-in-hand in the church context. All dimensions of integrity are essential to Christian leadership[8]. Possessing honesty and having strong moral principles are key foundational elements behind successful religious leadership. Followers can only believe and trust in a leader who exemplifies honesty, integrity, and accountability. God always hold leaders accountable for their character and conduct.

Church leaders must depict behaviors and actions that followers can emulate. They should live a life that emulates Godly character and thus develops an intimate relationship with God. By serving people, church leaders desire to know God and serve him for the rest of their lives because service to God and service to his people. Bekker reveals that church leaders must act as transformational leaders engage in actions that positively change lives[9]. They show the desire to base their attitude, perception, and theological base on biblical teachings. For instance, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet in John 13:12 to show them that they should do the same for other people irrespective of their status. This act communicates to leaders that they commit to others. If church leaders emulate Jesus, there is a higher chance that they build similar traits among their followers. Thus, modeling is an imperative approach to church-based leaderships.

Leadership and Missions

The global leadership domain revolves around a shift towards a particular outcome. In the religious context, leadership is all about missions with the central aim of ensuring individuals build their trust in God. The concept of missional churches portrays ideas on spirituality, discernment, and leadership[10]. In a dynamic world, church leaders have taken the initiative in their hands to attend to people across a wide range of settings as opposed to the church alone. Christian leadership is based on finding meaning in life by being committed disciples of Jesus Christ. In the church setting, leaders are responsible for calling persons to receive Christ and always acting in line with the holy teachings. However, they do not reach out to all persons because some do not attend church sessions. This is the start of the mission’s idea. If an individual fails to visit God’s holy house, leaders have to take the initiative and take the Holy word and teaching to them.  It is crucial to organize mission activities where, in conjunction with other church members, leaders visit people in their homes, officers, and other areas to spread God’s word. This is a viable way of attracting community members into God’s house because they have an opportunity to understand its rationale.

The goal of glorifying God drives Christian missions. According to Stairs missionary activities represent Jesus Christ and His Kingdom[11]. During these visits, church leaders have an opportunity to reach out to as many people as possible and call them into God’s Kingdom. As the leaders, with other believers’ help tour across rural and urban areas preaching God’s word, many people are saved and become active participants in God’s house. As many people commit their lives to God, soldiers rejoice due to the expansion of the kingdom. Besides preaching the word, they also deliver essential information about health, social justice, education, and development. This helps community members to make autonomous and quality decisions surrounding other vital elements of concern in their lives. One of the paramount issues of concern in mission-based activities is submission.

Submission is a contemporary issue associated with church-based missions. As Prill reveals, some missionaries hold on to the principle of submission[12]. They expect locals to receive the word and welcome God into their lives. However, the decision lies in the hands of each individual. Leaders must ensure that their teams fulfill their part of the bargain and leave individuals to make the decisions. At no point should they lure someone to accept God in their lives because the outcome would only be short-term because they desire did not emerge from the inner part of the heart.  A believer should willingly reiterate their love and adoration for the almighty one with no external influence.

Leadership as a Service

Leaders are called to serve people. God shapes leaders in their lifetime and leadership careers[13]. They rely on the Bible to develop a spiritual pilgrimage that helps realize God’s purpose of saving humanity. In the Bible, Jesus Christ spent his life serving others. He focused his time and efforts on addressing challenges that affected community members. Today, church leaders must emulate Jesus Christ to build an abled society. Service delivery in the church context is based on discipline, proficiency, excellence, and perseverance. A leader must always fulfill their duties without favor or contradiction. Spiritual leadership enables religious leaders to have a positive influence on humanity[14]. They inspire others through vision, faith, and hope.

Religious leadership is all about genuine help to the needy. These leaders are honest to themselves, God, and other people. Biblical icons such as Moses and Job exemplified genuineness. Church leaders are expected to commit their time and efforts to help community members deal with their limitations. For instance, people rely on religious leaders for prayers and guidance when faced with a health threat. Congregational programs can be used to create awareness and inform people about exposure to particular diseases, management, and preventative strategies[15]. During this time, leaders can offer prayers that offer safety and protection for the community members prone to the disease. Notably, clergy can pass viable information related to a healthier lifestyle for healthy living. They should also help the poor and needy improve their conditions and status in the social setting. Thus, religious leaders act as effective change agents across a broad range of areas. In the Bible, Jesus interacted and associated with all persons in parties and social gatherings. Church leaders are called to be genuine, authentic, and real in all their missions.

Theoretical Approach of Religious Leadership

The Functionalist Theory

One of the religious theoretical frameworks applicable in the modern setting is the functionalism theory. It portrays religion as an element that serves distinct functions at the community level. Religion handles spiritual guidance, offering emotional comfort, facilitating an interaction platform, and providing social control. It helps individuals to understand the spiritual world. Individuals have an opportunity to interact effectively and acquire significant values that reinforce social norms through their religions. Stausberg reveals that the functionalist theory brings people together due to shared values and beliefs[16]. It remains an approach of central importance at the community level. For example, believers develop order, comfort, and organization during religious rituals and events due to shared religious symbols and behavioral patterns. The functionalist theory calls for leaders to depict readiness in offering a wide range of services to the followers.

Transformational Leadership Theory

The other essential model is the transformational theory where leaders act as role models, pay attention and address individual needs for personalized growth. These leaders have a goal to achieve the mission of directing individuals to God’s path so that they can enjoy all the promises that God set for them. As religious leaders help others, they also grow in the pursuit of a worthy and valued mission[17]. They act as role models where others can emulate their behavior. For example, if the leader exemplifies care for others, the followers are likely to deliver a similar support system for others. They also offer a promise of God’s kingdom which is a high expectation and promise for those people who believe and trust in Him. They ensure that they communicate this to the followers with the aim of developing appropriate behavior change. At the community level, individuals encounter issues that attract creative and critical thinking processes. Religious leaders ensure that they help their followers to solve prevailing issues. Paying attention to each of the person’s needs is an effective way of guiding community members to find potential solutions for their challenges.

Symbolic Interactionism Theory

The symbolic interactionism theory aids in the passage of quality religious values, beliefs, and practices. Individuals rely on these elements to build quality relations and interactions. Religion provides appropriate symbols that humankind depends on to make decisions based on their interactions and associations. Teaching religious education, evangelization, and community building are potential tactics religious leaders use to unite people.  Thus, leaders are expected to pass practical spiritual aspects that motivate individuals to live a sacred life. Religion is a culturally universal element that binds the leader and the followers[18]. Thus, leaders ensure that followers can understand the religion and its components for a unified society.

Servant Leadership Theory

Religious leaders act as God’s servants where their mission is to offer spiritual support for other people. They listen and meet the needs of the followers. For instance, if someone approaches a leader for guidance on a disturbing issue, the leader should listen receptively and offer appropriate guidance. They should not judge but rather advise accordingly. Church leaders also provide opportunities for learning such as seminars, conferences, and missions to other people. As God’s servants, religious leaders develop trust, openness, and accountability so that the followers can also develop similar characteristics. This helps to build an excellent relationship between the leader and the followers. Overall, leaders are called to serve humankind as Jesus served people after being ordained with the responsibility by His father.

Conclusion

Spiritual leaders offer a significant foundation for daily life. The Scripture provides church leaders with a suitable manual to follow when delivering religious-based teaching to humanity. They have a role and duty of leading followers in the right direction. Notably, church leaders must act as models, create viable relationships with God and people, undertake missions, and act as service providers. The community looks up to them to offer excellent support because they believe that the Holy Spirit always provides church leaders with the power to handle any occurrence. Leaders live a life modeled in Christ and set an important example that others can emulate. There is a dire need to always depend on the Scriptures to base one’s actions and behaviors when dealing with followers in the religious context. Leaders have a mission at hand to unite people among themselves and with God. Theoretical frameworks such as the functionalist, transformational, servant leadership and symbolic interactionism offer leaders with the opportunity to effectively direct and guide followers.

Bibliography

Anshel, Mark H., and Mitchell Smith. “The role of religious leaders in promoting healthy habits in religious institutions.” Journal of religion and health 53, no. 4 (2014): 1046-1059.

Banks, Tonya. “The role of the ecclesial leaders in shaping the future church.” Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership 5, no. 1 (2013): 82-93.

Barensten, Jack. “Stephanas as Model Leader: A Social Identity Perspective on Community and Leadership (Mis) Formation in Corinth|.” Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership 3, no. 2 (2011).

Baxter, Gregory Bruce. “A leadership training manual for the 21st-century church leader based on the pattern and principles Jesus created to train the twelve apostles.” (2011).

Bekker, Corné J. “Towards a theoretical model of Christian leadership.” Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership 2, no. 2 (2009): 142-152.

Bragg, Dan L. “The application of transformational leadership among Christian school leaders in the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic North regions.” (2008).

Brown, Jasmin O. “The importance of integrity in Christian leadership: giftedness+ integrity (3)= productivity.” (2014).

Gauby, Sidney F. “The effect of fasting upon the development of servant leaders.” Servant Leadership Research Roundtable–May (2008).

Ledbetter, Bernice, Robert J. Banks, and David C. Greenhalgh. “Does Spirituality Make a Difference in Leadership?” 2017 Volume 20, Issue 3 3 (2017).

McKay, Ryan, and Harvey Whitehouse. “Religion and morality.” Psychological Bulletin 141, no. 2 (2015): 447.

Neidhart, Helga, and Janeen Lamb. “Australian Catholic schools today: School identity and leadership formation.” (2016): 49.

Niemandt, CJP Nelus. “Discerning spirituality for missional leaders.” In Leading in a VUCA World, pp. 151-168. Springer, Cham, 2019.

Prill, Thorsten. Contemporary Issues In Mission: What Christians Need To Know: Volume One. GRIN Verlag, 2015.

Smith, Gina, Maria Minor, and Henry Brashen. “Spiritual Leadership: A Guide to a Leadership Style That Embraces Multiple Perspectives.” Journal of instructional research 7 (2018): 80-89.

Stairs, Jonathan Edward. “A global approach for the local church as mission agent and agency.” (2011).

Stausberg, Michael. “Prospects in theories of religion.” Method & theory in the Study of Religion 22, no. 4 (2010): 223-238.

Stückelberger, Christoph, and Jesse NK Mugambi. “Responsible Leadership.” Global and Contextual Ethical Perspectives. Geneva: Globethics. Net/World Council of Churches Publications (2007).

Sugut, Bethuel K., John A. Shiundu, Julius Madaga, and Henry K. Odhiambo. “Teachings on Christian Leadership service delivery.” (2015).

[1] Stückelberger, Christoph, and Jesse NK Mugambi. “Responsible Leadership.” Global and Contextual Ethical Perspectives. Geneva: Globethics. Net/World Council of Churches Publications (2007).

[2] Barensten, Jack. “Stephanas as Model Leader: A Social Identity Perspective on Community and Leadership (Mis) Formation in Corinth|.” Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership 3, no. 2 (2011).

[3] Banks, Tonya. “The role of the ecclesial leaders in shaping the future church.” Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership 5, no. 1 (2013): 82-93.

[4] Ledbetter, Bernice, Robert J. Banks, and David C. Greenhalgh. “Does Spirituality Make a Difference in Leadership?” 2017 Volume 20, Issue 3 3 (2017).

[5] Gauby, Sidney F. “The effect of fasting upon the development of servant leaders.” Servant Leadership Research Roundtable–May (2008).

[6] Baxter, Gregory Bruce. “A leadership training manual for the 21st-century church leader based on the pattern and principles Jesus created to train the twelve apostles.” (2011).

[7] McKay, Ryan, and Harvey Whitehouse. “Religion and morality.” Psychological Bulletin 141, no. 2 (2015): 447.

[8] Brown, Jasmin O. “The importance of integrity in Christian leadership: giftedness+ integrity (3)= productivity.” (2014).

[9] Bekker, Corné J. “Towards a theoretical model of Christian leadership.” Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership 2, no. 2 (2009): 142-152.

[10] Niemandt, CJP Nelus. “Discerning spirituality for missional leaders.” In Leading in a VUCA World, pp. 151-168. Springer, Cham, 2019.

[11] Stairs, Jonathan Edward. “A global approach for the local church as mission agent and agency.” (2011).

[12] Prill, Thorsten. Contemporary Issues In Mission: What Christians Need To Know: Volume One. GRIN Verlag, 2015.

[13] Sugut, Bethuel K., John A. Shiundu, Julius Madaga, and Henry K. Odhiambo. “Teachings on Christian Leadership service delivery.” (2015).

[14] Smith, Gina, Maria Minor, and Henry Brashen. “Spiritual Leadership: A Guide to a Leadership Style That Embraces Multiple Perspectives.” Journal of instructional research 7 (2018): 80-89.

[15] Anshel, Mark H., and Mitchell Smith. “The role of religious leaders in promoting healthy habits in religious institutions.” Journal of religion and health 53, no. 4 (2014): 1046-1059.

[16] Stausberg, Michael. “Prospects in theories of religion.” Method & theory in the Study of Religion 22, no. 4 (2010): 223-238.

[17] Bragg, Dan L. “The application of transformational leadership among Christian school leaders in the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic North regions.” (2008).

[18] Neidhart, Helga, and Janeen Lamb. “Australian Catholic schools today: School identity and leadership formation.” (2016): 49.