Simply make a comment on this post and you will be entered to win this original watercolor and ink painting of mine. The image size is 2.5″x3.5″, the official size of an ACEO. It is gallery-valued at $50. The contest closes Sunday midnight Atlantic time. You can comment as often as you like, but your name will only be entered into the draw once. The winner will be announced Monday morning. Have fun!
I’ve been thinking lots lately about terminology. For years our community has used the term “leader”, “leadership”, and “leadership team”. These terms do not belong in a community such as this anymore! “Leadership” gives the impression of directing others, telling them how to behave, someone in front of all the others, and that there is a goal to be strived for and conquered. It conjures up images of ambition, competition, manipulation, coercion, exploitation and success. It breeds discontentment for the present reality. It is based on a business model of people-management and is so strongly goal-oriented that it damages the beauty of what is. Love, in this milieu, is in danger of being used as a commodity to achieve the wishes of the visionary leaders.
I’m now thinking that we need to return to the word “elder”. It is old-fashioned, I know, but I think it better describes what community is about. “Elder” is not so much about movement outward towards a goal, but is more about growth and maturity. It is about responsibility, service and care. It is about acknowledging the hard-earned wisdom of someone who has a natural influence among the people that isn’t fabricated or artificial, but tangible and practiced. There is less danger of using people to achieve ends. Rather, people are respected as the end in themselves. Love, rather than a means to an end, becomes the end itself. These are my thoughts at the moment.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
It’s interesting you find so many negative connotations in the word “leadership”. For me, leadership is a positive thing, or at least it can be and should be. When I think of leadership, I think of “leadership by example”. Setting a good example, being a role model, helping organizations and people find their dream, achieve their goals and build their character. I think that kind of leadership is valuable, and not always present in the corporate world. In my experience people want that kind of leadership. And being an elder does not necessarily qualify one for leadership, and being a “younger” does not always exclude one. Lots of ways to look at this subject!
Gorgeous painting.
Well, you motivated me to go to the thesaurus and look up “leader”
…how about
baton, bellwether, big wheel, bigwig, boss, captain, chief, chieftain, commander, conductor, controller, counsellor, dean, dignitary, director, doyen, eminence, exec, foreman, forerunner, general, governor, guide, harbinger, head, head man, herald, honcho, kingpin, lead, lion*, luminary, maestro, manager, master, notability, notable, number one, officer, pacesetter, pilot, pioneer, precursor, president, principal, rector, ringleader, ruler, shepherd, skipper, superintendent, superior.
For your purposes, I like “Shepherd”, but “maestro” has a nice ring to it.
YWAM has embraced the concept of Spiritual Eldership as an intentional value and practice within the mission. While different from the role practiced in the local church, it is essentially a recognition of spiritual authority based on relational and proven experience as opposed to positional leadership. We are still working out what that looks like, but it has been a significant shift.
Peace,
Jamie
Your post sent me back to research a little about the word “Elder” in the Bible. My lexicon points to two primary New Testament uses – in terms of age and rank. I come from a tradition in which I am called a “Pastor”. I’m really not accostomed to the terms “leadership team” or “elder”.
As for me, I don’t care much for titles at all. I don’t discourage titles, neither do I encourage them. I am very happy (and feel no disrespect) having a relationship with my church family in which someone feels comfortable enough to just call me “Brian”. In fact, I believe it’s a compliment.
the word “leadership” holds a very negative meaning for me. It was a license to know all of my business and to speak in to my life in ways that were inappropriate.
Hmm it definitely is an interesting post you have here.
Just like some above, I do not find the word leader to be negative, or to connote any negative images.
In fact, when I think of elder, I think of someone who is out of reach, who is perhaps to old to relate with, someone who is over me and who is looking down on me.
That of course is my own opinion, but the world elder for me holds more of a negative tone then leader does.
It’s funny how it can mean one thing for one person and another for someone else!
But such a GORGEOUS painting!
I was going to argue with you when I first started reading, but when you got to the “elder” part, I caved in. I think it’s a good idea. Although Brad Shorr has some valid points. And “shepherd” was the word I was leaning towards originally, too.
I think at the end of the day it’s a simple case of semantics. Labels are labels. It’s the spirit in which roles are practiced that impacts a community.
Now the term “board member”….that’s just plain bad.
Hmmm….I liked what Brian had to say!
I would come from the perspective that leader, elder, pastor, deacon, king, queen, president, prime minister …. are titles that in themselves are not good or bad. It is the people with hold the office.
Mark my words, “elder” or “leader” you will still have the same issues.
Wow I think this message is so powerful ..it is soooo true..”ELDER” is maturity, love and responsibility. Leading life by example–speaks louder than words.
I so agree with what you have said.
Elder is one who is looked on with wisdom and maturity. Serving others with love and passion and who is respected..
Brings me back to my roots…
well said Dave love it…
Leadership is vastly over-rated. Here’s what I’ve learned after 25 years as a chef…
A really good restaurant can function for a month with no chef before his absence becomes apparent to the clientele. That kitchen, however, can only function for about two weeks with no sous-chef. One week without a line cook and the customers will surely begin to suffer, but that same restaurant is absolutely in the weeds halfway through the first night without a dishwasher.
Unless someone cleans the toilets and fixes the furnace and vacuums the carpets and shovels the snow off the walkways, church ain’t gonna happen. We – myself included – want to be leaders but not servants. Not really. Or is it just that we in church place too much emphasis on being a leader, and not nearly enough on being a servant? Jesus’ last great act of teaching with his disciples was to wash their feet. He then went out and died for our sins. Kind of makes the ‘leadership’ we know to be suspect by default, don’t you think?
The Bible says the key to everything is”LOVE” ;;;love of Cheist;love one another;love your enemy;love your neighbour;;LOVE;LOVE;LOVE:dO EVERYTHING IN LOVE
Elder seems old and out of reach to me. It seems that titles aren’t used a lot in our (your) church, anyways. You’re just Dave. And that’s a good thing!
But, there is occasional reference to the leadership team, but even if it was the shepherd team or the elder team (or team of elders), I think the competitive connotations could still exist.
In this case, renaming the ‘team’ part might be more useful, if you’re looking to change title connotations. How about ‘club’ ? Or something more like that? Although you usually have to pay to belong to a club, which can imply status…
Going back to Abundant Blessings comment, maybe counsellors or pacesetters would be a better fit…
in light of what you say about love,
the tree, in your painting, is still home to the birds, even though it is naked and seemingly barren. the environment is cold and desolated by an expansive cover of snow. but the earth is not dead, it is in process–the physicality of the lush seasons (spring and summer) can never stay but it can be renewed–every year is a different green, the flowers and particular leaves are not identical to years past but they express the same life, the same miracle of biological being. in this way, their is also sustenance.
the beauty of spring is promised by the magnificent red skies and the birds know this. they can feel it and they are meant to comprehend it. they know something that we often forget–we are home and we can love it, and we are living, even if we cannot see or feel the fruits of life. we must know that spring will come, that we will be blessed by the sight of life’s wellness or else we would have no place to go or to endure–environment and the circumstances of life would be meaningless and ever fleeting to us. change would be our source of security, but the sound of the birds singing-and it is like a new song to us- and the sight of their faithfulness to our place of mourning gives us hope–we will see another glorious sunrise over a lush, fertile plain. we will run over it again, bare footed, maybe naked but unashamed.
the birds are seated in the branches because they have returned knowing that life’s radiance will glow again. they are waiting, together. and the first signs of the inevitability of spring, common to beast and man, are the brightness of red skies; they overwhelm the senses and shine brightly into our crying souls, “awaken! sing yourselves, the birds are stuck on simple melody! but you ,men, now you can sing!”
dave, where are the dancing people in your art? (i’m challenging you)
gotta say i am loving these comments.
I’m without words, really; so I’ll agree, do a bit of back patting (Great post, Dave), and wait for others to post comments so that I can selfishly enjoy them.
“If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Romans 12:8
I don’t know what you are actually saying Dave. I think you are playing semantics. I would hazzard to say that some churches are not growing due to a lack of leadership.
Could it be that your locked in the 70s Dave? Ahhh, sit around and smoke pot and enjoy the scenery. Peace man! Let things just happen Dude! Hey, there are days when I would love too! MAybe next time you come up and we go to the cottage!!
Leaders lead! Godly leaders lead “not lording it over others”. If we have a gift of leadership (not my words) we need to lead and take it seriously.
Listen, I had elders in the church I pastored in BC who were corrupt and controlling. They loved the title Elder. They basked in the glory of position.
By switching titles Dave will not change human nature. What I would suggest is good, godly teaching on leadership. There is enough in the Bible to show the good, bad and the ugly.
If the leader doesnt want to lead – who will? People will always be attracted to someone – guaranteed. If it isn’t the leader – it will be someone who will take a church off the rails!!!
My contention is that “leader” does imply taking people somewhere. I’m against that! Semantics aren’t just semantics. Labels are important. Jesus refused them: Why do you call me “good”? Why do you call me “teacher”? Buddha: “If you meet the Buddha, kill him!” Krishnamurti: “I abhor appreciation!” Elder primarily means older one, therefore more experienced and wiser. Leader primarily means ahead of the pack. It is time, I think, to not only relieve the reins off the church, but to remove the reins, bit, saddle, and stirup altogether. Free range!
Even wild horse herds have a hierarchy naturally set up to lead them to safety, nourishment, shelter, and to protect them. Interestingly enough, when wild horses are on the move, the lead stallion is in the rear! This is one example from nature that shows that a leader isn’t necessarily ahead of the pack.
Really interesting discussion!!
WOOHOO!!! YEP free range church.. sign me up!!!!!
We are so untraditional to choose such a traditional term as “elder”.
Giddy up Dave….go bareback and let your hair blow in the wind!!! Hope the horse follows your commands!! If not, it will be a hell of a ride!
hmmm. went through this thought process back when we planted.
I would share my opinion but I don’t want to be disqualified for the draw since I have yet to win a single contest you’ve had.
I do think the discussion is really about the connotations of ‘leader’ and ‘elder’ not leaders really exist.
In my humble opinion…if a word has bad connotations, especially myself, instead of avoiding it, I try to reclaim it. Find out what it really means and make a point to define and explain it and most importantly, live it out. I am not about to lose valuable words out of my vocabulary just because of bad experiences! Bad experiences are such a bad foundation on which to make any decisions.
I am a reluctant leader, but I am a leader. To me, it means I am not afraid to go first. When things are scarey and we don’t know exactly how things will turn out – I will go first. When God asks for big steps of risk in the areas of humility, sacrifice, or love – I need to go first. When he asks us to trust him and not be afraid – God help me, I want to be first. How can anyone see the way if someone is not willing to go first?
As for the free range analogy, it is a known fact that animals under the care of a kind master live much longer and are much healthier than those in the wild. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for freedom and wildness and exploring everything that God has for me in this rich life experience, but my freedom must be defined by Him and his terms, not by my misperceptions based on watching others or bad past experiences.
Matte, I love what you are saying here. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
(OOOO!! OOOO!! Pick me! Pick me!) ::handraised::
I’m a little saddened by this thread. As a lover of language, I am disturbed when a word becomes corrupted from mistreatment. I have always seen leadership as a positive. I believe it’s a gift, just like any other talent or ability. The problem starts when you take some guy and tell him he’s a leader because he has a seminary degree. Some of the most bitter arguments I’ve had with my (former) pastor/(current) father-inlaw have been over this very word. While I see leadership as an opportunity to bring diverse people voluntarily to a place they want to be (together), he still sees it as coercing people to do what he wants them to do.
Max DePress in his books on leadership talks abot the role of elders as part of the overall focus on: Respect for the future, regard for present, understanding of the past
the future requires humility to face what we can’t control;
the present requires attention to all the people to whom we’re accountable;
the past gives us the opportunity to build on the work of our elders.
love the colour wash background
“. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for freedom and wildness and exploring everything that God has for me in this rich life experience, but my freedom must be defined by Him and his terms”
– i think by changing or removing the term “leader” we are more apt to be open to freedom defined by God’s terms then the terms set out by said leaders.
Great painting Dave! and i agree with your thoughts on a name change, to me, not having any past experience with the term “elder”, good or bad, it impies to me spiritual maturity and experience, and the people in our church that i would go to in time of crisis model that spiritual maturity and experience whether or not they are on the team.
I used to view “leadership” in a positive light, but my experiences with pastors and businesspeople and self-help addicts has changed my perceptions of the word. I checked out the word “leader” at http://www.websters-online-dictionary.com and found the definitions interesting:
Leader:
1. A person who rules or guides or inspires others.
2. A featured article of merchandise sold at a loss in order to draw customers.
I had forgotten about that second definition. The concept of being “sold at a loss” reminded me of Christ’s sacrifice. He was given away to draw people to God. He is a “freebie” to us at great cost to God so that we may have abundant life.
So many people today have abused positions of leadership. They want the position and the rights, but not the responsibilities. So many are addicted to growth at the expense of the individual heart. So many have become too busy to listen and too insulated to experience the reality of the group. That’s why many of us cringe at the word “leader.”
To me, the word “elder” has a better connotation. It implies that with passing years, there has probably been loss of some kind (even if only of youthful energy and time) so that an elder would be able to understand my own losses. But an elder has also moved through the loss and can take my hand and guide me through or shine a light on my path and nudge me forward.
I’m tired of leaders who are hellbent on dragging a congregation down a path of their choice and pointing “resistors” to the door. I’m hungry for elders who will sit cross-legged beside the path with me and point out the things I’ve missed along the way.
I still say it’s arguing semantics because in essence everyone seems to have a good grasp of what makes a good, um, er, “what-cha-ma-call-it”. The problem seems to be the term, and in reality does it really matter what they are called? There are rotten elders, and there are rotten leaders. The buck doesn’t stop at the “title”.
Perhaps a new term would solve the problem, such as ‘fingledorfs’ or something?! Not a very respectable term, but it would incite humility.
Some of you have obviously been jaded under leadership. Do you honestly think – and someone please answer me – by changing the name from “leader” to “elder” will change the climate in your church?
This blog today is like watching a dog chase its own tail.
It’s not just a name change y’all. It is a change of expectations and description of roles, not just a label. I don’t think the church NEEDS leaders, and maybe shouldn’t have them, in our present understanding of the word.
Great painting!
An “Elder” will still, in essence, lead and provide some form of leadership.
Call it what you will, but if your providing any sort of guidance, you’re leading.
I just came across a nice list of Bible references about leadership here:
http://www.christinyou.net/pages/churchleader.html
There are some really good points brought out as you go through the list, like this one:
I Tim. 5:17 – “let the elders who rule well be considered worthy”
Lots to think about…
Jesus didn’t concern himself with titles because he had a God appointed mission and he stayed true to that path. People recongnized his greatness as a leader even though he compared himself to a shepherd….Because of his leadership we are called follwers of Christ. When Jesus left this earth, he left behind leaders to inspire others to follow him…
Unfortunately, this isn’t the days of the early church. We have buildings with people of various backgrounds filled with hopes, fears and incredible pain who sit facing forward to the front awaiting that nugget of wisdom that comes from the so called leadership of the church.
I’m not sure that church as we know it today is how God intended it…but it is what it is. I know there are many new ways to do church….how we do church isn’t nearly as important as how we live out our faith.
Embrace your annointing…there is nothing fearful to the followers about leadership if the intentions are pure and filled with love. Being fearless and having the wisdom to lead even when all around you people are shaking their heads in confusion takes guts. Surrounding yourself with other visionaries who are fearless yet humble in attempting to walk that often narrow path of rightousness leading to freedom in Christ demands a leader!
What I love about Jesus is his choice of a leadership team! One betrayed him, others scoffed at his miracles, they even fell asleep when he needed them most. But, he knew he had the right team around him to build a body of believers…they must have tested his patience and endurance many times…but he believed in them and never faltered from his own path.
I don’t care what you call it…but I need leadership even though I consider myself a non-conformist. I admire the guts it takes to lead…especially when someone like yourself truly has a love for the people in your care.
David, I’ll buy your statement “I don’t think the church NEEDS leaders” if you can promise me that the leaderless church will not have any manipulators “from below”.
hm. no deal.
“I don’t think the church NEEDS leaders, and maybe shouldn’t have them, in our present understanding of the word.”
I beg to differ…..the church does need godly leaders…in my present understanding of the word “leader”.
Whats in the water in New Brunswick?
Let me put it simply: The church needs a leader like a family needs a leader.
If a”leader” is to be seen as beneficial. then that person has to be willing to learn. Seems the term is exclusive, as a leader does not necessarily ask for guidance from those he is leading. Can the word guidance, or guide be subsituted. I think then we can leave the arena that all learning be dispelled by a person. Guidance can be found in the stars and aroma’s, and our own intuitive personalities, and a myriad of sources as opposed to the interpretattions of a single source……the “leadership team” is deep in our own resources, to be shared and explored in a collective prism. What’s your favorite color Dave?
rainbow
I have mixed feelings about both “leader” or “elder”. But I like the idea that a name change can help to define the end of something or the beginning of something new. And I like the suggestion that we teach about biblical leadership again to try to recover some truth and hold our own experiences up to the light again.
Exactly….glad to see you come around Dave! Way to go Grasshopper!
John,
“Do you honestly think – and someone please answer me – by changing the name from “leader†to “elder†will change the climate in your church/”
Leader or elder. I have served under great leaders and under men who need a full scale rescue mission to get out of a wet paper bag. The ladder all had one thing in common. They were after their own interest at the expense of those they lead. The former also had one thing in common. They put every member of their unit before themselves and saw their leadership position as the ultimate form of service. They will make themselves the least to become the greatest.
If using the word elder vs. leader helps to remind those in these positions of the service and sacrifice that it requires then I think it is useful. It is semantics, and in my present understanding of the world, fallen man leans on semantics to try to justify poor actions or performances in the world and in the church. The church does need Godly leaders, that’s true. In the military there are several words we use interchangeably with leader. Sergeant, Captain, General. In the church it could be deacon, elder, pastor. No matter what word you use, it has to remind folks that the word means service, not to be served.
Another lap after the tail complete, Whose next?
Great painting, David.
john: how did i come around? families don’t need leaders.
In our church what used to be called the Church Council is now called the Servant Leadership Team. Since the United Methodist Church uses the term “Elder” to refer to ordained clergy, we probably wouldn’t ever use it to refer to church leadership per say. When we renamed our committees a few years back, I felt that adding “Servant” to the leadership team name would be a constant reminder that all leaders needed a servant heart.
Keep up the good work David.
I think you’re on to something here David. I have never thought about this, no matter what some people assume, the word leader is definately more likely to give the wrong image of the role.
Plus – I’m old-fashioned, and I appreciate the old biblical terminology and when one says they are an elder, I can think of what the bible tells me an elder is. When I’m told someone is a ‘leader’ I have no idea what to expect.
Oh my goodness Dave……you cant be serious? I think we need to come to a point that leader/elder is semantics according to ones experience. I have had bad experiences with elders – so does that mean I change the term?
I would reiterate my point that was echoed by Kathy.
Do a series on what godly, biblical leadership is. Don’t change titles or names as a knee jerk reaction to some asshole leaders out there (opps…did I say that?).
There are many leaders out there that have their ego in check…and have a servant attitude. There are elders out there that misuse and corrupt their position. That is human nature. It is going to happen no matter what glorious, spiritual title one is given.
This brings up another issue with the church. Everything we do is through the glasses of the churched folk. The inner sanctum. The unchurched wouldnt even know what an Elder is, except by our heritage standards – that being Native Elders – who I would say lead – hmmmm with a Chief!
I think the church would be better served if it taught on Biblical leadership. Why? Because the people who come to church own their own companies, are managers, leaders in the marketplace. Wouldn’t it be better if they learned the godly principles of leadership that they can apply. If someone came to a church where they were told the word “leader” has negative connotations to it – and here they are a leader – it would be somewhat offensive.
Teach them how Jesus LED. Teach them how Paul LED – all the others.
I never quite thought about the “Leadership/Elder” thing the way you have just framed it. Your thoughts seem right on at a first read – and I’ll be thinking about it and discussing it more – starting in 5 minutes with my weekly brainstorming session with my Pastor (I’m the music director, he’s the priest). We make up two members of the “Eldership” team at St. Peter’s Anglican (www.stpetersvmr.org).
Blessings. Thanks for throwing out the ideas for the rest of us to ruminate upon.
Stephen Mullin