However, there may be hope for me yet. I've just been reading more of Eddie Gibbs' Churchmorph and am really liking this (pp 53-54):
“Under the constraints of modernity, leadership tended to be an eletist concept, exercised through hierarchy and control. For churches to be effectively missional in a postmodern information age, leadership has to be devolved and expressed by different individuals according to the situational demands. Leadership consists of connecting people to one another. Missional churches encourage creative freedom and initiative taking, while at the same time providing the possibility of failing with dignity. But freedom also requires accountability as a safeguard and to ensure a learning environment in which leaders mature through wise mentoring.
“A learning system is one in which everyone is made aware of what is going on around them. It recognizes that no individual can know all that needs to be known, given the complexities of the world in which we live. It is a system that draws on the collective wisdom of the entire body. It constantly asks, "What do we need to know?" and "Who is most likely to know?" The role of the overall leader is to serve as a catalyst in this process by identifying issues, making connections, and articulating and reiterating the vision so that the church has a sense of common mission that is linked to a multiplicity of callings, giftings, and tasks.”
OK. If we can agree about this, then I can agree that there might be a valid place for talking about leadership and not just about servanthood. Can we agree?
