One can't begin to count the number of websites and consulting firms that are available to teach leadership to LCMS pastors.

While attending my weekly Kiwanis meeting the guest was a motivational speaker on leadership. He had learned his craft in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Immediately I thought I was in an LCMS District sponsored function. What is surprising is that LCMS District Presidents and the entire COP didn't really get on board with the leadership fad sweeping the secular world until 1995. This is about 10 years after the rest of the nation.

Growth, programs, organization, and nearly every challenge faced by the clergy can supposedly be resolved by improved leadership skills.

Leadership gurus from the Community of Joy, The Leadership Network, Saddleback, Crystal Cathedral, Fuller Theological Seminary, The Leadership Center, The Church Growth Network, Covey Leadership Center, Willow Creek, Touch Outreach Ministries, INJOY, the Alban Institute, Barna Research Group, Church Growth Inc., Cornerstone, and dozens more have become the darlings of the District Offices across the LCMS. You can find these and many more on the Internet.

At this time the LCMS Board for Higher Education (BHE) is preparing to vote for a third time on granting Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI), operated by Dr. Norbert Oesch, Recognized Service Organization (RSO) statue. PLI is supposed to retrain 225 LCMS pastors in a "Seminary without walls" over a period of 4 years to be L CMS Church Growth Leaders. The Executive Director of the BHE, Dr. William Meyer, is a proponent of more leadership training for LCMS pastors and seminarians.

If the Law and Gospel aren't doing the job then why not try leadership training?

If the following leadership information from a recovering alcoholic at a Kiwanis meeting sounds like the Gospel it may be because we have heard and read about it ad nauseam in the LCMS. The speaker at Kiwanis was just listing the qualifications for successful LCMS pastors.

The majority of LCMS pastors are obviously receptive to leadership training because they keep reelecting the District Presidents who promote leadership more than the Lutheran Confessions.

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Leadership Is Not Controlling People
By Larry Templin

What do today's leaders do that is different from leaders in the past? At one time, we were taught that the role of leaders was to control followers. Effective leaders were those who could get people to follow their orders. Consequently, the result was limited to the vision and ability of the leader. We learned that you control things (cost, inventory, shipments, etc.) not people. Today we know that an effective leader is one who can direct the energy of the people who elected him or her to meet the goals of both the organization and its members. Creative leadership encourages and nurtures the creativity of the people being led.

Characteristics of an Effective Leader Larry Templin identifies leadership traits to which adults respond most positively. Creative leaders are those who embody the following characteristics:

1. Have Faith in people, offer them challenging opportunities and delegate responsibility to them. We not only assign tasks to committee chairs; we also allow those chairs to decide the way in which the tasks will be completed.
2. Know that people feel a commitment to decisions in which they have participated. Leaders involve their people in every step of the planning process, assessing needs, setting goals, developing action steps, carrying out activities and evaluating results. Keep the members involved and they will support the process.
3. Believe in and use the power of Self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think your people can achieve something, and they know you think this about them, this will be exhibited through your words and actions, and they will achieve!
4. Value individuality. Leaders sense that people are more productive when they use their unique strengths, talents, interests and goals then when they are trying to conform to some imposed stereotype. These leaders encourage a team arrangement in which each member works at what he or she does best and enjoys most. Creative leaders see the purpose of all life activities, work, learning, playing, civic participation, and spiritual growth, to enable each individual to achieve his or her full and unique potential.
5. Stimulate and reward creativity. In our world of accelerating change, creativity is a basic requirement for the survival of individuals, organizations, and societies. As leaders we must be willing to hear ideas from fellow members even if they sound different at first. Even the best ideas may start out sounding "silly," however through working the process out together, these silly suggestions can become truly innovative ideas.
6. Have a commitment to process of continuous change and use skill in managing change. If we're to attract more members, we have to offer problems and take up challenges that fit today's needs.
7. Acknowledge and promote achievement, recognition, fulfilling work, responsibility, advancement and growth as the reason people work, their goals.
8. Encourage people to be self-directing, to make their own decisions about completing the task they have been given. It allows adults to use their experiences and their minds in purposeful work for the organization.

Larry works with groups and individuals that want more success in life, business or personal.

(Mr. Templin is available to be you motivational speaker at your next District and Circuit event. Call 810-773-6304)