Toward a New Model of Leadership Development, part 1

Midway through my college career, I decided that I wanted to train pastors. And so I transferred to a Christian college where I could learn the Bible, theology, and the biblical languages.  Then I entered seminary to extend my training.  In those years, I believed that it was necessary for me to travel 1) to where the books were that possessed the information I needed and 2) to where the teachers were who had read the books and could explain them to me. 

Through the development of New Media such as websites, blogs podcasts, etc. the cost of information has lowered dramatically.  In the 1980's, for example, if you were a Christian with a theological question, your best resource was probably your pastor.  Most likely, he was the smartest theologian you knew and the best resource for biblical information.  In 2007, however, with some intelligently crafted google searches it would not be difficult in a very short amount of time to garner the whole range of responses to the same theological question. 

As a result, it is now less necessary to travel to places where there are collections of books and gatherings of wise men and women who have read them. 

In the natural progression of technological development, hardware is first, followed by the crafting of software that takes full advantages of the new hardware capabilities.  Typically lagging way behind is the most optimal use of the new software in human endeavor.  So, for example, the use of 18th century tactics with 19th century technology resulted in the exorbitantly high body count during the American Civil War. 

A result of this common phenomenon is that the church is not - somewhat understandably -  taking full advantage of her technological resources when it comes to developing her future leaders.  Her practices have not caught up with her capabilities. 

The lowered cost of information means that the ready availability of theological and biblical information no longer toggles on geography.  It is as close as the nearest broadband connection.  But information alone is insufficient for leadership development.  For example, the sheer volume of theological information available to the developing Christian leader when she googles atonement theories - which returns 1.3 million results - can be truly dizzying. Something other than mere information is required.

What is also needed is wisdom. 

As the internet segues from a mere collection of static web pages to a more interactive, Web 2.0 environment, we move beyond an environment that only offers a lowered cost of information to an online community context with a lowered cost of interaction. 

This feature of interaction empowers developing leaders to connect with mature leaders around biblical, theological, and practical information. 

In a way not limited by geography, mature leaders can provide perspective and wisdom to the vast array of information relevant to the developing church leader.  This might happen through email, skype, video conferencing, etc. but the point is that it can happen very easily and cheaply in the developed world. 

Our new information and interaction situation, however, must not be seen as a golden bullet.  While a new model of leadership development for Christ's church is now possible, the most holistic approach will not limit that model exclusively to online contexts.  There is still an aspect of leadership that must be caught, not taught, and that best occurs in face-to-face - even life-on-life - contexts.  A developing leader, for example, will find that googling or Wikipedia simply can't compare to the value of observing a seasoned pastor ministering to someone who is dying in a hospital room.  No book or website can compare to the experience of observing a mature leader deftly reigning in an overly enthusiastic young leader without simultaneously quenching their spirit. 

It is an open question as to whether a new model of leadership development best occurs within the local church or in seminary contexts - and perhaps both approaches can be argued as valid - but what is clear is that the church has a new toolbox for raising up leaders.

- Toward a New Model of Leadership Development, part 2 - here you can read about one specific church's efforts in online leadership development

 

Comments

[IndyChristian]

Stephen... Well said. And it begs a great question, so I've tagged your article for inclusion into our CityReaching(.org) wiki as we collaboratively attempt to discern, compile and distill... "What should a 21st Century Leader know and be able to do?"

[stephen shields]

And that's a great question! High level answer: In my opinion there are three levels of knowledge necessary:

- character issues - this is the mail focus of the lists we see in the Pastorals

- the Scriptures

- Skill-based Knowledge (conflict resolution, effectively managing projects, etc)