Gardner’s 9 Leadership Tasks Gardner’s 9 Leadership Tasks adapted for Christian adapted for Christian

LeadershipLeadership

Matthew JohnsonMatthew JohnsonCL 612CL 612

Final ProjectFinal Project

What is Christian Leadership?What is Christian Leadership?

Christian leadership is the process of leading God’s people toward’s God’s purpose so that they might understand and embrace their role in the Missio Dei. A Christian leader is a person formed in the Imago Dei with a servant heart whose God-given skills and talents are purposefully surrendered to the Holy Spirit so that He might use them to Influence a specific group of God’s people towards God’s purpose.

-Adapted from Dr. Rick Gray

Three Essentials of Christian Three Essentials of Christian LeadershipLeadership

•Governance

•Direction

•Liberation

What is Governance?What is Governance?

• Governance is the ability to direct and Governance is the ability to direct and structure the institution in which one works structure the institution in which one works for greater Kingdom Impact. Governance for greater Kingdom Impact. Governance is not simply a management task; instead is not simply a management task; instead the goal should be to move an institution the goal should be to move an institution toward a fuller understanding of the toward a fuller understanding of the Missio Missio Dei.Dei.

What is Direction?What is Direction?

• Direction is leading people in the way that Direction is leading people in the way that God would direct them. Direction is NOT God would direct them. Direction is NOT determining a new vision; instead it is determining a new vision; instead it is leading in a specific direction that God has leading in a specific direction that God has already established.already established.

What is Liberation?What is Liberation?

• Liberation is the call of God to free and Liberation is the call of God to free and grow the people of God. The Christian grow the people of God. The Christian Leader not only thinks about the Leader not only thinks about the institution, but should primarily focus on institution, but should primarily focus on the people that they are leading. Christian the people that they are leading. Christian Leadership helps the people of God to a Leadership helps the people of God to a fuller understanding of God’s movement fuller understanding of God’s movement and purpose in the lives of the people. and purpose in the lives of the people.

But…How does a Christian Leader But…How does a Christian Leader achieve these three things?achieve these three things?

As someone who learns from practical As someone who learns from practical thinking and concrete steps, I find myself thinking and concrete steps, I find myself asking how the Christian Leader might asking how the Christian Leader might practically guide God’s people. Gardner practically guide God’s people. Gardner offers 9 tasks of the leader, and I will offers 9 tasks of the leader, and I will attempt to see how they might fit under the attempt to see how they might fit under the three essential areas in which a Christian three essential areas in which a Christian Leader works.Leader works.

Gardner’s 9 Tasks of LeadershipGardner’s 9 Tasks of Leadership• Envisioning GoalsEnvisioning Goals

• Affirming ValuesAffirming Values

• MotivatingMotivating

• ManagingManaging

• Achieving Workable UnityAchieving Workable Unity

• ExplainingExplaining

• Serving as a symbolServing as a symbol

• Representing the GroupRepresenting the Group

• RenewingRenewing

Envisioning GoalsEnvisioning Goals

• Gardner asserts that the role of the leader Gardner asserts that the role of the leader is to envision and voice goals for an is to envision and voice goals for an organization. The goals should organization. The goals should encompass long and short-term planning, encompass long and short-term planning, and can flow from a vision of what could and can flow from a vision of what could be or a solution to the problems currently be or a solution to the problems currently at hand.at hand.

Christian Leadership and Christian Leadership and Envisioning GoalsEnvisioning Goals

• Envisioning goals might fit into the area of Envisioning goals might fit into the area of direction. Christian leaders do not simply direction. Christian leaders do not simply envision goals; they understand goals in envision goals; they understand goals in the light of the the light of the missio Deimissio Dei and they must and they must always ask the question “Whose vision is always ask the question “Whose vision is it?” The vision MUST be God’s vision and it?” The vision MUST be God’s vision and plan; it cannot simply be human agenda.plan; it cannot simply be human agenda.

Christian Leadership and Christian Leadership and Envisioning Goals (Con’t)Envisioning Goals (Con’t)

• According to Dr. Gray, the overarching According to Dr. Gray, the overarching goal for Christian leadership must be a call goal for Christian leadership must be a call to “grow the people.” In this sense, the to “grow the people.” In this sense, the task of envisioning goals might be task of envisioning goals might be considered to be liberation. After this, as considered to be liberation. After this, as leaders attempt to envision goals, they leaders attempt to envision goals, they must ask what God is already doing in must ask what God is already doing in their midst, and they must practice prayer their midst, and they must practice prayer and discernment to better understand how and discernment to better understand how to move forward. to move forward.

Christian Leadership and Christian Leadership and Envisioning GoalsEnvisioning Goals

• Finally, I believe that envisioning goals is Finally, I believe that envisioning goals is not simply the job of the leader, but it is not simply the job of the leader, but it is the job of a team of individuals who the job of a team of individuals who understand the understand the missio Deimissio Dei and who want and who want to better understand how God is at work in to better understand how God is at work in their midst. Decisions regarding visions their midst. Decisions regarding visions are best made in community rather than are best made in community rather than isolation. isolation.

Affirming ValuesAffirming Values• Each society and organization is based on Each society and organization is based on

core values. These values are both core values. These values are both written and unwritten and can be seen in written and unwritten and can be seen in history, art, music, etc. Yet, values can history, art, music, etc. Yet, values can disintegrate over time, and the role of the disintegrate over time, and the role of the leader becomes reaffirming and leader becomes reaffirming and rediscovering the core values that hold a rediscovering the core values that hold a community together. Often these values community together. Often these values can renew, but sometimes the difficult job can renew, but sometimes the difficult job of the leader becomes proclaiming values of the leader becomes proclaiming values that are not as popular. that are not as popular.

Christian Leadership and Affirming Christian Leadership and Affirming ValuesValues

• The task of affirming values can be The task of affirming values can be considered governance and direction. considered governance and direction. This task is governance as values must This task is governance as values must give shape and structure to the overall give shape and structure to the overall organization. This task is also direction, organization. This task is also direction, as our values must guide our goals and as our values must guide our goals and our movement forward. our movement forward.

Should values follow goals or Should values follow goals or should goals follow values?should goals follow values?

• While Gardner lists the first task of While Gardner lists the first task of leadership as envisioning goals, I believe leadership as envisioning goals, I believe that an affirmation of values must come that an affirmation of values must come before goal setting. Values should be the before goal setting. Values should be the foundation that any community or group is foundation that any community or group is structured around.structured around.

What values are essential to What values are essential to Christian Leadership?Christian Leadership?

• Love of God, Love of NeighborLove of God, Love of Neighbor

• The Lordship and Leadership of Jesus The Lordship and Leadership of Jesus ChristChrist

• Mercy and JusticeMercy and Justice

• People over InstitutionsPeople over Institutions

MotivatingMotivating

• Gardner states “Leaders do not normally Gardner states “Leaders do not normally create motivation out of thin air. They create motivation out of thin air. They unlock or channel existing motives.” unlock or channel existing motives.”

• Gardner states that a leader must realize Gardner states that a leader must realize the need of the followers for security and the need of the followers for security and the ways that fear might drive and the ways that fear might drive and motivate the followers.motivate the followers.

Motivating and Christian Motivating and Christian LeadershipLeadership

• The idea of motivation falls under the The idea of motivation falls under the areas of direction and liberation.areas of direction and liberation.

• Motivating is direction as it calls Christian Motivating is direction as it calls Christian leaders to move people in a certain leaders to move people in a certain direction.direction.

• Motivation is liberation as it frees people to Motivation is liberation as it frees people to achieve all that God has in mind for them.achieve all that God has in mind for them.

Motivation and FearMotivation and Fear

• Should the Christian Leader use fear to Should the Christian Leader use fear to motivate?motivate?

• I believe that motivation for the Christian I believe that motivation for the Christian leader flows from two areas:leader flows from two areas:

• An understanding of God’s previous work An understanding of God’s previous work in history ANDin history AND

• A hope for what God is currently doingA hope for what God is currently doing

Motivating as Christian LeadersMotivating as Christian Leaders

• When we realize the many ways that God When we realize the many ways that God has intervened in history and has worked has intervened in history and has worked in the lives of God’s people, we are given in the lives of God’s people, we are given assurance of God’s continuing work in assurance of God’s continuing work in history. God’s people are not motivated history. God’s people are not motivated by fear, but by a desire to serve and work by fear, but by a desire to serve and work with God.with God.

Motivating as Christian LeadersMotivating as Christian Leaders

• God’s work in history gives us an God’s work in history gives us an awareness of God’s work in the present. awareness of God’s work in the present. The role of the Christian Leader is to name The role of the Christian Leader is to name the ways that God is currently at work, and the ways that God is currently at work, and to encourage God’s people that God has a to encourage God’s people that God has a plan and hope for the future.plan and hope for the future.

ManagingManaging

Gardner lists five ways that leadership Gardner lists five ways that leadership encompasses management encompasses management responsibilities. He lists those tasks as:responsibilities. He lists those tasks as:

• Planning and Priority SettingPlanning and Priority Setting

• Organizing and institution-buildingOrganizing and institution-building

• Keeping the system functioningKeeping the system functioning

• Agenda setting and decision makingAgenda setting and decision making

• Exercising Political judgmentExercising Political judgment

Management and Christian Management and Christian LeadershipLeadership

Management falls into the area of Management falls into the area of governance. Yet, several management governance. Yet, several management tasks come into conflict with Christian tasks come into conflict with Christian Leadership.Leadership.

1.1. Organizing and Institution BuildingOrganizing and Institution Building

As noted above, an important Christian As noted above, an important Christian value is people over the institution. How value is people over the institution. How does a leader respond when growing the does a leader respond when growing the people and managing an institution people and managing an institution conflict?conflict?

2.2. Agenda setting and decision-makingAgenda setting and decision-making

Christian Leadership happens best in the Christian Leadership happens best in the team setting, while Gardner seems to team setting, while Gardner seems to state that management is partly state that management is partly individual decision-making. How does individual decision-making. How does Christian Leadership understand Christian Leadership understand management in a team setting?management in a team setting?

Achieving Workable UnityAchieving Workable Unity

Leaders must be able to negotiate conflict Leaders must be able to negotiate conflict and build trust so that a team might have a and build trust so that a team might have a sense of unity and not be destroyed by sense of unity and not be destroyed by internal strife and conflict.internal strife and conflict.

Workable Unity and Christian Workable Unity and Christian Leadership Leadership

Workable unity is a type of governance. It is Workable unity is a type of governance. It is an absolutely necessary skill for Christian an absolutely necessary skill for Christian leaders, as conflict often surfaces within leaders, as conflict often surfaces within the Kingdom of God. Christian leaders the Kingdom of God. Christian leaders with conflict resolution skills are especially with conflict resolution skills are especially valuable in organizations that are valuable in organizations that are polarized around particular issues.polarized around particular issues.

ExplainingExplaining

People want to know what the problem is, People want to know what the problem is, why they were being asked to do certain why they were being asked to do certain things, how they related to the larger things, how they related to the larger picture. It is the role of the leader to picture. It is the role of the leader to communicate and explain what is going communicate and explain what is going on. In this sense, leaders are teacher. on. In this sense, leaders are teacher. Great leaders are clearly teaching.Great leaders are clearly teaching.

Explaining and Christian Explaining and Christian LeadershipLeadership

Explaining falls under the idea of direction Explaining falls under the idea of direction and governance. Christian leaders have and governance. Christian leaders have an understanding of the overall picture, an understanding of the overall picture, and are able to enlighten those who follow. and are able to enlighten those who follow. Christian leaders must also be aware of Christian leaders must also be aware of their role as communicators as it gives their role as communicators as it gives direction to the followers. direction to the followers.

Serve as a symbolServe as a symbol

Leaders serve as a symbol to their Leaders serve as a symbol to their organization. Leaders are set apart and organization. Leaders are set apart and examined by the followers, and no longer examined by the followers, and no longer speak for themselves alone. Leaders are speak for themselves alone. Leaders are called to serve as a symbol that called to serve as a symbol that galvanizes and empowers their followers.galvanizes and empowers their followers.

Symbols and Christian LeadershipSymbols and Christian Leadership

The idea of serving as a symbol can be The idea of serving as a symbol can be seen as direction or governance. Do seen as direction or governance. Do Christian leaders merely serve as Christian leaders merely serve as symbols, or is our call something greater?symbols, or is our call something greater?

Concerns with SymbolsConcerns with Symbols

1.1. Christian Leader are to serve, not serve Christian Leader are to serve, not serve as a symbol. The idea of being symbol as a symbol. The idea of being symbol makes the Christian leader a figurehead, makes the Christian leader a figurehead, rather than an active participant with the rather than an active participant with the followers in the work of God. followers in the work of God.

Concerns (Cont.)Concerns (Cont.)

2. Christian Leaders are not to be seen for 2. Christian Leaders are not to be seen for outward appearance. Christian outward appearance. Christian Leadership is an attitude of the heart, thus Leadership is an attitude of the heart, thus integrity, character, and one’s regression integrity, character, and one’s regression to holiness is crucial. Christian Leaders to holiness is crucial. Christian Leaders must serve as examples, not simply must serve as examples, not simply symbols.symbols.

Representing the groupRepresenting the group

Leaders cannot merely focus on their own Leaders cannot merely focus on their own followers; instead they represent the group followers; instead they represent the group the world at large, and serve as a the world at large, and serve as a representative between those inside the representative between those inside the group and those outside of the group.group and those outside of the group.

Representing the Group and Representing the Group and Christian LeadershipChristian Leadership

I do not believe that the idea of representing I do not believe that the idea of representing the group falls into any of the three the group falls into any of the three essential functions of Christian leadership. essential functions of Christian leadership. I believe that Christian Leaders must be I believe that Christian Leaders must be representatives, but not simply of a group representatives, but not simply of a group of people, but representatives of Christ. of people, but representatives of Christ. Christian leaders must not only focus on Christian leaders must not only focus on the current followers, but those who need the current followers, but those who need to hear the message of Christ.to hear the message of Christ.

Moreover, Christian Leaders are called to Moreover, Christian Leaders are called to grow and mentor the people so that the grow and mentor the people so that the people are prepared to represent the people are prepared to represent the Gospel of Christ to a fallen world. Gospel of Christ to a fallen world. Christian leaders do not hold the key; all of Christian leaders do not hold the key; all of God’s people must be involved in God’s God’s people must be involved in God’s redeeming work in the world, living their redeeming work in the world, living their lives as ambassadors of Christ.lives as ambassadors of Christ.

RenewingRenewing

Gardner states “All too often on the long Gardner states “All too often on the long road up young leaders become ‘shapers of road up young leaders become ‘shapers of what is’ rather than ‘shapers of what might what is’ rather than ‘shapers of what might be.” Leaders are called to help bring be.” Leaders are called to help bring about appropriate change to an about appropriate change to an organization that will breathe new life into organization that will breathe new life into that organization.that organization.

Renewing and Christian LeadershipRenewing and Christian Leadership

Renewing falls into the category of direction. Renewing falls into the category of direction. Christian Leaders, though, are guided by Christian Leaders, though, are guided by two important ideas. First, what is God two important ideas. First, what is God doing and how can we be involved? doing and how can we be involved? Second, is the change that we seek Second, is the change that we seek brought about by the Holy Spirit?brought about by the Holy Spirit?

We realize that true change and true We realize that true change and true renewal in an organization only comes renewal in an organization only comes when it is God-breathed and Holy Spirit when it is God-breathed and Holy Spirit ordained. Change for the sake of change ordained. Change for the sake of change is not our responsibility; Change for the is not our responsibility; Change for the furthering of God’s Kingdom must become furthering of God’s Kingdom must become our goal.our goal.

What brings renewal?What brings renewal?

As Christians, we must realize that As Christians, we must realize that programs and ideas do NOT bring programs and ideas do NOT bring renewal. Throughout history, renewal renewal. Throughout history, renewal comes from a rediscovery and comes from a rediscovery and proclamation of God’s Word. Whether proclamation of God’s Word. Whether King Josiah, Martin Luther, or John King Josiah, Martin Luther, or John Wesley, renewal happens as people Wesley, renewal happens as people continue to interact and be changed by the continue to interact and be changed by the Word of God.Word of God.

SummarySummary

• Gardner’s tasks are heavily geared Gardner’s tasks are heavily geared towards governance and direction. Very towards governance and direction. Very little of Gardner’s ideas focus on liberation little of Gardner’s ideas focus on liberation and growing the people.and growing the people.

• Gardner’s tasks are very leader-focused, Gardner’s tasks are very leader-focused, rather than people-focused.rather than people-focused.

• Gardner does not include any ideas of Gardner does not include any ideas of legacy or self-leadership. All of Gardner’s legacy or self-leadership. All of Gardner’s ideas are based on public presentation. ideas are based on public presentation.

All information regarding Gardner’s 9 Tasks All information regarding Gardner’s 9 Tasks were found in an article entitled “What were found in an article entitled “What works, what matters, what last, Vol IV.” works, what matters, what last, Vol IV.” The article is available at The article is available at

http://www.pkal.org/page.cfm?page=4159http://www.pkal.org/page.cfm?page=4159