Leadership Now is Simply Different

by Dan Holloway

I have had a hard time writing for this forum in recent months. Despite much encouragement and several invitations to do so, I have started several articles and then stopped all of them, feeling that what I had to say was not particularly helpful or relevant to today’s church. That in turn has led to a time of soul-searching, as I’ve tried to determine what is behind this reluctance to share my thoughts with others. Is my age a deterrent to helpful insight? Do I know enough about the post-pandemic church to say anything that carries credibility? Given my retirement, do I truly understand what it’s like to lead a congregation at a time like this? As a white man who has enjoyed significant privileges in his life, do I even have the necessary voice to speak to our diverse culture? These are real and important questions and I will continue to struggle with them even as we all must struggle with our own individual questions.

Yet, I want to risk a couple of thoughts for consideration today that seem to me to be important for all of us who aspire to be leaders in the faith community. Perhaps the goal for leaders today is not full competency, as if that were even possible. I don’t know anyone who is truly an “expert” in church life today for we are all learning as we go. It is a great myth that anyone has mastered the art of church leadership these days. Some seem to be more successful than others and we do well to learn from them. Yet the day when we could say with confidence that we know exactly what the church needs has passed us by if indeed it ever existed. Nearly everyone I work with these days is saying this same thing in their most honest moments. Sometimes we just don’t know what to do next. Sometimes we feel totally inadequate for the work before us.

That doesn’t mean the cause is lost or that we no longer are able to lead. Rather, it means that leadership now is simply different. It is first about humility, about admitting that we don’t have all the answers and don’t expect that we ever will. Leadership is about finding conversation partners that can help to sharpen us in areas where growth may be required.

It is also to affirm that each of us is blessed and loved by God and bring our own set of gifts to the church. It is to affirm that we all have something crucial to add to the conversation and our voice is needed in the church. It is to affirm that we can lead and do lead even when we don’t have all the answers. It is to affirm that the best leaders these days acknowledge both their limitations and their potential positive impact on the church.

So, hang in there friends. You are doing good work and making a difference and serving the Lord who loves you unconditionally. Speak with humility but speak also with courage. It is ours to do.