Mission and leadership

Some excellent comments were left on my post "Mission as Program?".

Randy made the point that "It may have to start with a program for some to see that it isn't just a program" and that the role of leaders in this case is to "lead in such a way that we can help the mindset to change in our people".

mojclessme (Ken) carefully questioned my bottom-up versus top-down comparison, stating that "i think that the role of leadership is to lead the body into the mission of Christ. further, i don't think the body naturally finds themselves in the mission of Christ without leadership".

Points well taken.

Leadership is often a missing element. North American church culture is predominately devoid of active mission, and this will not change without the proactive leadership of women and men who can point in new directions and model it through their own examples.

I do not want to create a false dichotomy between top-down and bottom-up. It's not really an either/or situation. Leadership should create the vision and set the pace. If it is good leadership people will be challenged, mobilized and equipped to enter mission, and ultimately take the initiative to exercise their gifts. In this way, mission will begin to erupt from the grassroots.

Unfortunately, however, most leadership development (even within the Church of God) is not mission oriented. That's a whole new discussion ...