Rick Warren: Pastors Who Lead the Way

Rick Warren, “Pastors Who Lead the Way” Enrichment 9:1 (Winter 2004).

“The good news is that while we may never achieve excellence in administration, we can learn to lead the way.”

In this article, Rick Warren states that he knows his leadership style. He is the big picture, vision-casting leader. Details do not appeal to him so he surrounds himself with staff and volunteers who gifts will compliment his giftings.

He reminds the reader that there is nothing wrong with being a vision-casting leader. What the leader needs to do is recruit team members that will enhance and supplement the leader’s style.

“There is tremendous power in cooperation. We do our best work when, instead of jockeying for position or trying to build a base of power, we work together—building on each other’s strengths and shoring up each other’s weaknesses.

He uses Nehemiah as an example prayer from a leader’s heart in Nehemiah 1.

Secondly, “Must a Pastor Lead?” He quotes from Ephesians 4:11-12 and states that by definition the pastor is a leader. Then he refers to Jesus statement to Peter in John 21:17, “Do you love me? … Feed My sheep” that a pastor must show love and care for his people.

Love being introduced into the picture you will not feel coerced into leadership but rather do what we gifted to do and lead willingly. Leadership is guiding and being an example rather than controlling and being a boss.

Third, Rick Warren discusses, “Can leadership be earned?” “We may know our gifts are clustered in the areas of preaching and teaching, not administration.”

Even though we may not achieve in excellence in administration we can still be effective leaders. He says that we need to practice habits and that habits can be learned. This will enhance effectiveness in the pulpit, in staff meetings, and in interactions with the church board.

“Leading with limited resources” is the fourth principle that he deals with in this article. Rick recognized the need for administrative leadership at Saddleback. The church was in the position in which they were able to hire someone for this position.

At Saddleback, they use the acronym SHAPE. You can read more about this in The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren. When you know the person’s shape you can place them in the places of ministry where it allows workers the freedom to accomplish their goals.

The fifth principle is “Time to lead.” Rick Warren states in this article, “One of the best reasons to delegate comes straight from any book on time management.” “We can’t try to be and do everything.”

He reminds the reader that as pastor that is our highest calling. Our responsibility as a pastor is to provide for the spiritual health and growth of the people of our congregation. Recruit people to do the printing of the bulletin and setting up the nursery. Delegating helps you in these areas.

He gives three keys that helped him delegate effectively:

1. Break Down Major Goals into Smaller Tasks.

2. Develop Clear Job Descriptions.

3. Match the Right Person with the Right Task.

“Delegating is more than just passing off work; you need to understand what the task is about and what the person is good at, and then get them together.” At Saddleback they have practiced this and it has been effective for them. The last principle is “A Leader’s Measure of Success.” He says that in “our ministry we have identified five purposes that God gives to the Church:

1. Membership

2. Maturity

3. Ministry

4. Missions

5. Magnification (worship)

Our measure of success can be measured as pastors, as leaders if these five purposes are in balance. Rick shares, “I have said it before, but it bears repeating: no one leader can give his all to all five purposes. It is our responsibility as pastor/shepherd to discern our gift and then select gifted believers (laypeople or staff) to fill those purposes.”

This article is a good reminder of the principles and practices that we most likely already know. In the burden of carrying out our responsibilities we can become so busy that we forget or neglect to use God’s people to help us in the work of the ministry.

Reviewed by Carl Halquist

Read the full article: http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200401/200401_20_pastors.cfm [available as of July 28, 2014]