Connecting Leadership Theory and Christian Ministry

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Connecting Leadership Theory and Christian Ministry
"And the winner is…” Much of life involves competition of some sort. Candidates compete in athletic events, educational competitions such as spelling bees, or for seeking that next job which offers a higher salary and better benefits. In recent decades, the field of leadership has seen similar efforts. The idea of leadership is not a new one, however a number of models have been proposed with the hope that a more effective system might be found. Of course the circumstances and dynamics of each situation are unique. Consequently, finding the most appropriate leadership model for any particular structure requires a careful analysis. The three leadership models considered were: the being-centered leadership model, the spiritual leadership model, and the servant-leadership model. A critique of the three separate models identified servant-leadership as the most suitable theory for the unique characteristics of Christian ministry.
Leadership Models Analyzed
As the name implies, being-centered leadership approaches leadership on the basis of being, as opposed doing or having (Fry, & Kriger, 2009). This model is composed of five levels, with each higher level containing in the levels below (Fry, & Kriger, 2009). Fry, & Kriger (2009) describe these levels as both ontological (state of being), and epistemological (state of knowing). An epistemological (knowing) ascent through these levels appears as: Level V or sensible/ physical, Level IV or images, imagination, Level III or soul, Level II or spirit, and Level I or non-dual (Fry, & Kriger, 2009). As the leader comes to understand the next level, he can then begin to ontologically “be” in that level. For the sake of clarity, these level...

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...al of Business Ethics, 105, 107-114. doi:10.1007/s10551-011-0953-3
Chung, Y. (2011). Why servant leadership? Its uniqueness and principles in the life of Jesus. Journal Of Asia Adventist Seminary, 14(2), 159-170.
Ekundayo, J., Damhoeri, K., & Ekundayo, S. (2010). Presenting the servant leadership model as a panacea to bad leadership in tertiary education in West Africa. Academic Leadership, 8(4), 34.
Fry, L. (2003). Towards a theory of spiritual leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 14(6), 693-727.
Fry, L., & Kriger, M. (2009). Towards a theory of being-centered leadership: Multiple levels of being as context for effective leadership. Human Relations, 62(11), 1667-1696. doi:10.1177/0018726709346380
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