10 Types of Christian Leadership

October 12, 2012  David Murray   4 comments

Recently I was asked to give a conference address on “Positive Leadership.” It got me thinking about how many different kinds of pastoral leadership I’d come across in my ministry. I came up with 10 leadership types:

  • Mr Passive
  • Mr Crisis
  • Mr Dictator
  • Mr Inconsistent
  • Mr Fearful
  • Mr Pessimist
  • Mr Boastful
  • Mr Academic
  • Mr Sociable
  • Mr Administrator

If you click on over to my monthly column at Christianity.com, I’ll introduce you to these 10 men.

  • http://outin2thedeep.wordpress.com Wesley

    Look forward to checking this out. Having not yet read your ‘introductions’, which one of these men would you most closely associate yourself with?

  • http://www.childrensministryacademy.com/ Margo, Children’s Ministry Academy

    You definitely caught my attention, and I can’t wait to sit down and check out your full article later this evening. One a first glance, I would say that I’ve had moments as many of these “types” of leaders, mostly during my first couple of years as a youth minister. I can’t wait to check it out!

  • http://headhearthand.org/blog/ David Murray

    All of them! See my post.

  • A. Amos Love

    Haven’t you ever wondered why Jesus taught His Disciples NOT to be called “Leaders?”
    For you have “ONE” leader – the Christ. Mat 23:10 NASB – And NONE did…

    Mat 23:10-12 NASB – New American Standard Bible
    Do not be called leaders; for “ONE’ is your Leader, that is, Christ.
    But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
    Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled;
    and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

    The Message – Mat 23:10-12 –
    And don’t let people maneuver you into taking charge of them.
    There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
    **Do you want to stand out? – Then step down. – Be a servant.**
    If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you.
    But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

    Jesus instructed **His disciples** NOT to be called **leaders** and NONE did.

    Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
    Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ,
    Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ,
    Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God,
    Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God
    2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant

    **His Disciples** all called themselves **Servants.**
    None called themselves “Leaders.” None? None.
    None called themselves “Servant-Leader.” None.

    If Jesus instructed **His Disciples** NOT to call themselves “leaders”
    and someone calls them self a “leader” or thinks they are a “leader;”

    Are they a “Disciple of Christ?”

    Why isn’t what Jesus said important?

    And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
    them also I must bring, and they shall **hear MY voice;**
    and there shall be “ONE” fold, and “ONE” shepherd.
    John 10:16

    One Fold – One Shepherd – One Voice – One Leader

    {{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}