What Is Leadership from
a New Church Perspective?
The Rev. Derrick A. M. Lumsden
O
(Note: This originally appeared in the February 2016 newsletter of the Sower’s
Chapel in Sarver, Pennsylvania.)
ne of the best secular definitions of leadership I know of is from John
Maxwell, who says that “Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing
less.” (Irrefutable Laws of Leadership)
I like this definition of leadership because it is not position specific. Nor is
it narrow in its focus. It allows for both good leaders and bad leaders. It allows
for leaders from the front, back or middle. Anyone who influences others is
a leader. It means that parents, teachers and friends; bosses, co-workers and
church members; and all types of family are all leaders. Leaders are people who
would like to influence the actions and thinking of others.
From this definition the study of leadership then becomes about how to
influence. And hopefully, if you are a good Christian, how to influence others
positively with appropriate means. For example, someone complaining or
nagging can influence an outcome to a good end, but the means are destructive.
Learning about leadership is learning how to affect others to a good outcome
with positive means.
The teachings for the New Church offer us a further understanding
of leadership. The Lord leads us.
Understanding His leadership will
teach us more about the foundation of
how all leadership works.
The Lord leads a person by influx
and teaches him by enlightenment.
The Lord leads a person by influx
because to be led and also to flow in
are expressions applied to love and
the will; and He teaches a person by
enlightenment because to be taught
and to be enlightened are properly
expressions applied to wisdom and the
intellect.
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Anyone who influences
others is a leader. . ..
Leaders are people
who would like to
influence the actions
and thinking of others.