In my study I have small brass bugle draped with a towel.  For years this has been a symbol to me of my role as a leader in the church.  On the one hand, the bugle reminds me that an important part of my role as a leader is to call people to action.  Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, "if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Corinthians 14:8).   As a Christian leader I am to sound a clear call to Christian obedience and discipleship.   As good soldiers of Jesus Christ we are to do battle in this world against the spiritual forces of darkness. (see 2 Timothy 2:3-4; Ephesians 6:12)  Leaders help others get ready for battle.

The towel reminds me that my leadership in the church needs to marked with servanthood.   Jesus taught by word and example that true leadership is all about serving.   He said:  "the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."  (Luke 22:26-27).   Jesus demonstrated his servant style of leadership on the night before his death, when he draped himself with a towel and washed his disciples' feet.  (John 13:1-17)  And he calls us to follow his example of servant leadership, knowing that if we do this, we will be blessed.  (John 13:17)

Leadership is critical to growing healthy churches.  Leadership is one of the eight quality characteristics, identified by NCD (Natural Church Development), of healthy and growing churches.   But not just any kind of leadership!   We need leaders who will sound a clear call, as well as, serve those they are leading.  Both a bugle and a towel is needed.  This kind of leadership that is critical to growing healthy churches, as also identified by NCD, is empowering leadership.  

But what is meant by empowering leadership?  I like how John Maxwell describes leadership as influence.   We see this in every area of life.    As Maxwell describes in a number of places, if you're a coach, you will build a winning team only by influencing your players.   If you want to raise a strong, healthy family, you have to be able to influence your children positively.   If you're a pastor, your ability to reach people and grow your church depends on your influence in your congregation.   Empowering leadership in a church is moving people from where they are to where God would have them be, in life and in ministry.  Moving people from "I can't do this" to "I can do this".

So what does empowering leadership look like in practice?   In a church?   Well it begins by telling people what the Christian life and ministry is all about.   Leaders need to clearly cast the vision for the church and teach people what it means to be a follower of Jesus and to be part of the body of Christ.  Hence the need for the bugle.  People need to know.  We see this throughout the life of Jesus.   As a leader Jesus spent so much of his time simply telling people what life and ministry is all about.   If you are trying to get people to volunteer in one ministry or another, they need to know what that ministry is all about.  You need to tell them.

The next step is training.  People need to learn skills.  The Bible describes training in the church this way:  "It was [God] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up...." (Ephesians 4:11-12)  Not everybody has the capacity to do ministry.  No volunteer should be engaged in ministry unless they receive training.  They need to come alongside others, observe them do ministry, and learn from them.  By training people will be equipping for ministry.

Once trained, those doing the training need to step back and allow people to take on ministry.  They have been tolded what to do and observed others doing ministry.  Now they need to put the things they have learned into practice.  (see Philippians 2:9)   But once people take on ministry, they are not left alone.  Those who have trained them now observe how they are doing in ministry.   People might require some coaching or encouragement to become effective in ministry.  But that is the beauty of ministry in the church.   We are there to help one another succeed in what God would have us do.   Hence the need for the towel - serving one another.

The last step in empowering leadership is release.  Those doing the training now step away and allow those who are fully equipped to "do the work and discharge all the duties of [their] ministry." (2 Timothy 4:5)  They are now fully empowered to engage in ministry.  There will still be accountablity.  Those overseeing the various ministries ought to engage in regular reviews.  And ongoing training is essential.   No matter how long you have been in ministry, it is always good to be upskilled, if not simply reminded why you are doing what you are doing.   Those empowered are now also equipped to train others to take on ministry.  Empowering leadership does not just create followers; it creates leaders.

If you want to be a leader, don't just lead!  Empower!