Serving Bread

There are many working definitions for “leadership.” I recently heard a leader defined as someone who has both the capacity and responsibility to lead. I find this to be a helpful expression of what leadership entails. Dr. Clinton at Fuller Seminary defines it as,

“A leader is a person with a God-given capacity and a God-given responsibility to influence a specific group of God’s people toward God’s purposes for the group.”

I think of capacity as having the resources, training and assets to leverage leadership, whereas I view responsibility as having the authority or vision to influence. Too often leadership is defined simply in terms of tasks and training. This definition is often played out when emerging leaders pursue the knowledge of leadership, thinking it sufficient for influence. In the business world, it’s the myth than a MBA degree will propel you to the upper-echelon’s of influence within your industry. In the Christian world, it may mean the myth that a seminary degree is sufficient when leading a flock. I think of King Herod in the gospels. Commentators say that he was not really a “king.” He may have been trained and given abilities to govern his people, but he lacked real authority to lead people.

Likewise, one cannot simply claim responsibility to lead without the capacity to lead. To take responsibility for the growth of others and the vision of the ministry is important, but without the training and ability to move people toward God’s heart will render that leadership fruitless (in the long run). A biblical example of such a person may be King Rehoboam, who had the responsibility to lead but lacked the capacity (in his case, wisdom) to do so (See 2 Chronicles 10).

Leadership requires both capacity and responsibility. Sometimes I find myself putting more stock in one trait over the other. We must develop both traits in our desire to influence people. In some cases, these traits are developed and learned and in other cases, these traits must be earned. But if we find ourselves in an area of leadership where we either do not feel like we have the capacity to lead or the responsibility to do so, we should pause and and reflect on what kind of leadership we are bringing in that particular context.