Lead with Sensitivity

Scripture references with words like patience, long-suffering and steadfastness portray a sense of quality in relationships.  As the Christian community lives out through the lives of ordinary people, leadership sensitively nurtures the diversity of such a people, both the coming and the going.

Leadership needs to discern when they can push and when they need to back-off.  They need to also discern which battles need to be fought and which ones do not.

The sensitive ministry will have a vision for long-term possibilities and will create an environment that will experience growth and depth.

Irrelevance

When a clergy leader feels irrelevant outside the walls of the church, such a leader will have more at stake in what happens inside.  One's identity, feelings of worth, and significance are placed on a narrow one-dimensional platform.  The result is a stark vulnerability not previously experienced in pastoral ministry, causing clergy leaders to put pressure on congregations to meet their needs for significance, needs that are emotionally and relationally unrealistic. - Gary Nelson

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