THE ROLE OF CHURCH
LEADERS IN GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF A CHURCH
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE
STUDY
Leadership is indeed a dynamic reciprocal
process of personal influence by which a manager or a leader shapes the
attitudes and activities of others towards the achievement or attainment of
organizational objectives (Abogunrin, 1986). Even before the modern concepts of
leadership came into being, the apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul in the Pastorals
lists the qualifications for church leaders to ensure sustainable growth and
survival (Dairo, 2007). These have remained the model for ages. For any church
leader to steer the ship of the church successfully, these qualities must be
imbibed. But contemporary experience in Nigeria has shown a marked departure
from this Pauline list of qualifications for church leaders which has really
affected growth and survival of churches. The level of understanding expected
from both the leaders and the followers is missing in most cases. This often
results in crises within “the body of Christ”.
There are some common features in various
definitions of leadership. It will be presumptuous for anyone to attempt a
definition that will satisfy the populace especially regarding church
leadership. Leadership is nothing if not linked to collective purpose; and the
effectiveness of leaders must be judged not by press clippings but by actual
social change, measured by intent and by satisfaction of human needs and
expectations which on the long term will be visible on the church growth and
development.
Oluwasegun (2005) defines leadership as the
ability to gain consensus and commitment to common objectives beyond organizational
requirements which are attained with experience or contribution and
satisfaction on the part of the working group. Leadership could also be defined
as the relationship in which one person or the leader influences others to work
together willingly on related tasks to attain that which the leader desires. It
is a means of direction. Leadership is the ability of management to induce the
subordinates to work towards a group’s goals with confidence and keenness. It
implies that the leader accepts responsibility for the achievement of the group
objectives and it is, therefore, essential for the trust and cooperation from
both sides to be evidence all the time (Oluwasegun, 2005). Leadership is an art
of getting things done. It can be learnt, improved, developed and perfected. It
is the key process of influence and the process always includes a number of key
components such as leader and followers, they interact in situations and means
of influence which emerge from the leader and from the followers, based on
their value system and goals which the leader and the followers seek to achieve
(Dairo, 2004).
With respect to church leadership, it
implies that the church leader gives direction, motivates, reprimands and
develops a set objective along with his group and resolves individual or group
needs within the church. This is perceived as the only way towards the church
growth and survival. In the New Testament it was more often used as
Christological title for the exalted Jesus. The results of semasiological and
lexicographical investigation of secular Greek indicate an extremely polyvalent
spectrum of meaning for the word “church leader”, the basis being he who
is the first, who stands at the head of, who leads.
According to the New Testament, the terms
“bishop,” “pastor,” and “elder” are synonymous. Bishop means “overseer,” and the elders
had the responsibility of overseeing the work of the church (Acts 20:17,28;
1Pet 5:1-3). “Elder” is the translation of the Greek word presbytes,
which means “an old man.” Paul used the word presbytery in (1Tim
4:14), referring not to a denomination, but to the “eldership” of the
assembly that ordained Timothy. Elders and bishops (two names for the same
office, (cf Titus 1:5,7) were mature people with spiritual wisdom and
experience to ensure the survival of the church of God. Also,
“pastor” means “shepherd,” one who leads and cares for the flock
of God (Vine, 1996:67).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
According to Dairo (2008), many Churches in
Nigeria are characterized with false teaching, preconceived ideas and
human-formed regulations which have too often undermined the Holy Spirit’s
specification and has militated greatly against church growth and survival. According
to Apostle Paul, church leader must be kind of man that can carry the followers
along. All church leaders may not possess these qualities in the same measure
but a leader must have these quality attributes to a degree that is noticeable
in his life to ensure sustainable growth. If a man is known to be harsh instead
of being gentle, intemperate instead of being temperate, disgraceful instead of
being respectable, he has disqualified himself (Bible Org. 2004). The work of
church leadership is a noble task. Such an office needs the right kind of
people to serve. Accumulation of material wealth, by capitalizing on the “gross
ignorance” of the people about the teaching of the Bible on wealth by church
leaders as also limited growth and survival of many churches because of the
increased awareness of these dubious strategies. However, the researcher is
examining the role of church leaders in the growth and survival of a church.
1.3 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The
following are the objectives of this study:
1. To
examine the
role of church leaders in the growth and survival of a church.
2. To identify the functions and duties of church
leaders in a church.
3. To identify the other factors militating
against church growth and survival.
1.5
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
1. What
is the role of
church leaders in the growth and survival of a church?
2. What are the functions and duties of church
leaders in a church?
3. What are the other factors militating
against church growth and survival?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO:
Church leaders do not have a role in church growth and survival
HA:
Church leaders do have a role in church growth and survival
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
following are the significance of this study:
1. Findings
from this study will educate the church authorities and the general public in
Nigeria on what the church leaders need to do or incorporate into the system to
ensure growth and survival.
2. This research will also serve as a
resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out
further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to
provide new explanation to the topic.
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This
study will cover the activities of churches in Nigeria with special focus on
the roles and duties of the church leaders
Limitations of study
1.
Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the
efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature
or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire
and interview).
2.
Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously
engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down
on the time devoted for the research work.
REFERENCES
Abogunrin, S.O
(1986). “St Paul’s Conception of Disciplined Leadership in the Nigerian
Context” in S Ade
Oluwasegun B.A.
(2011) (ed.) Religion
and Discipline A Publication
of the Nigerian Association for the Study of Religions (NASR).
Bible Org:
“Qualifications for Evaluation of Elders and Deacons” (Available http//www.bible.org/page.asp.downloaded24/09/2004
Dairo, A.O.
(2004). “Church Leadership in Nigeria: Combining Spiritual and Organizational
Techniques” in Ade P. Dopamu (ed.) Religion,
Leadership and society: Focus on Nigeria. Lagos: Nigerian Association for the Study of Religions.
Dairo, A.O.
(2007). “Leadership Qualifications for Contemporary Church Administrators”. A
Lecture: Organized by Christian Theological Seminary, Ibadan, on Thursday 19th
June.