By Pastor Dr. Demetri P. Drosinis

"Leadership is a God-given responsibility. It is part of our stewardship responsibility.  And it is a gift given to each person." Williams and McKibben from Oriented Leadership.

Christian leadership – is this a contradiction in terms?  Nicholas Murray Butler, a former president of Columbia University said, "There are three kinds of people in the world-those who don't know what's happening, those who watch what's happening, and those who make things happen."

Too many times in our parishes we have the same people doing the same job year after  year;  whether  it  is  the  festival chairman, youth advisor, Philoptochos president, altar leader, choir director, etc., the same person does  everything.   There is never a chance for others to take a leadership role.

Yes, there may be a lack of leadership in the community- but that does not mean there is lack of leadership potential.   We need to give every individual, whether young or old, a chance to lead; a chance to take initiative and offer their God-given talents and gifts back to God.  I know that everyone is not a leader - but I'm sure that there are many, many more people who would like the chance to become one.

Most of us don't really know or are not clear about what a leadership is, but oddly enough, many of us are leaders. Williams and McKibben, in the book Oriented Leadership, state that all of us have been, are currently, or will be in leadership roles.  For instance, most people are parents, providing leadership role in the family; others have leadership roles at work

The one characteristic common to all leaders is the ability to make things happen.  Leadership is an act or behavior required by a group to meet its goals.

Ted Engstrom, in his book The Making of a Christian Leader, states, "men of faith have always been men of action.  It is impossible for active men to serve in a passive role.  Leadership action demands faith.  The setting of and striving for goals an act of faith."

Christ motivates leaders to action.  In Corinthians 15: 10, St. Paul writes that God has worked in Him.  He went from being persecutor of Christians to becoming a leading figure in biblical authorship.  Yes, Christ motivates leaders to action, but the motivatee must take on an active role himself. We all have leadership potential- but unless we act on it, what good does it do?  "Faith without works is dead."

To help your group best define what kind of leadership you are looking for, read the Old Testament book Nehemiah.  Nehemiah's leadership qualities are exemplary.   In times of despair, he puts all faith in his dependence on God, frequently praying and communicating with him.  Read the book with your group and discuss it amongst yourselves