Leading Up - An Introduction

Photo Credit: cascade hiker (Creative Commons)

I’m a leader in the church and I often don’t know what I’m doing.

Don’t tell anyone.

It’s not that I’m completely clueless or incompetent. I believe God has both called me to ministry and gifted me to lead, giving me gracious opportunities that I’m not even sure I deserve. But I certainly haven’t arrived yet. I’m still figuring this leadership thing out, still learning in the trenches of ministry, still seeking the Lord for what He would have next.

Maybe you’re in the same boat with me. Whether you’re a full-time pastor, an intern in training, or a key volunteer, you're likely reading this blog because, like me, you love the church. You want to see the body of Christ be an amazing Gospel community that loves God, loves people, and makes a significant difference in our world in the name of Jesus. But it’s not there yet, and you have a God-given desire to see the church be changed into what it could and should be.

Imagine leadership in the church like climbing up a mountain. You've got all your gear and tools, your boots and tents and axes and ropes. Everyone is strapped in together by a common rope and we're all headed towards the top. There are plenty of dangerous pitfalls and slippery slopes, as well as beautiful vistas and the refreshing beauty of God's creation. You're in the middle of the team, fellow travelers behind you and before you. The person in front is setting the pace and leading the way.

So how do you lead from the middle? How does a leader implement significant change within the church and culture, regardless of job description or chronological age? How do we navigate church politics and systems without getting frustrated, deflated, or fired? What does it look like to lead up? 

In this blog series, we'll talk about church politics, sacred cows, systems thinking, healthy communication, fostering healthy team dynamics, dealing with criticism, and plenty of other leadership tools and stories that will hopefully help us all become better leaders in the church. I'm convinced that leadership is a gift from Jesus, and I pray that beyond all else, we grow in our relationship and identity with Him.

I'm hoping these posts can become an ongoing conversation of the CYW blog. Feel free to leave comments, ask questions, and share stories. You can also email me if you have a particular subject or situation you'd like to discuss. 

Looking forward to leading up with you!

Joel Mayward is a pastor, writer, husband, and father living in Langley, British Columbia. He is the author of Leading Up: Finding Influence in the Church Beyond Role and Experience. Joel loves youth ministry, movies, the church, and theology. He writes about all of it at his blog.