Chapter TwoThe Objective Of A Congregation's Leadership
The early morning mists rose lazily from the
pasture. The coyote had watched for four days as two huge white dogs
nonchalantly led the flock of sheep from their night pen to begin their day of
grazing. The weaned lambs recently rejoined the flock. Daily the flock scattered
as they began to graze. The coyote planned to unexpectedly dart in, quickly kill
a defenseless lamb, drag the dead lamb to a waiting partner, and retreat with
more than the two of them could eat in one meal.
The need is enormous. Sheep are very dependent. Even though they are quite
dependent, the shepherd never knows if the sheep will cooperate or be defiant.
Sheep can be gentle on one occasion, and contrary on another. Though everything
is done for their own good (by a conscientious shepherd), the sheep often seem
oblivious to that fact. Insights
The coyote left his cover full of confidence. Several yards from his cover he
suddenly was cut off from his chosen lamb as one of the huge white dogs appeared
before him. In disgust, the coyote quickly turned, intending to hastily retreat
to his cover. With the same unexpected suddenness, the other huge white dog
blocked his retreat. As the coyote quickly accessed his predicament, he felt a
sharp pain in his back near his tail. He whirled with bared teeth to confront
his rear attacker, only, again, to feel a sharp pain in his left leg. Again, he
whirled with bared teeth, assuming his best dont mess with me expression,
only, yet again, to feel the sharp pain of something biting his rear left leg.
In moments it was over. The two huge white dogs walked away to continue their
duties of guarding the flock as the carcass of a dead, ripped coyote laid a few
yards from what was the coyotes cover. With only a few muffled sounds, the
battle ended. The flock continued to graze securely under the vigilant eyes of
two Great Pyrenees dogs.
Janice Prater has two Great Pyrenees dogs and a Border collie (that loves to
round up and pen the sheep) to assist her as she cares for her small flock. Many
years ago when she started her flock, she estimates she lost fifty per cent of
her lambs to coyotes. Those coyotes were bold enough to kill lambs as she fed
her flock! Then an experienced shepherd introduced her to Great Pyrenees dogs.
For years she has lost no lambs to coyotes.
The bond between a trained Great Pyrenees and its flock borders on the
unbelievable. Though the dog is large (adult males weight 90 to 125 pounds and
adult females weigh 85 to 115 pounds), though it seems slow almost to the point
of being lazy, and though it seems to notice nothing, it is totally devoted to
the well-being of the sheep. The dog constantly observes more than humans
imagine! It even ignores Janices presence to care for Janices flock!
The Need
Occasionally a sheep wanders off alone or gets itself in a situation it cannot
get out of. Finding a lost sheep is commonly exasperating. The sheeps only
defense against predators is to be totally quiet and attract no attention to
itself. Even if the shepherd passes near the in trouble sheep, the sheep will
not make a soundeven if it is in dire physical need of food and water. The
search for a lost sheep literally can last for days. It does not end until the
searcher actually sees the sheep. Commonly the searcher experiences an enormous
sense of relief if the sheep is found alive.
A sheeps dedication to its quietness cannot be exaggerated. Even in the painful
birthing process, the ewe remains quiet. During this period, Janice checks her
ewes every three hours day and night. The only way her ewes can be assisted with
a difficult birth (which is often needed) is for her to see the condition of the
ewesno matter how dire the need, a ewe will not ask for assistance.
A close relative asked Janice why she continued to have a flock when the sheep
required so much work. Her reply: I love my sheep, and I love working with
them. Obviously, to take care of a flock requires a devotion of continuing
love. Only those who love it have enough patience to do it!
Observing the Obvious
Not everyone is cut out to be a shepherd. Only a person who loves sheep can
take care of a flock. The well-being of the sheep is the number one
considerationalways. Sheep cannot be worked with as though they were
cowssheep take more patience, care, and time. Working with sheep is not for
those in a hurry that do not have the patience to experience the unexpected
(that often seems the unnecessary). Sheep are unique among domesticated animals
as they maintain a unique blend of dependence and individuality. Rarely can
something so dependent be occasionally (and unpredictably) so stubborn.
Yet, the characteristics of sheep are unique to the type of sheep. For example,
the mentality expressed in the herding instinct differs from breed to breed. To
be an effective shepherd, the person must be well-acquainted with the breed he
or she cares for. It must not be assumed if a shepherd is effective with one
breed, that shepherd will be effective with all breeds. Only if the shepherd can
make adjustments, changing when necessary, can the person be effective from
breed to breed.
For a quality shepherd, the sheep always must be the all-important
consideration. As a good shepherd considers the sheep, the consideration is not
on what the flock wants, but what the flock needs. What a flock wants and what a
flock needs may not be the same thing. To be redundant, it is not about the
acreage availableas important as that is; it is about the sheep. It is not
about the barnsas important as that is; it is about the sheep. It is not about
the pensas important as that is; it is about the sheep. The acreage, the barns,
and the pens support the needs of the sheep, and never exist in their own right.
Not every person is capable of providing congregational leadership. The tools of
effective leadership in a business enterprise are not automatically the skills
of effective leadership in a congregation. In a congregation, effectiveness is
calculated by effectiveness in meeting the needs of the flock, not in bottom
lines or profit margins. The same could be said for any professional
pursuitaccounting, security work, community offices, banking, ownership, trade
skills, or a retirement existence.
This is not at all to say that the lessons learned in any professional pursuit
do not have usefulness or application to congregational well-being. It merely
says:
To be an effective congregational leader, the person must walk in the sheeps
pasture. Leadership grasps the reality of the peoples problems only if leaders
walk in the congregations world. One cannot provide effective leadership for a
congregation unless the challenges of troubled people are understood. Problems
are not solved with declarations of you should. Solving congregational
problems begins with understanding the problems. Leaders demonstrate caring
first by listening to understand. Leaders are listened to when they first
listen.
Effective congregational leadership is only for those who are motivated by God
to love people. It is hard work. It is often exasperating work. It frequently is
not appreciated by those who most benefit from it. Leadership is provided only
by those who allow God to constantly teach them how to love people (even when
people are unlovable). May leaders never forget they assist the Chief Shepherd,
but they are not the Chief Shepherd. Perhaps the most exasperating feature of
leadership is to accept ones own limitations in leadership ability.
THEREFORE, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be
revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under
compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid
gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your
charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men,
likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO
THE HUMBLE (1 Peter 5:1-5).
Chapter Two
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