This article first appeared in Gaudium, a quarterly publication of the Companions of the Cross, a new community of Catholic priests dedicated to evangelization and renewal. You can subscribe to Gaudium for free here. This newsletter is an attractive and insight-filled magazine that will edify and equip you. “I dream this publication will become the go-to resource for formation and inspiration, equipping you and others to be joyful missionary disciples for the New Evangelization.” (Fr. Allan MacDonald, CC General Superior).
In 1979 Pope John Paul II called for a new evangelization, referring to it as, “the evangelization of the second millennium.” He later clarified the need for a, “new ardor, new methods and new expression.” In today’s spiritual climate the new evangelization also needs a new type of leadership.
Saint Pope John Paul II called for a new evangelization - a new ardor, new methods and new expression. In today’s spiritual climate the new evangelization also needs a new type of leadership. Click To TweetPastoral leadership is more like other roles of organizational leadership than it is unlike them. Yes, there are unique responsibilities and challenges, but the essence of leadership remains the same. Here are three consistent truths that apply everywhere, including pastoral leadership.
Pastoral leadership is more like other roles of organizational leadership than it is unlike them. Yes, there are unique challenges, but the essence of leadership remains the same and the formation required is also similar. Click To TweetOne, the mandate of every leader is to ensure the organization accomplishes the mission. It’s this simple: well-led organizations accomplish their mission, poorly led organizations do not, or not well.
Two, change is the permanent landscape. If change isn’t necessary, leadership isn’t required. Managers maintain the status quo, leaders disrupt the status quo. Leaders challenge the process and foster an appetite for continual improvement. They also take risks because they fear missing an opportunity more than they fear making a mistake.
If change isn't necessary, leadership isn't required. Leaders challenge the process and foster an appetite for improvement. They take risks because they fear missing an opportunity more than they fear making a mistake. Click To TweetThree, leadership is a choice. Leadership is not about holding a position or a title. It’s not about a job as much as it is a responsibility, specifically, the responsibility to influence people, bring about positive change and make forward progress.
When titled leaders fail or forget to make the decision to lead, four negative consequences arise within the organization:
- People within the organization become disengaged when leaders forget or neglect to model the way. A true leader chooses to inspire others by the brush of their example to dream more, be more and do more.
- The organization moves blindly into the future when leaders forget or neglect to set a prioritized agenda. One of the most important functions of a leader is to inspire a shared vision, without it the organization is adrift and vulnerable to mission creep.
- People within the organization feel disempowered to make things happen when leaders forget or neglect to enable others to act. Great leaders create a culture where everyone knows their strengths and puts them to work every day in meaningful work.
- Yesterdays solutions become tomorrows problems when leaders forget or neglect to lead through aligning systems. Leaders embrace systems thinking by coordinating all the moving pieces for greater effectiveness and efficiency.
Many, including Andre Regnier and Fr James Mallon have identified the need to transform the culture of our parishes as a first step to embracing the new evangelization – and therein lies the need for new leadership, specifically transformational leadership.
Pastoral transformational leaders are divinely discontent with current reality. They lie in bed at night dreaming about transforming the parish into what it could be and should be and must be.
The goal of transformational leadership is to transform people and organizations in a literal sense – to change them in mind and heart. There are four roles of a transformational leader in the parish context:
- To inspire others by their exemplary commitment to evangelization and disciple-making.
- To set a missionary agenda focused on the people they are trying to reach, not the ones they are trying to keep.
- To recruit and release the talents and charisms of their people.
- To align all activities and initiatives to the evangelizing mission.
Transformational leaders lead their parish from maintenance to mission. They are passionate and committed to a “steps, not programs” mindset. They make sure that every parish initiative is designed to help people take a step – a step closer to conversion, or a step deeper in discipleship or to a step in missionary boldness.
Effective pastoral leaders ensure that every parish initiative is designed to help people take a step - a step closer to conversion, or a step deeper in discipleship or to a step out in missionary boldness. Click To TweetFortune 500 companies invest billions of dollars every year into the professional development of their leaders. It’s ironic because many of those leaders leave their companies long before their is a return on that investment. Sadly, there is way less investment in our Pastoral leaders that champion the most important mission in the world and have committed to a lifetime of leadership.
Seminary is the beginning, not the end of formation, especially formation in leadership. The new evangelization requires a new form of leadership to transform our parishes into missional outposts. We must do this, we can do this.
Great leaders create a culture where everyone knows their strengths and puts them to work every day in meaningful work. Click To Tweet
A timely reminder for me. Thanks Brett!
Thanks Mario. Merry Christmas!