I do believe that the spiritual gift of leadership is important for churches. But sometimes I feel like churches who spend so much time and money on “raising up leaders” would be better off if they helped those new leaders develop some administrative gifts as well.
Think about it. Do we really need more people with new ideas and bigger visions and fresh anointings?
Or do we need people who can translate vision into all the necessary actions that have to happen—in the right order, at the right time, with the right people—so that vision can become reality?
Both
Yes, the correct answer is “Both,” but somehow the gift of administration doesn’t have the cachet that the gift of leadership currently has. Leadership gets the spotlight, the books and workbooks, the seminars, the websites, the pitch from the pulpit. Administration stays in the office and orders the materials.
That’s not great.
Together
Ideally, Leadership and Administration would work together toward a common vision. Churches who understand how the two gifts complement each other can save themselves a lot of wasted time. And emotion.
Leaders and Administrators need each other like vision and strategy need each other. Like eyes and hands need each other. Neither is more important than the other. Each helps the other fulfill its purpose.
Right?
Since we agree that the Church is the Body of Christ, and each part needs all the others, couldn’t we spend more time encouraging Leaders to also develop their inner Administrator? Or, if necessary, to recognize when they don’t have this gift, so they can partner with someone who does?
Well said. Vision without vehicles will leave us stranded on the side of the road.
Yes, a driver without a vehicle is just as incomplete as a vehicle without a driver. One is not more important than the other—we all need each other!