Designing, Facilitating, and Evaluating an Approach for Leaders to Experience God's Shepherding and to Develop Together as Shepherds of the Church

Abstract

Research by the Barna group indicates that the health of Christian leaders affects the health of the church and that nothing is more important for the future of the Christian church than leadership (Barna 1997, 20, 29). A Canadian Evangelical Churches study identifies a connection between pastoral well-being and congregational well-being (Reimer 2010, 12). And a report on the Well-being of Clergy in Ontario recognizes the need for leaders to experience wholeness with integrity through an emphasis on community and the Christian call to reconciliation in relationship with God, self, and others (Irvine 2006,22). A leadership development focus will address the need for Christian leaders to develop in health within the context of community. This research project involved the design, facilitation, and evaluation of a leadership development approach with colleagues of St. Paul's Leaskdale. Objectives were to increase connection and care between leaders, acquire new knowledge together, and develop in shared purpose as shepherds of the church. Four leadership development models contributed to the design of this approach: shepherding as a biblical model, Arrow Leadership, The Social Change Model of Leadership Development (Komives, Wagner and Associates 2009), and Integrated Leadership (Pietersen 2010). This action research project involved qualitative inquiry, including action learning and appreciative inquiry. Qualitative data was collected through personal interviews, documents, participant participation, and researcher observations. Data was analyzed through reflective evaluation and content analysis. An evaluation of a shepherding approach indicates that leaders benefit when they covenant together in a supportive environment to promote integrated leadership development.