The Leadership Development Road Trip: Navigating Complexity, Harnessing Mentorship, and Embracing Shared Leadership on the Journey of Growing Young Leaders at Trinity Streetsville

Abstract

This portfolio navigates the landscape of leadership development at Trinity Anglican Church amidst the challenges posed by declining membership within the Anglican Church of Canada. Advocating for lay leadership development, particularly among youth and young adults, this study proposes nurturing empowered lay leaders as a solution to organizational stagnation. This paper reflects on the author’s own story of leadership growth and development by tracing his emergence as a leader, identifying important mentors, and noting formative experiences which contributed to his growth. Rooted in theoretical analysis, this portfolio also proposes a paradigm shift towards shared leadership, a collaborative model of leadership which integrates biblical, theoretical, and practical insights. Using Participatory Action Learning and Action Research, both obstacles and strategies for success in leadership development were discovered. Findings indicated significant growth in participants' understanding of leadership calling, spirituality, and teamwork, underscoring the effectiveness of classroom training, mentorship and collaborative approaches. The conclusions emphasize the significance of leadership calling, spirituality, sacrifice, empowerment, teamwork, and the need to shift leadership development from a program to a church culture.