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Why is the BCBLC Needed?
God is always calling the church to be more than it has been. Ours is one of those proverbial “times between times;” -- a time of challenge. We are in a new location. A new church is being born around us. We stand in a kairos moment—a time for particular achievement.
Change, rapidly growing change in our time, threatens the survival of organisms or organizations. The steady encroachment of secularism and materialism, the pace and complexity of new technology, new cultural norms, new ways of living, perceiving, and new expectations are having a profound impact on an order of magnitude never before experienced on how the church perceives and performs its mission and ministry.
Worldwide changes in social values, the loss of the traditional family structures, increased religious pluralism, theological diversity, radical fundamentalism, terrorism, racial hatred, social injustice, all define the environment in which the church engages in ministry and mission.
The changing paradigm of the church is connected equally to radical changes of paradigms going on throughout the world. The transformation is part of a cosmic evolution of nations and of consciousness, one that is reshaping evolution in the East and West. What is happening to the church is part of the entire work of God, making all things new. It may not be the church we expect or want.
Some churches have accepted the fact that the context has changed, and changed radically. They recognize that for more than a thousand years the church, attempting to wield dominant power, has lost its way. They are aware that aspects of the old church mindset with its understanding of the church as the dominant shaper of culture, are at variance with the message of the Lord Jesus. So they are exploring new missional ways of perceiving, thinking, and behaving.
There is a need for church researchers to produce qualitative designs and studies that are well formulated.
Our concept (image) of the church informs our understanding of ministry. Similarly, our leadership style is directly related to our dominant images of the church and ministry.
Conventional methods of management and leadership styles are losing their effectiveness; there is an awakening interest in participative approaches to the mission of the church.
Terms like “collaborative,” “participative,” “supportive,” “democratic,” and “servant,” are being used more and more to describe an effective leadership style.
Christian mission and modern culture, widely regarded as antagonists, are in crisis. Mission in North America now finds itself in a very different place in relation to its multicultural context with immigrants flowing from the southern and eastern borders. Technology and the information age have encouraged creativity, cultural diversity, individualism, pluralism, and a heightened awareness of ethnic and social differences.
Status quo has been severely challenged by the swift pace of revolutions in science and technology, communication and the processing of information.
Power and authority has shifted downward into the hands of younger generations that seek change in the priorities of society and church. They have preferences with respect to organizations and leadership styles; and there is a strong distaste for hierarchal structures and centralized power and authority.
Healthy organizations have a strong sense of identity and mission and a capacity to adapt readily to change.
Organizations are frequently referred to today in moral terms. New patterns are being followed which help bring organizational behavior more in line with the Judeo-Christian ethic.
There is one perfect leader and His name is Jesus. His model was a “servant,” a relational leadership model based on the core values of mercy, grace love, forbearance, forgiveness, humility, sacrifice, loyalty, integrity, compassion, commitment, and trust. (Phil. 2:1.7).
Leading like Jesus Christ, is not only compatible with the mission and ministry of the church, but necessary for the full, effective achievement of the ministry and mission of the church in a complex and rapidly changing world. –(Matt. 23:11-12; 20:26-28; NET).
Servant leadership isn’t an option; it’s a mandate. Servant leadership is to be a living statement of who we are in Christ, how we treat one another, and how we demonstrate the love of Christ to the whole world. Faithful, effective, and efficient leadership styles must be more consistent with and expressive of the gospel.
The old paradigms and styles of leadership are insufficient today for the faithful and effective realization of the church’s global mission and special message.
The clerical paradigm, and its set of assumptions, beliefs, attitudes, expectations, and behaviors related to and expressed through organizational practices, goals, programs, and structures are left unexamined, the transformation of the church will be seriously impeded.
There is the need for a resource center to train and develop spiritual, visionary leaders who will bring new ways of thinking, new ways of perceiving, and new ways of behaving into the life of key leadership groups and the entire life of the church. Thus the purpose for the Bradford Cleveland Brooks Leadership Center.
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