Study focuses on character of Christian leaders

A recent survey by the Barna Research Group shows that America’s Christian leaders are generally strong in modeling positive characteristics like sensitivity to sin, morality, a godly demeanor, humility, maturity in faith, and trustworthiness. However, those same leaders tend to demonstrate some significant weaknesses in such characteristics as possessing a loving heart, modeling servanthood and having godly wisdom.
   
The Barna survey sampled the responses of 1,344 leaders involved in Christian churches across the nation, using a 177-question Christian leader profile that analyzed four aspects of Christian leadership: the respondent’s sense of calling by God to leadership; the nature of the respondent’s character; the strength of the respondent’s competencies; and the aptitude the respondent possesses for leadership.
   
Of the weaknesses, the survey found that many leaders tended not to have loving hearts because of an unwillingness to go out of their way to help those in need and to be generous with their resources. The problems with servanthood revolved around a leader’s lack of a sense of responsibility to the needy and an unwillingness to sacrifice for others. The weaknesses associated with wisdom, the lowest scoring character trait among Christian leaders, focused on a leader’s inclination to rely on human ability rather than godly guidance, an inconsistency in listening to God and a struggle to balance spiritual and worldly wisdom.
   
Differences in leadership strengths and weaknesses were most pronounced on generational lines, the Barna researchers found. Those labeled Baby Busters (age 37 or younger) scored much lower than older church leaders on such characteristics as faith maturity, trustworthiness, and wisdom. On the other hand, Baby Boomers (in their late 30s to mid-50s) tended to have more difficulty with having a loving heart toward others. Church leaders in their late 50s and older demonstrated clear difficulties with servanthood.The research also differentiated on the leadership skills of senior pastors, church staff, and lay leaders. For example, while pastors were higher in such attributes as teaching skill and controlling their tempers, all three leadership groups demonstrated weakness in servanthood and wisdom.
   
George Barna, who led the study, noted the crucial element that character plays in effective church leadership. “Character is not like competencies, for which it is acceptable to ignore your weaknesses and run with your strengths,” said Barna. “Weakness of character will eventually undermine your strengths, no matter how strong they are. Identifying character vulnerabilities is helpful because it provides an early warning signal of pending disasters.”
   
Concluded Barna, “The public expects leaders to treat their position as a means of serving people with godly wisdom, genuine love, and with the understanding that leadership is about the privilege of serving, not about power, authority, perks or ego gratification. For the Church to be distinguished from other groups in our culture, and to have positive influence on the lives of people both within and outside of the local church, its leaders must model the difference that being a Christian leader represents.” (EP)