Societal changes that require the transition to an equipping paradigm for Christian leaders

Abstract

This article contends that major changes are taking place in society to such a degree that a revision of Christian leadership paradigms is necessary to respond effectively to these changes. The nature of the changes taking place in society and the extent to which these changes are taking place are rendering existing leadership paradigms ineffective to the point of rendering some approaches to leadership obsolete. The article proposes that the Church adopt an Equipping paradigm of Christian Leadership, and that the text of Ephesians 4:11- J 2 be used as the basis of this paradigm. Not only must the text be given greater precedence when constructing leadership paradigms in general, but the text also offers a new organising centre for a theology of Christian leadership. The article concludes with a brief examination of the possible implications of an Equipping paradigm for Ecclesiology, Leadership Practice, the Challenge of Transitioning to an Equipping Paradigm in Churches and for the Training of Leaders.