In continuing this short series on approachability in church leaders (see previous entry), I am again pointing to the recent article by Ken Sande entitled Approachability: The Passport to Real Ministry and Leadership. This time, I’d like to point to another “passport killer” – a habit or attitude that pushes people away (keeps people out of your territory as it were) as a leader. Ken writes:

Guard against institutional dynamics that can undermine approachability. There are several dynamics in some church and denominational cultures that can aggravate a pastor’s tendency to be unapproachable. A culture that has a strong emphasis on theology and doctrine can produce “relationally challenged” leaders who prefer preparing sermons over engaging people (which is a tendency in my own denomination). Approachability can also be undermined by a culture or polity that minimizes congregational influence (“We lead, you implement”) or provides no meaningful accountability beyond a closely knit leadership circle in the local church. Such cultures can easily produce leaders who are not inclined to welcome ideas and suggestions from laity, admit areas of weakness or lack of competence, or be open to seeking counsel from outside the leadership circle. Similarly, a polity that fuels political maneuvering between competing cliques will usually produce leaders who are guarded in their relationships. None of these factors inevitably produces inaccessible or deficient leadership.  Humble and spiritually mature leaders (like Jason in my opening illustration) can counteract each of these institutional dynamics, but only if they are aware of these pitfalls and constantly vigilant against the way they can undermine approachability.

Do you see how this can be so true? Do you recognize how institutional dynamics can contribute to a lack of approachability? I readily see these tendencies in my own church. And if you go to a church where a hierarchical structure is in place, you’ll need to be extra cautious about how that structure affects the relationships between leader and congregration. But that structure itself (i.e., your church’s polity) is not determinative. It doesn’t have to affect relationships one way or another. Ken included in his footnote a great quote by Ed Clowney (don’t miss it!):

“Better by far are imperfect structures in the hands of devoted servants of Christ than the most biblical form of church government practiced in pride or in a loveless and vindictive spirit.” (The Church, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Il, 1995, p. 202)

That right there was worth the price of admission! Regardless of the polity of a church, the type of leaders make or break it.

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