The Twin Values of Leadership

All leadership is based upon character and competence. Those are the twin values of leadership – character and competence – and it takes both. When looking at potential ministry leaders we ask, Is this person a growing Christian whose integrity is unquestioned? (character), and Can they do the job? (competence).

If a person has character without competence what you have is sincere ineffectiveness - i.e., good people, but just can’t do the job. But far worse is when you have competence without character. When somebody shows up at a church who possesses the skills to do a certain job, but doesn't posses the right kind of character, what you’ve got is a menace – a menace to the church, a menace to the flock, to their small group, or their ministry area. In any form of ministry or leadership, both character and competence are needed.

Let’s talk about CHARACTER. God says it's not age, it's not appearance, it's not achievement, it’s not academics. It's attitude. It’s not just what you believe, but how you behave. That is the determining factor of spiritual maturity - attitude and behavior. Character is the way that you consistently respond to the situations of life. Character is not your reputation. Reputation is what other people think you are. Character is what you really are. D. L. Moody said, "Character is what you are in the dark." Character is what you are when nobody is looking. Character is what you are when you're not on stage. Character is the real you.

In time, a persons true character always reveals itself. Always.