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Ministry Gift of an Organizational Leader

Definition:

Someone who has the ability to effectively organize, plan and manage corporate activities in the Body of Christ. This ministry helps the Church carry out its goals and mission in a successful manner. Organizational leaders keep the Church moving in the right direction, develop appropriate strategies and goals, manage various business issues, and assist in the organizational development of local church ministry.

Biblical References:

• 1 Corinthians 12:28
• Romans 12:8
• Acts 27:1 1-20, 27-29, 38-44
• James 3:4

Typical Ministry Characteristics:

1. Supernatural ability to organize and direct a spiritual undertaking. Know the right direction and course of action to take in a given situation. Devise plans and strategies that make things happen successfully and in good order. Strong gifting in the areas of knowledge, wisdom and discernment of spirits but may struggle with the ambiguity and uncertainty that can come in exhibiting supernatural power.
2. Strong desire to plan things through before they are implemented. Will break down the "big picture" into manageable pieces. Become frustrated in working with people who depend on inspiration and intuition more than logic. Not satisfied with just achieving results, but wants to understand the process and why something was successful.
3. Task oriented in their approach to ministry. Want to get things done. Will derive real satisfaction and a strong sense of accomplishment from the successful completion of a project. Tend to seek approval from people based on the quality of their work. Seen by others as very pragmatic in their behavior.
4. Need to understand the details. May or may not show interest in working through details, or putting them together, but will always have a high need to understand them in some depth when working on a given task or project.
5. Excellent leadership skills. Can create a vision and purpose for church ministry. Is able to organize and direct others towards a common goal. Adept at managing and administrating various programs and activities in the church. Strong contributors to church boards.

General Information

The word Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 12:28 for administration is kitbernesis which means a pilot or captain; someone who is responsible for getting a ship to its destination. He also describes this ministry in Romans 12:8 as a leader, or proistemi, which literally translates to govern or rule over some entity. Its usage is plural, suggesting a variety of needs and applications of this ministry. An organizational leader is someone given to the Body of Christ to help direct and facilitate its movements and activities.

The Example Of Jethro

Jethro is a good biblical example of an organizational leader. In Exodus 18 he goes out into the desert to visit Moses, and bring his wife and children to him. While there, he observes that Moses is resolving disputes among the people all by himself. It's an inefficient approach to litigating a large number of issues, and Moses is setting himself up for ministry burnout. Jethro quickly suggests an alternate strategy to Moses that involves greater delegation of responsibilities to other men who are trustworthy. Moses follows this advice and greatly improves the legal process that is going on among the Jewish people.

Make Churches Operate Effectively

Organizational leaders serve in a manner much like Jethro. They improve the process and effectiveness of local church ministry. They also help set a congregation on the right course of action. Those called to this ministry are usually in some part of church leadership but do not have to be in charge to be effective. Like Jethro, they often find themselves more in the role of a consultant.

More than Natural Ability

Pastors can have strong abilities in the area of administration. This is particularly a valuable skill for those shepherding smaller churches, where there are less lay people available for ministry. However, the ministry of an organizational leader is different than that of a pastor with good administration capabilities. These people have been supematurally called to the Body of Christ and are equipped for this ministry with very specific spiritual gifts. Their unusual effectiveness rests more on the Holy Spirit's anointing than their own natural ability.

A Special Kind Of Leadership Role

The ministry of an organizational leader involves a special kind of leadership as indicated in Romans 12:8. The Greek word used in this passage literally means to preside over someone or something (as in to govern). This can also describe a number of other ministries in the Body, including apostles, pastors, teachers, elders and deacons. The key difference in this type of leadership, however, is a superior ability to manage organizations, programs, and projects. Those with the calling of organizational leadership are especially gifted at leading people in tasks. Other types of church leadership are usually more focused on people's spiritual development.