The document discusses effective parish leadership and the evolving challenges that priests face in the 21st century, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership modeled after Jesus Christ. It outlines leadership theories and universally acknowledged behaviors of effective leaders, highlighting the leader-follower dynamic. The document also presents an eight-step process for implementing change in parishes, emphasizing the need for vision, action, and community engagement.

1. Effective Parish Leadership
Stewardship AdvocatesTM

2. St. Paul on Priestly Leadership
I have become all things to
all people, that by all means
I might save some. I do it all
for the sake of the gospel. (I
Corinthians 9:22)

3. Our Lord as Servant Leader
The Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to
serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many.
(Matthew 20:28)

4. How do Priests Lead in the 21st Century?
In the most important ways this has changed not at all.
Serving
Preaching
Teaching
Pastoral Care
Living a Life in Christ

5. Yet a Changing World Brings New Challenges to
Leading a Parish

6. What are a few of the new challenges?
• Parishioners are highly educated
• Strong feeling of cynicism in the general culture
toward all leaders
• Information is the new global commodity
• Everyone is now connected to everything
• The dominant culture is characterized by secularism
and immediacy
• Volitional “religion” – one generation no longer
automatically follows the previous one in faith
heritage – more and more people are cobbling
together their own systems of belief and practice

7. What does research on effective leadership tell us?
Leaders exhibit certain distinct practices when they’re
doing their best. And this behavior varies little from
industry to industry, profession to profession,
community to community, country to country. Good
leadership is an understandable and a universal process.

8. Leadership Theories
• Trait theories -- emphasis on innate characteristics of
leaders (leaders are born)
• Skills theories -- emphasis on specific skills leaders
possess or acquire – technical (professional), social
(can work with people) and conceptual (ideas and
principles)
• Behavior theories -- emphasis on behavior or actions
(habits, manners, assertiveness)
• Contingency theories -- emphasis on the particular
situation and context in which leadership occurs
• Servant leadership -- emphasis on values, beliefs,
relationships and commitment

9. Each Theory Brings Value to Effective Leadership
Yet, the theory that most closely represents traditional
clergy (and lay) leadership is modeled after the
leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is Servant
Leadership.

10. What are universally acknowledged behaviors of
effective Servant Leadership?
Consider the comparison/contrast between the
two columns that follow

12. • Transformational leadership inspires people to go
beyond self-interest and pursue goals and objectives
that are in the best interest of the community –
marriage, family, work and parish
• The appeal is to the shared values and beliefs of the
community – Orthodox Christian life and teaching
• The emphasis is on developing personal relationships
and personal spiritual growth
Servant Leadership is Transformational Leadership

13. The Leader-Follower Dynamic in Servant Leadership
Good leaders
Trustworthy
Honest
Committed
Innovative
Competent
Courageous
Takes initiatives
Good followers
Trustworthy
Honest
Committed
Innovative
Competent
Courageous
Takes initiatives
Great leaders produce great followers
Great followers produce great leaders

14. “There is nothing more difficult
to carry out, nor more doubtful
of success, nor more dangerous
to handle, than to initiate a new
order of things. For the reformer
has enemies in all those who
profit by the old order, and only
lukewarm defenders in all those
who profit by the new.”
Niccolo Machiavelli 15th century

15. And we all, with
unveiled face,
beholding the glory of
the Lord, are being
transformed into the
same image from one
degree of glory to
another. For this
comes from the Lord
who is the Spirit.
(II Corinthians 3:18)
Yet, we have this hope:

16. The Eight-Step Parish Change Process
1. Establish a sense of urgency (but not panic)
2. Create a guiding coalition (parish council, strategic
planning committee, staff, ministry heads)
3. Develop a vision based on mission and a strategy
(strategy is a dream with a deadline)
4. Communicate the vision
5. Empower broad-based action and participation
6. Generate short-term wins to build confidence and
credibility
7. Consolidate gains and produce more change
8. Anchor new behaviors in parish and community life

17. 1. Model the Way - Find your voice and set the
example
2. Inspire a Shared Vision - Envision the future and
enlist others in your vision
3. Challenge the Process - Search for
opportunities, experiment and take risks
4. Enable Others to Act - Foster collaboration and
strengthen others
5. Encourage the Heart - Recognize contributions
and celebrate values and victories
Five Servant Leadership Commitments

18. Ordained in 1974; 38 years a priest; four
parishes served; B.A., M.Div., plus completed
30 courses of study in nonprofit organizational
development;12 years serving as Vice
Chancellor of Advancement at St. Vladimir's
Seminary; 16 years as consultant to well over
100 Orthodox parishes and organizations;
author and editor of Good and Faithful
Servant: Stewardship in the Orthodox Church.
In June 2012, at his own request, Anthony
returned to the ranks of the laity in order to
receive the sacrament of holy matrimony. He
worships at St. Seraphim Orthodox Church in
Santa Rosa, California.
Anthony L. Scott
The Principal of Stewardship Advocates

19. Contact Information and
Additional Material
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