SERVANT LEADERSHIP

PROVIDING PURPOSE AND DIRECTION

The emerging, competent, releasing, and transforming standards build on each other, helping to visualise what our next development steps might be

Spiritual authority   

With humility, exercising God’s power, for God’s purposes, for the blessing and flourishing of others

Emerging:

I am learning to express spiritual authority through servant leadership, gently and humbly.

Competent:

I serve others with God’s authority, in line with the fruit of the Spirit, never used for my own status or privilege, being mindful of potential for spiritual abuse.

Releasing:

Using my authority wisely and humbly, I encourage others to reflect on their exercise of spiritual authority, offering affirmation, and restraint.

Transforming:

I lead from a counter cultural, kingdom perspective, modelling this understanding of status and authority. I shape practices that address where spiritual power is misused. 

Thinking theologically

And broadening engagement about current and controversial issues, helping others to develop critical openness and shared understanding

Emerging:

I am proactive about deepening my understanding of Scripture. I engage in conversations to explore key issues theologically.

Competent:

I provide safe spaces for theological exploration and shared understanding in public and personal ministry.

Releasing:

I encourage others to think theologically and to be open to new perspectives. I support people in navigating uncertainty, belief, and Salvation Army practice.

Transforming:

I lead, holding the balance between theology and pragmatics in the changing environment, valuing people in shaping direction. I reclaim the theological ground which propels us into the future.

Servant leadership

Demonstrated through values-based behaviours, prioritising the serving of others

Emerging:

I understand culture is shaped by behaviour, particularly of a leader, and seek my behaviour to have a positive influence.

Competent:

I demonstrate servant leadership that provides support, oversight, and empowers people, characterised by service, love, truth and grace, respect and value, listening and acceptance, that leads to growth, healing, development and maturity in others.

Releasing:

As a servant leader I release others enabling creativity and innovation, supporting and learning together. I foster the behaviours that flow from our values. I challenge and help others in their self-awareness when people do not live to our values.

Transforming:

I champion a healthy culture in line with our valuing people principles, respecting and honouring one another, prioritising relationship building, listening and learning to identify root causes of issues that undermine our collective servant leadership.

Setting direction and clarifying expectations

Holding together and aligning our purpose and practice with our goals and objectives, in appropriate and attainable ways

Emerging:

I understand and can clarify my roles and expectations.

Competent:

I communicate clear and meaningful expectations and outcomes, having involved others in setting direction. I take responsibility for keeping to the agreed direction.

Releasing:

I release people by providing clarity of expectation, training, authority and latitude to accomplish tasks and to lead and oversight others. I foster accountability to Salvation Army vision, mission, and values.

Transforming:

I lead priorities which shape effective and flexible local mission delivery with transformation as the evidence, weighing resources against opportunities, in relation to peoples’ wellbeing, balancing reputation versus realism.

Navigate socio-political environments 

Showing understanding of trends and issues to ensure relevance and ability to serve engagingly

Emerging:

I am aware of what is going on in the world around me and in my community and how this might impact our mission.

Competent:

I apply appropriate missional responses to ideas, external factors and influences in my context.

Releasing:

I encourage an understanding of the importance of socio-political awareness to inform our mission. I am politically astute and can negotiate through conflict and mobilise support.

Transforming:

I shape direction, anticipating events, trends, evolving situations and public policy that may impact or create opportunities for our mission.