Holts on Leadership

A few months ago I happened to be boarding a plane and was in line behind Lou Holtz former Notre Dame and South Carolina football coach and now a commentator with ESPN). I recognized him and struck up a conversation (while he was on his way to first class and I was headed to the middle seat near the bathrooms). We chatted about his travel and the differences in commentating vs. coaching.

A few weeks later I happened to watching a bit of college game day and there was Lou. And he made this little comment about leadership on teams – I found it quite applicable. Lou pontificated that “A leadership title is given from the top, but a leader is recognized from the bottom up.” In other words, there is a difference between recognized leadership and assigned leadership. And, it seems to me, that the church historically has focused best on recognized leadership verses positions that are divvied out from on high.

Just because I give someone a title and a piece of turf, it does not mean that they are truly a leader. However, if the system is constructed (or kept free) so that those who desire to lead & are capable of leading can chart their own future, then leadership is freely recognized as pieces of the kingdom are built. This is the huge advantage the local church has over the para at this point in history. The church as a whole has moved away from greater hierarchies beyond what is constructed locally – meanwhile other missional groups have built large systems and methods that appoint leadership and impart control rather than opening up a system to freely recognize the what true leaders move forward and build. This level of control keeps things organized, but may constrain the rapid advancement of the kingdom by kooky and fruitful free agents.