Hi Richard,
That is a good question you ask, 'what is the job description for a leader?
Probably the most challenging and important question any church can address, for whatever is decided as the answer, reaches down to apply to every member. I say this, remembering that we are all members of a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
Well I don't have any pat answer, but I will try to define some principles that I believe must guide any attempt to provide an answer to your question.
1. A proper description for a leader must be derived from the Bible and not from world business practices. Jesus is the world's example of a perfect leader.
b. The church is the body of Christ and each part functions to its potential only as every part participates. The gifts of the Spirit identify a memeber's function, they sre never a measure of a person's importance.
c. The Holy Spirit is the leader and He never exults Himself, He only works to glorify Christ. He wants our commitment, not our contribution. The test of any true gift will be that its possessor's acts always glorify Christ. This does not allow for a person to give God the glory but take the credit for themselves.
d. Eph 3:11-16. The gifts of the Spirit are for the building up of the body - for the equipping of the saints. A true leader will never use his followers. He will use himself up to enable them to achieve their potential
e. A true leader takes responsibility for the mistakes of those under him. He supports, encourages, represents. In my years in the ministry I longed for someone who would listen. Not tell me what to do, but enable and challenge me to clarify my goals and evaluate the results of my efforts.
Having some clear, nice sounding goals is good, but more important are clear Key Performance Indicators.
If leaders have no clearly stated KPIs then the whole organisation will be floundering.
I know of no better source of KPIs than Ephesians 3:11-16
a. Is the church growing in the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ?
b.Are the members growing in awareness and practice of the gifts of the Spirit.
c.Is the church growing in unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God?
d. Is the whole body building itself up in love.
Christ's Object Lessons p69 sums it up when it says that when the image of Christ is perfectly reproduced in His people(the body) then He will return.
The preaching of the gospel in all the world is not a KPI, it is a by-product of true KPIs.
I hope all this rambling makes some sense, or at least helps to stimulate our thinking about this vital topic?
God bless
Ian