Leaders Are Learners

There is a famous quote that I really like:

“Leaders are learners-when you stop learning you stop leading.”

It’s a great quote, but it begs the question what makes someone a good learner? Here are a few possibilities to consider.

Someone Who Asks Thoughtful Questions - Someone who is curious and asks lots of good questions is hungry to learn. They are processing the information that has been provided, and now they are seeking clarification for an even deeper understanding. They know they need to learn and use the answers to those questions to propel themselves forward. If you want to show someone you’re listening, learning and leading, ask great questions.

Humility is Key - It isn’t easy, but a truly teachable person allows others to speak into their life through exhortation, encouragement, correction and coaching. Even when they aren’t asking for this. To be open to correction you didn’t know you needed. To be coached in areas you thought you had already mastered. To be pushed in directions you didn’t think you want (or need) to go. To learn from people who don’t know as much as you do.

Chances are the older, more experienced, more educated and more “successful” you are, the less teachable you are, too. While this is natural, it doesn’t make sense. In the fast-paced, ever-changing world of ministry, leaders simply can’t afford to quit learning.

Fast Facts for Young Adults

• In 2006, 69 million people in the US are projected to between the ages of 18 and 30 (Census Bureau) 

• Young Adult’s appreciate and are spiritually fed by a variety of worship styles.  There is no specific style of worship that is a magic wand for drawing young adults. 

• There is a wide diversity of Young Adults.  YA’s are: married, single divorced, in College, never went to college, in the work world, in professional schools. 

• In a recent Barna survey, it noted that 94% of young people do not respond to e-mail. 

• Young Adults, like most generations in the church, want a place where they can meet God as they are and feel comfortable asking the “tough questions.” 

• There is a diversity of family and “home” experiences from which Young Adults come (traditional, divorced, one-parent homes, same-sex parents, being raised by someone other than parent). 

• We are in the midst of a generational shift-the GenXers are at the place where they are “suppose to come back to the church” because they are getting married and having children.  But they are not returning to the church for a variety of reasons. 

• GenXers have an intense need for inter-generational, inter-racial and inter-faith relationships, which transcend typical interactions and environments often found in churches. 

• Technology has impacted the 18-30 year olds in significant ways-not only are they ultra “plugged in”—it also feeds the dynamics of  “Helicopter Parents”, hyper-multi-tasking, and increases the gaps in the haves and have nots. 

• The church must look at non-tradition ways to engage in issues of faith.  This has an impact on: Sunday school, worship, mission trips, evangelism, service opportunities, where church gathers, etc. 

• Studies show that there is NOT a decrease of young people entering seminary BUT there is a decrease in those who are in seminary who are choosing ordination for traditional preaching ministry.  Only ½ of those graduate with an M.Div. 

One final word of note about young clergy: currently there are 15,954 ordained elders in the United Methodist Church. Only 951 are under the age of 35 (or 5%). Within 20 years, 14,000 our clergy will be retired.

Something got change!