A13 The leader as a shepherd

Part 2: Practical application

First published on this website in January 2006 and last updated in August 2023

Synopsis

The second of two articles (with A12) which categorise the biblical references to shepherd and related terms to understand what this image contributes to current thinking about church leadership. This part takes ten principles for leadership from the shepherd image.

1. People need leadership
2. Christian leadership is delegated from God
3. Leadership carries a heavy responsibility
4. Christian leadership means identifying with those being led
5. Christian leadership involves a personal relationship with those being led
6. Christian leadership concerns service not status
7. Four key roles of the leader: Teaching
8. Four key roles of the leader: Protecting
9. Four key roles of the leader: Uniting
10. Four key roles of the leader: Tending the needy

See also Part 1

This article was updated in August 2023 with some minor amendments to the layout.