Dr. Fluker's Ethical Leadership Theory

No matter how unclear pastors’ identity is in the 21st century, it is undeniable that pastors are leaders in the churches. A study finds that “ministers who had developed leadership and managerial skills were more effective than those who had not developed leadership and managerial skills.” Facing so many intrinsic and extrinsic factors that cause pastors burnout in the ministry, it is necessary for pastors to develop their leadership skills. Most of the Chinese churches are located in the urban area because Chinese community loves cities. Located within the complex, diverse, and multicultural context of the urban settings, Chinese pastors have to keep self-care so that they can be the sustainable source for the Chinese community. In this

Fluker’s ethical leadership theory is based on the united dimensions of “self, social, and spiritual”. This is important for the pastors to be aware of the ultimate concern in ministry, as well as their own beings. Being an ethical leader means the ability to balance self and the congregation within the church. Nevertheless, ethical leaders need to identify their approaches to leadership. For Chinese pastors and Chinese congregations, who are in the process of transforming their identity and their relationship to American society, need to have transformational leaders. The transformational pastors do not let themselves to burnout in the ministry, they “work themselves out of a job to the extent that they elevate their subordinates into becoming self-actualizers, self-regulators, and self-controllers”. Instead of been identified, transformational leaders identify themselves. I think this is what Chinese churches need in America today. The transformational pastors are able to change the dynamics in the church to cultivate an energetic ministry environment. They are also willing to transform themselves by

This verse consistently showed up in my mind when I did the contextual education in our Chinese church. It also applies to the situation of the Chinese churches in America, and across the world. Pastors, in the moment of deciding to work full-time in the ministry, no longer belong to themselves. They are the valuable instruments of God. Therefore, pastors are responsible to take care of themselves spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Pastors’ burnout and exhaustion “pose a threat to local church health and ministry vitality”. The congregation members should love and care about their pastors for their own good. Practicing the love of God is not only applying to non-Christians or church members, but also pastors. Pastors, as the leader in the congregation, have the responsibility to teach the members to care about pastors, each other, and self. The greatest commandment of Jesus is to love God, and the second one is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 12:31). Jesus asks us to love neighbor and love ourselves. How can someone love others if s/he does not know how to love? Self-care is important for the Chinese pastors as they have the responsibility to share the gospel with the growing numbers of the Chinese population in