How to choose a leader?

Earlier this week, Tom Sterbens mused over the upcoming elections of our denominational leadership. Our current presiding bishop is facing term-limits and must step down. Tom suggested that questions be asked to potential candidates and their answers be posted on the internet.

Our denomination has an informal tradition of frowning upon open election campaigns with stump speeches, etc. Instead, the delegates of the General Assembly rely upon their impressions of various leaders and their past experience (e.g., as state overseer, pastor, public speaker, etc.) and hopefully lots of prayer before traveling to the assembly. In fact, a large percentage of our delegates may perceive such "politicking" as unspiritual.

But Tom's idea is an interesting one. I’m just listing some questions here not because I have a beef with anyone in particular. Nor do I really expect any open campaigning before the upcoming Assembly. But I have adapted a list of questions to fit Tom's request But the essence of the questions are issues that I have been working my way through for my own context of ministry in Europe.

1. What is his vision for the denomination?

• What will the COG look like in the year, let’s just say, 2015?
• What kind of church will become?
• What steps will we take to get there?

2. What are his personal core values? And how have these been demonstrated in his ministry?

• What do you stand for? Why?
• What brings you suffering? Why?
• What makes you weep and wail? Why?
• What are you discontented about? Why?
• What keeps you awake at night? Why?
• Just what is it that you really care about? Why?

3. What is your assessment of the denomination?

• What opportunities do we have as a denomination?
• What are our strengths, weaknesses?
• What threatens us as a denomination?

4. I believe that the local church is the hope of the Church of God? How will you enable the pastors/members of the denomination to fulfill its mission and reach a shared vision for the future?

• How will you foster collaboration that gives a broad sense of “ownership”?
• How do we strengthen the local churches and its leaders?

5. How will you motivate the church in such a way that we it can overcome resistance (from both within and without)? How do we promote a healthy team spirit within the denomination? Some may call this ‘reinforcing corporate identity. On purpose, I’m not giving any leading questions on approaches or methods.