Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the BOM Mid Quad Training Event in Denver. Bishop Hagiya of The Pacific Northwest Conference who shared his dissertation research results around the question: “What traits, qualities, or characteristics, if any, do highly effective and successful United Methodist Church ministers exhibit specifically in regard to growth of their churches when compared to less effective United Methodist Church ministers?”
From in-depth interviews in response to this question, Bishop Hagiya found:
12 Key Leadership Traits of Effective United Methodist Pastors
- Excel in Emotional Intelligence
- Excel in Transformational Leadership – They see the gifts in others, name & cultivate those gifts, and unleash these gifts and people into the ministry & community
- Possess a deep well of faith in a Triune God, from which spring their values, behaviors, attitudes and decisions.
- Have a passion for their work in ministry, and are engaged and focused in their work.
- Possess a deep humility that stems from their allegiance to a higher authority & calling.
- All have mentors who have shaped their formation, leadership in ministry and provided trust and counsel.
- Demonstrate entrepreneurial traits and behaviors.
- Excel in oral & written communications. They are some of the top preachers of their annual conferences.
- Demonstrate resiliency in their personal & professional set-backs, and attribute such resiliency to their faith life and practice.
- Have a personal vision, and that vision does have an impact on the larger vision of the church where they serve.
- Understand systems theory and organizational development.
- Adapt to and are impacted by the local church’s situation and context.
You can download a PDF of Bishop Hagiya’s full presentation here.
Rev. Andrew Conard 