Transformational Leadership and the Future of the A.M.E. Zion Church

1. Transformational Leadership and the Future of the A.M.E. Zion Church Joseph Atsu Ayee Independent Consultant, Accra

2. Outline of Presentation • Acknowledgement • Define Leadership, Transformational Leadership and the Future • Eight features of Transformational Leadership • Taking hold of the Future: What is to be done? • Conclusion: the future of leadership and the A.M.E. Zion Church • Group work questions

3. Definitions of Leadership, Transformational Leadership and the Future • Leadership: Getting things done. It involves mobilizing both human and material resources to achieve organizational goals and objectives. • Transformational Leadership: Development-oriented or real leadership. The leader motivates behavior by changing the attitudes and assumptions of followers. Areal leader is one who is tested and tried in times of troubles and crises and was able to succeed. In his book, The Wounded Leader: How Real Leadership Emerges in Times of Crises, Ackerman (2004) contends that it is only in crisis situations that real and transformational leadership emerges.

4. Defining the Future • The word future comes from the Latin word, “futurus” meaning “about to be” • The word the future therefore means the following (i) The time regarded as still to come (ii) Events that are still to occur (iii) Prospect, an expectation of something due or likely to happen (iv) Existing after death: heaven and the future life with Christ (iv) The future is not known. It is unpredictable

5. Features of Transformational Leadership (i) Representing a vision (ii) Representing a model to follow (iii) providing incentives to pursue shared goals (iv) Expectation of high performance (v) Supporting individuals (vi) Displaying high intellect and stimulating others (vii)Finding solutions and solving problems (viii) Selecting competent and experienced people to work with (the “people around him” syndrome must be demystified)

6. Taking hold of the future: What is to be done? • The vision of the WWAED is to promote and achieve quality and excellence in the following five areas: (i) education; (ii) evangelism; (iii) expansion; (iv) economic growth and empowerment; and (v) health care • Rebrand or repackage or change the image of the A.M.E. Zion Church without compromising its doctrines and precepts • Ownership of the vision by Chief of Staff, Bishop Administrative Assistants Presiding Elders and Field Workers and their assistants and the congregation • Time management

7. Taking hold of the future: What can be done? • Phasing of the vision of the church into short, medium and long term • Convert the vision into reality and sustain it over time • Vision must be appealing and attainable • The church leadership should have a positive commitment to the realization of the vision • Church leadership must become effective entrepreneurs, that is, they must be creative, innovative and think outside the box. They must have new ideas, take initiative, take responsibilities and take risks • Church leadership to raise funds through more ingenious ways

8. Taking hold of the future: What is to be done? (cont’d) • Bishop, Missionary Supervisor, Chief of Staff, Bishop Administrative Assistants, Presiding Elders and other leaders to encourage and facilitate the congregation to work toward that vision • The need to build confidence and pride in the groups and congregation that A.M.E. Zion Church is the best church to meet their spiritual and temporal needs • Church Discipline to be adapted to suit local needs and context

9. Taking hold of the future: What is to be done? (cont’d) • Leaders and congregation must be prepared to change and do away with the old ways of doing things. In short, no room for conservatism • Leaders must be businesslike and be prepared to adopt time management practices and meet deadlines • Leaders must embark on mentorship and reproduce themselves or groom subordinates • Leaders must embark on membership drive through revivals, crusades and other outreach programmes

10. Taking Hold of the Future: What can be done? • Recognize the need that we are in a competitive world and things must be done differently with innovation • Sell or market the vision to the congregation • Leadership to exhibit transparency, accountable and live by example • Leadership should work as team and develop an esprit de corp. A divided leadership cannot implement a vision. • Proper and effective planning • Performance management contract for church leadership

11. Leadership and Future of the A.M.E. Zion Church • Autonomy of the WWAED within the Connection • Develop a culture of vigorous, committed and free-giving discipleship • Develop effective mentorship • A balance between the old and young generation of pastoral team • Develop better rapport and team work between clergy and laity • Develop better and uniform conditions for pastors and administrators • Develop performance management contract for church leadership • Require a new breed of leadership that will add value, risk resources, have ideas and develop them into spiritual and temporal benefits that the congregation will perceive as valuable and are willing to contribute their quota to maximize returns for the Church

12. GROUP WORK QUESTIONS • Why and how is transformational leadership tied to the future of the A.M.E. Zion Church? What are some of the possible scenarios? • Identify and discuss some of the sections of the Discipline of the A.M.E. Zion Church which will promote some of the features of transformational leadership.