Servant leadership and pastoral care are deeply connected to one another. Both concepts were formed from the example of Jesus, and both center on a relationship-centered perspective of the world. Pastoral care and servant leadership are so interconnected that they often occur within the same moments.
A relationship-centered approach that intertwines the ethos of servant leadership with the compassionate essence of pastoral care can help a church become a transformative community. Explore how servant leadership and pastoral care complement and strengthen one another.
The Theological Foundations of Pastoral Care and Servant Leadership
The call to serve and shepherd God’s flock through pastoral care and servant leadership is deeply rooted in biblical teachings. Jesus is the quintessential servant leader, providing a profound example of service and selflessness to those who would have been considered “below” him socially. In the hours before he was led to the cross, Jesus gave his closest disciples (soon to be the foundational leaders of the early church) a clear demonstration of servanthood by washing their feet.
By examining figures of the Bible who have exemplified these traits, we gain insight into the fundamental elements that contribute to an effective ministry today. From King David’s kindness in adversity to the apostle Paul’s extraordinary example of Christian leadership, the Bible contains the necessary framework to construct a complete view of pastoral ministry. Learn more and explore a deeper understanding of the richness and nuances of pastoral care.
These scriptural concepts are not merely historical anecdotes. Biblical examples have shaped the mission and practice of ministries across the ages, creating a lasting legacy that continues to inspire leaders within the church.
Servant Leadership and Pastoral Care: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Pastoral care’s impact is often greater when it is done through a servant leadership lens. The greatest examples of pastoral care are individuals who also embody servant leadership. They embody \taking care of people in fundamental ways that recognize the dignity of the poor, sick, marginalized and oppressed.
Saint Oscar Romero was a Catholic Bishop assassinated by the Salvadoran government when he called for a ceasefire in the civil war against the Salvadoran people. In the years before his assassination, he showed both servant leadership and pastoral care when he performed the work of ministering to hospital patients dying of cancer and victims of the war and their families. Despite his high authority as bishop, Saint Romero took the risk out in public as a target of the government, and the fear he held choosing a side in the war, he served the lowest people in his community.
While a secular perspective may be able to offer servant leadership, it lacks the key component of pastoral care that always accompanies traditional, Christian servant leadership.
Learning to Lead With Humility: Contemporary and Biblical Servant Leadership
Christian history is replete with narratives that echo the strength of servant leadership—from Moses' humility to Mother Teresa’s compassion, many of the greatest leaders in the faith have displayed servant leadership. In Biblical times, Moses exemplified pastoral care to the Hebrews when he listened to each individual's complaints in the camp. He responded with wisdom about how to resolve conflicts and offered the people rituals to restore their relationship with God. He showed servant leadership when he retrieved basic necessities for them like food and water.
A historical embodiment of biblical servant leadership in the Church was St. Francis of Assisi. Born in the 13th century, he faced personal and societal challenges when he renounced his previous life of riches for one full of poverty, humility and service to others. The example of Christ led St. Francis to found the Franciscan Order, a religious community dedicated to living in solidarity with the poor and ministering to them through pastoral care. At the time of its creation, the order was seen as subversive and heretical to the Catholic Church, fueling Francis to travel to Rome, where he entreated Pope Innocent III. Pope Innocent III ultimately saw the alignment of Francis with the teaching of Christ, and he endorsed the work of Francis. Years following his death, Francis was once again endorsed by the Catholic Church through his canonization into sainthood.
In more recent times, figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., whose leadership during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond exemplified the melding of spiritual guidance and servant leadership, show us how these principles remain timeless. Discover how Dr. King’s incredible leadership led him to SMU’s campus.
The commitment of Christian leaders throughout history living as servants to one another has a profound and enduring impact on communities worldwide. Their example of humility and service to others continues to inspire Christians and non-Christians alike to live lives of love, compassion and reverence for all creatures. Learn more about the characteristics of servant leadership.
Applying Servant Leadership in Non-Traditional Contexts
Biblical figures can also exemplify what servant leadership and pastoral care is not. Sometimes, servant leadership is twisted to mean something Jesus did not display. Corporate hierarchy has co-opted the term “servant leader” to encourage employees to work harder or perform unpaid labor. They might use a figure like Joseph to back up their position. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but through God’s insights and mercy, he was promoted to second in command over the land of Egypt. This is an example of someone fulfilling the role of a servant and becoming a leader because they developed a useful skill set. God was able to work all things together for Joseph’s good, but the story is not a model for corporations to follow.
The example Jesus sets is one of someone who is already a leader, humbling themselves to the level of a servant in order to care for the people below him. The latter example functions in the framework of pastoral care as well. It is the leader of the congregation, the one in power, who humbles themselves to serve the sick and broken and bring them to a place of wholeness and healing.
Leading with a servant’s heart has transformational power that extends to non-traditional and secular contexts, as long as original meanings are retained. The principles of servant leadership and pastoral care have profound implications for positive change across sectors, including nonprofit organizations, social justice movements and community service projects.
Organizations like Habitat for Humanity are guided by the principles of servant leadership, where volunteers and staff work alongside homeowners to build affordable housing. By empowering individuals and communities to address their own housing needs, Habitat for Humanity embodies servant leadership in action.
John Green; the author, influencer and philanthropist; is an excellent example of a servant leader. Greenhas gained remarkable notoriety and wealth, but instead of using his success to make his life easier, he signs so many books for his fans that a copy of, “Turtles all the Way Down” with his signature in it is actually less valuable than one without it. Green currently spends his wealth building a state-of-the-art hospital in Sierra Leone to obliterate the highest maternal mortality rate in the world.
Rights movements led by people like Dr. King and Oscar Romero serve the collective vision and prioritize the well-being of marginalized communities, exemplifying servant leadership principles to affect real change and offer pastoral care to those who had been harmed by unjust systems of oppression.
When the original definition of servant leadership remains intact, great things can happen.
Learning from the Example of Servant Leadership
What do these examples of servant leadership teach us? Mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of pastoral leaders and fostering a culture of servant leadership in the realm of pastoral care. Theological education and ministry preparation are crucial to effective ministry in these areas.
Jesus, the original servant leader, was a teacher who taught his students how to minister using servant leadership. Teachers at theological schools provide spiritual guidance, pastoral care and emotional support to students and aspiring leaders as they navigate theological studies and prepare for ministry. By modeling servant leadership in their interactions and teachings, teachers encourage others to embody humility, integrity and a heart for service in their own ministries.
When you receive a servant-led education, you become a servant leader in our own rite. If you were a servant leader in your community, family or workplace, what would you do? How would you humble yourself to serve those in positions considered “below” yours?
Cultivating a Personal Theology of Leadership At Perkins
Perkins School of Theology teaches servant leadership and pastoral care by example. Perkins offers a nurturing environment for personal and theological reflection from teachers that offer their own mentorship and care to students. Through integrated courses that blend academic knowledge with real-world ministry practice, such as the Health Care, Holy Care course, Perkins aims to prepare students for effective, compassionate leadership roles in various communities. Start your journey into servant leadership and pastoral care with us today.
