What Kind of Person/People?

Titus 1:5
“…appoint elders in every polis (neighbourhood).”

The key questions for the formation of the servant-leader(s) of an incarnational Christian community:

1. What kind of people can discover their neighborhood and attend to it?

Anyone who has a genuine interest in their neighbour/hood.
One who believes that God is present and active in the neighbourhood.
One who is confident and engaging.
One who is free from life’s “worries, riches and pleasures” (Luke 8:14).
One who is perceptive.

2. What skills are needed to discover their neighbourhood and attend to it?

Ability to consolidate their families’ activities to the neighbourhood.
Ability to create relational boundaries.
Ability to participate in the organizations within the neighbourhood.
Ability to slow down, listen and watch.
Ability to engage deeply in relationships with all kinds of people.

3. What kind of person can convene the kingdom seekers in their neighbourhood and eat with them?

One who is winsome, trusted, and visionary.
One who is comfortable with all kinds of people in their home.
One who is gracious with those of other beliefs and lifestyles.
One who belongs to a healthy household.
One who is hospitable.

4. What skills are needed to convene the kingdom seekers in the neighbourhood?

Ability to determine who a kingdom seeker is.
Ability to earn the trust of a kingdom seeker.
Ability to invite and inspire kingdom seekers.
Ability to host.
Ability to lead in engaging and redemptive conversations.

5. What kind of people can discern what God is doing in their neighbourhood and participate in it?

One who loves God and their neighbour as themselves (as their own family).
One who seeks and finds the Kingdom of God.
One who is sensitive to the needs of others.
One who has submitted time and money to God.

6. What skills are needed to discern what God is doing in their neighbourhood and to participate in it?

Knowledge of how God has worked in the past through both tradition and scripture.
Ability to listen for the voice of God in “the other”.
Ability to participate in community organized activities.
Ability to organize people.
Ability to lead others in inconvenient and costly activities.

7. What kind of person leads from a posture of interdependence within the body of Christ?

One who is humble.
One who is forgiving.
One who is teachable.
One who is collaborative.
One who is submissive.

8. What skills are needed to lead from a posture of interdependence within the body of Christ?

Ability to embrace the positive dimensions in all expressions of Christ's Church.
Ability to learn in spite of challenging circumstances.
Ability to set a teaching agenda based on the composition of those assembled.
Ability to communicate with servant-leaders from multiple Christian traditions.