Written by Tom Plitzuweit

In order for WELS schools to truly be servant-oriented organizations, the leaders need to make certain their teachers know their voices are heard and their opinions are important. Servant leaders empower their ministry teams to actively participate toward a shared vision for the school.

At the very heart of the ministry of WELS schools is servant leadership. True servant leaders know that they are servants first. They serve their Savior, Jesus. They serve their Savior by serving others. Principals and teachers in WELS schools should strive to be servant leaders. Their actions display a commitment to the school’s mission, vision, values, and policies. Servant leaders listen, show compassion, strengthen the weak, admit misjudgments, and forgive others. Working together, WELS principals and teachers can share ideas, plan, and make decisions that are in line with the school’s mission. The common good of the school’s ministry must always be ahead of personal gain. When this is done, a true servant organization will arise.

There are many theories regarding school leadership. Leaders implement and exhibit differing leadership theories, all aimed at promoting leader-follower relationships within their organizations (Bass & Stogdill, 1990). In 1970, Robert Greenleaf wrote an essay entitled “The Servant as Leader,” in which he emphasized serving the greater needs of others as the number one goal of leadership. Many leaders agree that servant leadership has its foundations in basic Christian principles (Blanchard & Hodges, 2003; Thompson, 2002).

Leadership in the WELS has its roots in the Word of God and is based on the leadership exhibited by Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who taught his disciples to serve when he said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

WELS principals are trained in the Word of God. Following the example of Christ as found in the Word of God, WELS principals are trained to see what it means to be a true servant leader. True servant leaders understand that they are servants first. They love people. They understand that power is only a gift given by those whom they serve. Servant leaders follow the example of Christ and look for opportunities to serve. They wash feet.

WELS principals, teachers, and district leaders are not just leaders. God calls each one of them to be a servant leader. The apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Servant leaders willingly serve others, using the love of Christ as their motivation for serving.

WELS schools are centered on the foundation of God’s Word, in which there is much to learn about The Servant Leader, Jesus Christ. There is no better picture of a servant heart than that of our Savior, Jesus. Jesus’ own life and teachings epitomize what a true servant leader is. Consider the many miracles he performed during his life on earth. Each time he showed his power by serving the needs of others. His motivation was his love for mankind. His entire life was a life of service. He, as the true servant leader, empowered his followers to carry on the all-important task of making disciples. Jesus showed in his words and actions what servant leadership is all about.

In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins (2001) and a team of researchers noted that servant leaders are often looked at as being selfless in that they put the needs of the organization above their own. Collins gave servant leaders the name “Level 5” to signify leaders who are humble, empowering others within the organization to be successful in their work, which ultimately affects the success of the organization.  These leaders know how to be good role models for their workers; they know how to inspire and motivate those within the organization; they do what they can to connect team members, their organization, and themselves to a shared vision; and they have a level of concern for each individual member of the team. The focus of servant leadership is on the followers, not self-interest. Servant leaders value those who make up their organization. For them, people come first.

Robert Greenleaf, in talking about promoting servant leadership, stated, “And we can teach others. Each of us who is willing to learn can teach. We can have great schools if we will help inspired and skillful institution builders to evolve as their leaders!” (Greenleaf, 1977, p. 244) WELS schools are “great schools.” Built on the foundation of God’s Word, WELS schools promote servant leadership. WELS school leaders are encouraged to be devoted to their calling – the calling to serve the Lord and their fellowman. That is following the example of our Savior. That is servant leadership.

Click here to read Tom’s thesis on servant leadership.

Tom Plitzuweit (’97) serves as the Associate Director of WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha, Wisconsin. In 2016 he completed a Master of Science in Education degree with a leadership emphasis at Martin Luther College.

REFERENCES

Bass, B. M., & Stogdill, R. M. (1990). Bass & Stogdill’s handbook of leadership: theory, research, and managerial applications (3rd ed.). New York: Free Press.

Blanchard, K. H., & Hodges, P. (2003). The servant leader: transforming your heart, head, hands, & habits. Nashville, TN: J. Countryman.

Collins, J. (2001). Good to great: Why some companies make the leap – and others don’t. New York: Harper Business.

Greenleaf, R. K. (1970). The servant as leader. Indianapolis, IN: The Robert Greenleaf Center.

Greenleaf, R. K. (1977). Servant leadership: a journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. New York: Paulist Press.

Holy Bible: New International Version (1984). Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society.

Thompson, R. S. (2002). The perception of servant leadership characteristics and job satisfaction in a church-related college. Dissertation Abstracts International, 64 (08), 2738. (UMI No. 3103013)