Ensuring organizational sustainability in changing times: Guidelines for leadership competencies within the UBCZ (United Baptist Church of Zimbabwe)

Abstract

The study investigates the leadership competencies required to ensure organizational sustainability in changing times. This was done using a case study of the UBCZ (United Baptist Church of Zimbabwe). The research aims at answering the following research question: • What competencies and skills should the UBCZ leadership possess to be able to effectively lead the church in the current changing times to ensure organizational sustainability? To achieve the aim of the study, information was gathered using a qualitative research design and literature review. An interview guide with questions was used. The data collected were analyzed using a thematic process. Main themes were generated from the broad interview question themes while sub-themes were inductively generated from the participants’ responses. The findings show that; • The UBCZ leadership does not possess the required competencies and skills that are useful to successfully lead the church and ensure organizational sustainability in these changing times • There are several underlying causes of the UBCZ leadership challenges. The major cause is the failure of the church to identify the right people to select for leadership and the failure of the church to equip leaders so that they possess the required competencies and skills. • It is God who calls leaders to lead his church according to their gifting. Therefore, the church must elect individuals with a call and who possess a gift from God. The study observes several spiritual qualities that must be possessed by church leaders. These qualities may be summarised in that, a church leader must be someone whose spiritual life is credible, with no accusations levelled against them

either in their private or public life and must be able to teach and equip congregants for service. • Church leaders must possess the following competencies and skills to ensure organizational sustainability, self-control, teaching ability, able to equip believers for service, servant leadership, humility, self-sacrifice, ability to overcome challenges, ability to communicate the vision, adaptability, decision-making, integrity, tact and diplomacy, executive ability and ability to make resources available. The study concludes that for church leaders to possess the necessary competencies and skills to foster organizational sustainability, there has to be a proper criterion of selecting leaders who are called by God and who already possess a gift from him. These should be properly trained and equipped so that they in turn can be able to equip congregants for service. The study concludes that since church leadership is spiritual where followers are volunteers, a leader cannot use force to get things done but should equip and train the congregants so that they understand the need to serve and be equipped on how to serve.