Leadership Quotes

These leadership quotes are from all of Christian history, though as usual, they emphasize the first couple centuries after the apostles.

Christian Leadership Quotes from Ignatius of Antioch, A.D. 110

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone is not within the altar, he is deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two possesses such power, how much more that of the bishop and the whole church! He, therefore, that does not assemble with the church, has even by this revealed his pride and condemned himself. (Letter to the Ephesians 5)

(to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna) Pray for all men that they may be saved and demand things which are befitting, with all diligence both of the flesh and the spirit … Bear the infirmities of all men as a perfect athlete, for where the labor is great, the gain is also great. If you love the good disciples only, you have no grace. Rather, subdue those that are evil by gentleness. (Letter to Polycarp 1, 2)

It is well to reverence both God and the bishop. He who honors the bishop has been honored by God. He who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop, serves the devil. (Letter to the Smyrneans 9)

Since you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live not after the ways of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us in order that by believing in his death, you might escape from death. It is therefore necessary that—as you are doing—without the bishop you do nothing. You should also be subject to the elders, as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our hope. In him, if we live, we shall be found. (Letter to the Trallians 2)

Let everyone reverence the deacons as the commandment of Jesus Christ, the bishop as Jesus Christ, who is the Son of the Father, and the elders as the sanhedrin of God and assembly of the apostles. Apart from these, there is no Church. (Letter to the Trallians 3)

Take heed ... to have but one Eucharist. For there is on flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ and one cup to show forth the unity of his blood; one altar, as there is one bishop, along with the elders and deacons, my fellow-servants. (Letter to the Philadelphians 4)

Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist which is by the bishop or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, let the multitude of also be, just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic [i.e., universal] church. It is not lawful either to baptize or to celebrate a love feast without the bishop, but whatever he approves of, that is also pleasing to God. (Letter to the Smyrneans 8)

Christian Leadership Quotes from The Didache, A.D. 80 - 160

My child, night and day remember him who speaks the word of God to you, and you shall honor him as the Lord. For in the place in which lordly rule is uttered, there is the Lord. (ch. 4)

Christian Leadership Quotes from Irenaeus, A.D. 180-186

Those … who are believed to be elders by many, but serve their own lusts; and who do not place the fear of God supreme in their hearts, but conduct themselves with contempt towards others; and who are puffed up with the pride of holding the chief seat and work evil deeds in secret, saying, "No man sees us"—these shall be convicted by the Word, who does not judge after outward appearance, nor does he look upon the face, but the heart. (Against Heresies, IV:26:3

Christian Leadership Quotes from Tertullian, c. A.D. 200

I must not omit an account of the conduct of the heretics—how frivolous it is, how worldly, how merely human; without seriousness, without authority, without discipline, as suits their creed.
   To begin with, it is doubtful who is a catechumen [someone being taught but not yet a baptized Christian] and who a believer. They all have equal access, they all hear as equals, they pray as equals; even heathens, if someone like that happens along.
   That which is holy they will cast to the dogs, and their pearls—although they are not real ones—they will fling to the swine. (Prescription Against Heretics)

Christian Leadership Quotes from Cyprian, c. A.D. 250

Nor let the people flatter themselves that they can be free from the contagion of sin, while communicating with an elder who is a sinner, and yielding their consent to the unjust and unlawful episcopacy of their overseer …
   On which account a people obedient to the Lord's precepts, and fearing God, ought to separate themselves from a sinful prelate, and not to associate themselves with the sacrifices of a sacrilegious priest, especially since they themselves have the power either of choosing worthy elders, or of rejecting unworthy ones. ("To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain," par. 3, from the Epistles of Cyprian 67, as numbered in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. V)

We observe to come from divine authority, that the elder should be chosen in the presence of the people under the eyes of all, and should be approved worthy and suitable by public judgment and testimony. ("To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain," par. 4, from the Epistles of Cyprian 67, as numbered in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. V)

God commands an elder to be appointed in the presence of all the assembly; that is, He instructs and shows that the ordination of elders ought not to be solemnized except with the knowledge of the people standing near, that in the presence of the people either the crimes of the wicked may be disclosed, or the merits of the good may be declared, and the ordination, which shall have been examined by the vote and judgment of all, may be just and legitimate. ("To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain," par. 4, from the Epistles of Cyprian 67, as numbered in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. V)

For which reason you must diligently observe and keep the practice delivered from divine tradition and apostolic observance, which is also maintained among us, and almost throughout all the provinces; that for the proper celebration of ordinations all the neighbouring bishops of the same province should assemble with that people for which a prelate is ordained. And the bishop should be chosen in the presence of the people, who have most fully known the life of each one, and have looked into the doings of each one as respects his habitual conduct. ("To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain," par. 5, from the Epistles of Cyprian 67, as numbered in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. V)

As there are many other and grave crimes in which Basilides and Martialis are held to be implicated; such persons attempt to claim for themselves the episcopate [office of bishop] in vain; since it is evident that men of that kind may neither rule over the Church of Christ, nor ought to offer sacrifices to God … men of this sort might indeed be admitted to repentance, but were prohibited from the ordination of the clergy, and from the priestly honor. ("To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain," par. 5, from the Epistles of Cyprian 67, as numbered in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. V)

Christian Leadership Quotes from Eusebius Pamphilus of Caesarea, the Historian, A.D. 323 - 337

But you are well aware of the fact that testimony does not in any way produce a blessing for everyone. Some who hear are glad merely to secure the supply of their bodily necessities, while others court the patronage of their superiors; some fix their affection on those who treat them with hospitable kindness; others, being honored with presents, love their benefactors in return. Few are they who really desire the word of testimony, and rare indeed it is to find a friend of truth. Because of this we must endeavor consider everyone's unique situation, and, like a physician, to administer to each one what will tend toward the health of the soul, so that the saving doctrine may be fully honored by everyone. (Life of Constantine III:21)

Christian Leadership Quotes from Martin Luther, 1520 - 1546

He who attempts by the restraints of law to compel the unwilling to renunciation is no Christian preacher or ruler; he is but a worldly jailer. ("First Sunday after Epiphany" from Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. IV [Grand Rapids, MI:BakerBooks, 2007] p. 11)

A teacher of the Law enforces his restraints through threats and punishments. A preacher of grace persuades and incites by calling attention to the goodness and mercy of God. The latter does not desire works prompted by an unwilling spirit or service that is not the expression of a cheerful heart. (ibid.)

He who cannot, by the gracious and lovely message of God's mercy so lavishly bestowed upon us in Christ, be persuaded in a spirit of love and delight to contribute to the honor of God and the benefit of his neighbor, is worthless to Christianity, and all effort is lost on him. (ibid., p. 12)

[Paul] means those who have oversight of the Church officers generally; who take care that teachers be diligent, that deacons and ministers make proper and careful distribution of the finances, and that sinners are reproved and disciplined; in short, who are responsible for the proper execution of all offices. Such are the duties of a bishop. (ibid., p. 32; "Second Sunday After Epiphany")

It is the special duties of [the bishops] to be concerned about others, not themselves. … He must be attentive and diligent, even though all others be slothful and careless. Were he inattentive and unfaithful, the official duties of all the others would likewise be badly exectued. (ibid., p. 32)

Every minister should make much of his calling and impress upon others the fact that he has been delegated by God to preach the Gospel. As the ambassador of a government is honored for his office and not for his private person, so the minister of Christ should exalt his office in order to gain authority among men. This is not vain glory, but needful glorying. … Paul exalts his ministry out of the desire to make known the name, the grace, and the mercy of God. …
   We exalt our calling, not to gain glory among men, or money, or satisfaction, or favor, but because people need to be assured that the words we speak are the words of God. This is no sinful pride. It is holy pride. (Commentary on Galatians)

When Paul speaks of those called "by men," I take it he means those whom neither God nor man sent, but who go wherever they like and speak for themselves. When Paul speaks of those called "by man" I take it he means those who have a divine call extended to them through other persons. God calls in two ways. Either He calls ministers through the agency of men, or He calls them directly as He called the prophets and apostles. Paul declares that the false apostles were called or sent neither by men, nor by man. (Commentary on Galatians)

Elsewhere Paul draws a sharp distinction between an apostleship and lesser functions, as in I Corinthians 12:28: "And God hath set some in the church; first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers." He mentions the apostles first because they were appointed directly by God. (Commentary on Galatians)

On the other hand, those who have a divine call must suffer a good deal of opposition in order that they may become fortified against the running attacks of the devil and the world. This is our comfort in the ministry, that ours is a divine office to which we have been divinely called. Reversely, what an awful thing it must be for the conscience if one is not properly called. It spoils one’s best work. (Commentary on Galatians)

It is the lot of God's ministers not only to suffer opposition at the hand of a wicked world, but also to see the patient indoctrination of many years quickly undone by such religious fanatics. This hurts more than the persecution of tyrants. We are treated shabbily on the outside by tyrants, on the inside by those whom we have restored to the liberty of the Gospel, and also by false brethren. But this is our comfort and our glory, that being called of God we have the promise of everlasting life. (Commentary on Galatians)

Christian Leadership Quotes from John Calvin, 1540 - 1564

Pastors are mistaken if they imagine that they are invested with the government of the Church on any other terms than that of being ministers and witnesses of the truth of God. (On the Necessity of Reforming the Church, as cited by Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, bk. VIII, ch. 13, sec. 98)

Christian Leadership Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill, (d. 1994)

We put men into pulpits because they have degrees. But you can have 32 of them and still be frozen! (unknown)

Leadership Quotes from Jim Collins, c. 2005

True leadership only exists when those who follow have the choice not to. (unknown, but he's the author of Good to Great)

Christian Leadership Quotes from Steven Furtick, 2010

If a leader doesn't walk with a little bit of a limp, he's not worth following. (Twitter)