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The needs for leadership around the world demand not only new models of leadership development but also new patterns of working together. Each part of the body of Christ around the world has something significant to contribute to leadership development and something to learn from others committed to the same task. It is not accurate, therefore, to assume that a model developed in one location will be universally applicable. It is time to work together in a way that allows learning from each other and growing together.
Global LEAD Alliance was formed in December 2005 by seven leadership development programs that came together in order to accomplish a common vision. This alliance is more than a network for learning; it is a strategic alliance whose purpose is to see leadership programs launched, strengthened and reproduced. Working together strengthens the quality of existing leadership development programs and accelerates the creation of new programs through the sharing of ideas and resources on a global scale. The Alliance assists the body of Christ in every nation to do their part in raising up more effective Christ-like leaders for the expansion of the Kingdom.
We have joined together to:
- Speed the process of leadership development
- Provide mutual counsel and support
- Allowing sharing of resources (human and material)
- Provide program evaluation
- Facilitate the Training of Trainers
- Enable cross-cultural reflection
- Produce global connections
- Enhance research capabilities
- Encourage interdependency
- Support one another in prayer
As new programs are launched we invite them to join the Global LEAD Alliance which connects them with similar programs around the world. These programs pray for each other, share lessons without copyright restrictions, and meet together annually for continued training.
All Global LEAD Alliance programs share the following core commitments in leadership development.
- Christ-likeness. Jesus is our model for life and His leadership is the standard for all Christian leaders. We continually look at His life as the highest model of leadership.
- Service. The nature of true leadership is serving and empowering others.
- Character. Development of character is the essential component that creates and sustains trust, integrity and Christ-like relationships in the life of the leader.
- Knowledge. Biblical knowledge forms the framework for Christ-like leadership development.
- Skills. Leadership skills are needed to complement character and knowledge.
- Life transformation. All leadership development should focus on life change and should always include assignments and learning experiences designed for application of the principles learned.
- Relationships. All leadership takes place in the context of relationships. We seek to cultivate and develop healthy relationships. This includes student/teacher relationships, family relationships, church relationships, relationship of the program to authority, relationships within the Alliance, etc.
- Release. All leadership development is designed to empower others and release workers into effective Christ-like leadership.
- Cooperation. We cooperate locally and globally believing that this brings the highest good and fulfills the prayer of Christ (John 17). Therefore, we will generously share people, resources, ideas or dreams for the blessing of others.
- Excellence. In all we do we strive to reflect the highest standards of quality.
- Relevance. We strive to make all our leadership development Biblically sound, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the local context.
- Great Commission focus. Our goal in leadership development is to see every person given the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.
- Interdisciplinary. Leadership development is needed in all spheres of society: church, business, political, etc.
- The Church. The church is God’s plan for making disciples of all nations/peoples and teaching them to obey all Jesus taught. We work together as congregations or local expressions of the global body of Christ to see Christ-like leaders developed.
- Prayer. Intercession and prayer are foundational to this Alliance. We believe that all we do should be conceived, birthed and carried out in prayer.
Criteria for Membership
To be a member of the Alliance a local program should fulfill the following:
- Embrace the Alliance vision, mission, philosophy of leadership development, core concepts and core commitments.
- Be a cooperative effort by people from a cluster of congregations.
- Be locally-owned and sustained.
- Be an ongoing program providing a minimum of forty hours of formal instruction per year.
- Include some form of accountability for life transformation. (This could be a mentoring process, exams, etc.)
- Complete the required application process.
- Contribute a minimum of 2% of the program’s total budget to the Alliance.
- Attend Global LEAD Alliance meetings.