What makes a great church leader?

October 2025

Leadership training for ministry and mission is something that Wycliffe Hall takes very seriously. With our final year ordinands due to step into church ministry roles in just 9 months’ time, their academic year began with an ‘Integrated Study Week’ dedicated to practical leadership skills.

Vice Principal Revd Dr Justyn Terry, who leads the programme, reflects:

“It goes without saying that a church leader should be spiritually vibrant, theologically informed and a faithful preacher. But they need to be so much more as well! They need to lead the congregation in the mission God has entrusted to them. This involves working out where they think God is leading them, and seeing what they can need to do to move in that direction. That will require cultivating leaders, and managing people, money and time. We face a broad spectrum of leadership responsibilities that most of us need some training in to perform well.”

The Integrated Study Week (ISW) on Leadership in Ministry and Mission is a great way for students to start their final year at Wycliffe Hall. The ISW takes a highly practical approach to teaching about the nature and practice of Christian leadership in general, and within the Church of England in particular.

Through workshops, group exercises and the contributions of visiting speakers, students have been engaging with leadership across different dimensions from the visionary, to the strategic, to the practical. Justyn Terry has been drawing on his book: The Five Phases of Leadership, along with more than 20 years of leadership experience in churches and theological colleges, to help shape the programme’s content and delivery.

Mayank Solikar, one of the student participants, reflects:

"Attending leadership ISW was a very engaging and enriching experience. The speakers were experienced, knowledgeable and good teachers. The defining characteristics of leadership were well presented and the difference between secular leadership and leadership in priestly context was articulated very well."

"I learned that Leadership is about going somewhere, discerning God's direction, ensuring to travel in that direction and in that way reflecting the nature of God. Also, the way Jesus taught his disciples: 'I do - You watch; I do - You help; You do - I help; You do - I watch' was an amazing revelation in few words."

"Overall I have gained a deeper insight about the role off a Christian leader. Jesus is the greatest leader from whom we can learn how to be an effective servant leader."

Justyn Terry concludes:

“We’ve had a stimulating week in a supportive environment that has stretched our students and seen them grow in their capabilities. I’m grateful to them all for their contributions, and to our wonderful array of visiting speakers for sharing with us their time and expertise.”