Foreword 15 Section 1: Advice for General Church Leadership 17 1. Christ and His Church 19 Christ the Good Shepherd 19 The object of Christ’s supreme regard 20 Why have a church? 22 Members are a family 22 The Lord’s body 23 Core functions of the church 24 Display Christ’s love 24 Vindicate God’s law 25 Proclaim truth to the world 25 Care for children and youth 26 Share truth-filled literature 27 Support mission work 28 Care for the poor 28 Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit 29 2. Organizational Structure and Behavior 32 The Old Testament church 32 The New Testament church 33 The Seventh-day Adventist Church 35 The remnant not Babylon 37 Internal threats 39 Drawing away 39 Misguided independence 39 Destiny of leaders who follow their own will 43 Inexperience 45 Disorganization 45 Order as we near the final crisis 46 3. Unity in Belief and Action 47 The benefits of unity 47 Strive for unity 48 Submission to the Holy Spirit 50 God’s formula for success 51 Counsel and plan together 52 Unity in diversity 56 Results of disunity 57 4. The Leader God Seeks 61 Bom again 61 Influenced by Christ 62 Consecrated to Christ 64 Represents Christ 67 Controlled by the Holy Spirit 70 Change ready 71 Humble and teachable 72 True humility 72 Humble but not timid 74 Humility, a qualification for higher service 76 Dangers of unbridled ambition 77 Humble soul winners 78 Lifelong learners 79 Kind 79 Christlike leaders 79 Kind to those in need 81 If not kind, do not hire 82 Selfless 83 Tender in word and action 84 Principle-centered 86 Open to God’s end-time innovations 88 Faithful to God and His church 89 90 Believer in the Spirit of Prophecy 91 Danger in setting aside testimonies 92 Competent 92 Collaborative 94 Coworker with angels 95 Skilled in human relations 95 Talent acquisition and development 96 Rejects false leaders 98 Alert to Satan’s attacks 99 Values the sacrifice of Jesus 101 Section 2: Advice for Specific Positions 103 5. The General Conference and Its President 105 Authority not given to one man 105 God does not give kingly power 107 The General Conference president 109 Words of encouragement 109 Qualifications 111 Counsel for a president 111 The president’s counselors 112 Shared responsibilities 115 Spiritual leader, not business manager 118 Respect for others 119 Education for conference presidents 120 Micromanagement 120 Teamwork 120 The General Conference committee 123 The General Conference committee and finances 124 6. Conference Presidents 125 Qualifications 125 A coworker with Christ 127 Spiritual growth 128 Strong in Christ 129 Open and impartial 130 Work assignments 131 Use God-given abilities 131 Responsibility to laity and ministers 132 Foster unity 136 Promote faithfulness in tithes and offerings 136 Press forward 136 Seek counsel 137 Support students in need 138 Manual labor 139 Diversity of thought needed 139 Moving ministers 140 Leaders beware! 140 Perils to be avoided 142 Making light of evil 142 Spirit of authority 143 Infallible judgment 145 Unlimited power 147 Dependence on human resources 149 Unsanctified ambition 150 Opposition to new leadership 151 Criticism of other workers 152 Lack of kindness 153 Presidents on test and trial 154 Choosing presidents 156 Conference presidents to share responsibilities 157 Tenure 159 Change develops character 160 Discipline when necessary 161 Dismissal 162 Encouraging the president 164 7. Ministers: Guardians of the Flock 166 Qualifications 166 Rich in Christ 167 Depend upon God 167 Submit to God’s will 169 Sees God’s work as sacred 170 Follow as God leads 172 Responsibilities 172 Winning souls 172 Students of Scripture 173 Feed the flock 175 Advance truth 175 Growth and development 176 Prepare the flock 177 Nurture the young 179 Seek total member involvement 179 City evangelism 180 Danger! 181 Personal business affairs 184 Care in choosing ministers 186 8. Board and Committee Members 187 Meeting with God 187 Seek wisdom from above 188 Satan will control if God does not 188 Meetings monitored by Heaven 190 Composition and work of committees 192 Too many ministers 192 Fewer and shorter meetings 192 Reduce number of resolutions 194 Seek wisdom from the group 194 Dealing with critical individuals 195 God’s business and the right frame of mind 195 Levity 195 Combative spirit 196 Stubbornness 198 Heaven’s record 200 Section 3: Advice for Church Organizations 203 9. God’s Institutions 205 Honor to whom honor is due 205 Interconnectedness of God’s work 205 Institutions as missionaries 206 Qualifications of managers 209 Set right example 211 Discern between good and evil 211 Move carefully 212 Living connection with God 212 Follow the example of Jesus 214 Safeguard God’s honor in institutions 215 Keep the heart with all diligence 215 Lift the standard higher 216 Counsel for educational leaders 217 Plead for wisdom 217 Carefully manage the work 218 Unite parents and teachers 219 Choose wise managers 219 Work from pure motives 220 Teach lessons learned to the church 220 Counsel for missionary leaders 221 Begin aright 221 Teach truth in new territories 221 Introduce new truth carefully 222 Personal defects not to impede truth 222 Use creativity 223 Be wise and adaptable 223 Share the load 224 Banish jealousy and envy 224 Harmonize and employ talents and gifts 225 Pray and counsel together 225 Trust God 226 Empower local decision-makers 226 Train foreign workers 227 Help the Master Builder 227 Foster unity in judgment and purpose 228 Beware of entanglements 228 Represent truth wisely 228 Counsel for physicians and sanitariums 229 Passion for the lost 230 Kind, thoughtful managers 230 Leading with integrity 232 Counsel for publishing leaders 233 Workers with talent and influence 234 Missionary houses 235 When course corrections are needed 235 No dictatorial power 235 Remove climate of criticism 237 Eliminate harmful speech 237 Avoid seeking undue advantage 238 Turn from self-serving 239 Cause for termination 240 When change goes wrong 241 10. Managing God’s Money 242 Work God’s vineyard 242 Strict integrity required 243 Finances to be handled by consecrated businesspeople 243 Poor management impedes God’s work 247 Debt-free operations 248 When to seek loans 250 Learn from past financial mistakes 253 Educate members on tithes and offerings 255 Determining wages 257 Injustice 259 Disproportionately high wages 261 God will provide 263 11. Worker Relations 265 Positive relations 265 Respect for one another 265 Support for one another 265 Confidence in fellow laborers 267 Exercise compassion 268 Walk humbly 268 Unity of action 269 Words of encouragement 269 Care for senior ministers 270 Love for the erring 270 Patience 271 Influence of Christian character 272 Negative relations 273 Respect for individuals 273 Favoritism 273 Selfishness 273 Little differences 274 Ridicule 274 Meddling 275 Harsh judgments 275 Hatred 276 Criticism 276 Danger of dictatorial control 277 General Conference president to set example 278 Majoring in minors 279 Dangers of micromanagement 281 The oppression of fellow workers 282 A snare of Satan 284 Sound management principles needed 285 Repeating past mistakes 286 12. Personal Life of a Church Leader 287 Principles of health 287 Temperance 288 Appetite and its effect on leaders 288 The minister’s diet and God’s work 289 Health reform and God’s institutions 292 Rest 293 Exercise 294 Home life 296 Love at home makes a fruitful worker 296 Family first 297 Loving discipline of children 297 Mission field for minister’s wife 298 The minister at home and church 299 Influence of the Christian home 301 13. Christ’s Church Triumphant 302 God is leading 302 Christ glorified 303 Church unified 304 The eleventh hour 306 The ultimate question 308

Principles for Christian Leaders is a wide-ranging collection of material gathered from the inspired writings of Ellen G. White on many aspects of Christian leadership. The 13 segments of this book contain principles that are applicable for every line of work in which men and women may engage. As we seek for wisdom to know how to lead well, we have the assurance that God is teaching, leading, and guiding His people. Amid the challenges that leaders deal with each day, we would do well to remember that the only safety for any one of us is in walking humbly with God, going where the Master leads the way. With our eyes on Him, our confidence can be found in following His footsteps.