Essential Leadership Characteristics

The faculty, staff, and administration of Golden Gate work together through the Seminary's curriculum and co-curricular activities to shape leaders by encouraging and promoting personal, spiritual, and professional growth in the following arenas:

Leadership characteristics related to being a follower of JESUS:

1. Following Jesus (J1) -- A Christian leader understands the biblical, theological, historical, personal, and experiential foundations of being a follower of Jesus.
2. Spiritual Disciplines (J2) -- A Christian leader practices the spiritual disciplines of being a follower of Jesus.
3. Christ Commitment (J3) -- A Christian leader demonstrates commitment to living as a follower of Jesus through knowing God through Jesus and knowing self.
4. Integrity (J4) -- A Christian leader demonstrates integrity, meaning he or she consistently applies biblical principles in character and actions.
5. Wisdom (J5) -- A Christian leader demonstrates wisdom, meaning he or she follows God’s Spirit to apply biblical principles to complex life situations.

Leadership characteristics related to being CONNECTED to other believers:

6. The Church (C6) -- A Christian leader understands the biblical, theological, historical, personal, and experiential foundations of the local church and the broader faith community.
7. Servanthood (C7) -- A Christian leader relates and serves effectively within his or her faith community.
8. Courage (C8) -- A Christian leader demonstrates courage, meaning he or she risks whatever is necessary to articulate and apply appropriate biblical principles for formative and corrective change.
9. Creativity (C9) -- A Christian leader demonstrates creativity, meaning he or she applies eternal principles in fresh and effective ways.
10. Relational Competency (C10) -- A Christian leader demonstrates relational competency, meaning he or she works with others in a Christ-like way to mobilize them to accomplish God’s purposes.

Leadership characteristics related to being FOCUSED on living out one's calling:

11. God’s Call (F11) -- A Christian leader understands the biblical, theological, historical, personal, and experiential foundations of joining God in His Kingdom purposes.
12. Focused Life (F12) -- A Christian leader focuses his or her life to live out a calling in accordance with God’s Kingdom purposes.
13. Obedience (F13) -- A Christian leader responds with active commitment to God’s call to join Him in His Kingdom purposes.
14. Passion (F14) -- A Christian leader demonstrates passion through his or her life toward the pursuit of God’s call.

Leadership characteristics related to being MISSIONAL in character and practice:

15. God’s Mission (M15) -- A Christian leader understands the biblical, theological, historical, personal, and experiential foundations of God’s redemptive purposes.
16. Mobilization (M16) -- A Christian leader influences and mobilizes others to accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
17. Missions Commitment (M17) -- A Christian leader demonstrates personal commitment to the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Leadership characteristics related to being RELEVANT in one's ministry framework:

18. Relevance (R18) -- A Christian leader understands the biblical, theological, historical, personal, and experiential foundations of communicating the gospel in a meaningful way in context.
19. Contextual Ministry (R19) -- A Christian leader is capable of determining how to communicate the gospel effectively within different ministry contexts.
20. Relevance Commitment (R20) -- A Christian leader demonstrates a commitment to interpreting the gospel in his or her context of ministry.
21. Vision (R21) -- A Christian leader is capable of understanding and articulating the form of God’s mission for a particular ministry situation.