Abstract
Servant and Steward Leadership are ordinary in Christian settings. Although they overlap, the two have different goals and methods. This study compares and contrasts each paradigm’s core principles. The scriptural basis of each model is investigated. Servant Leadership promotes listening, empathy, awareness, and healing to empower followers. The Steward Leadership paradigm supports the organization’s mission and long-term performance. Both are ethical, follower-focused models, but Stewards desire to leave a legacy for future generations. The models emphasize service and reject authoritarian leadership, but their primary goals differ. Jesus’ servanthood accords with the Servant Leader’s aim, while the parable of the talents underlines the Steward’s call to nurture resources wisely. Understanding these tiny differences helps Christian leaders exercise biblical servanthood and stewardship.
Keywords: Servant, Steward, Leadership, Similarities, Differences.
Since Robert Greenleaf introduced Servant Leadership in 1970, it has been a popular concept in leadership studies (Greenleaf Center, 2021). The primary concept of Servant Leadership is that leaders prioritize their followers’ needs and focus on empowering them. Steward Leadership, espoused more recently by authors such as Rodin (2010), has a similar but separate approach. Stewards prioritize their organization’s mission and the individuals under their care. While both approaches promote service and responsibility, Steward Leadership offers a more institutional approach. This paper will examine and contrast these two famous leadership paradigms, focusing on their fundamental principles, similarities, contrasts, and scriptural basis. The goal is to understand how each model views service and responsibility so that Christian leaders can successfully implement these ethical perspectives.
There has been immense interest in Servant Leadership since it was introduced 50 years ago, showing its intuitive appeal. However, Steward Leadership offers important, complementary insights as well. Studying both attenuates understanding what a moral, others-focused leader means. Servant Leadership has shaped leadership discourse for decades with its ethic of humility and empowerment. Yet Steward Leadership brings a needed perspective on leading institutions sustainably for the long term. Both models offer wisdom, so comparing them crystallizes understanding of ethical, follower-focused leadership. The goal is to clarify how Christian leaders can live out biblical principles of service and stewardship.
Defining Servant Leadership
The essence of Servant Leadership is a focus on others rather than self. As Northouse (2019) summarizes, Servant Leaders prioritize “the goal of serving others first” (p. 230). They empower followers by listening closely, showing empathy, and encouraging growth. Servant Leaders lead by example, modeling ethical behavior and creating a trusting, supportive environment (Parris & Peachey, 2013). They reject traditional power hierarchies in favor of leveling and shared decision-making. Several vital practices characterize Servant Leadership (Spears, 2010). These include listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to growth, and community building. Servant Leaders are consummate listeners, striving to understand followers’ perspectives and struggles. They exhibit empathy by appreciating where followers are coming from. Healing means caring for others holistically, including their hurts. Awareness involves self-reflection and understanding ethical impacts. Servants persuade rather than coerce, seeking consensus and commitment. Conceptualization means visioning and finding innovative solutions. Foresight is the discernment of future outcomes. Stewardship entails responsible management. Commitment to growth means developing followers through mentoring. Finally, community building involves cultivating solid and collaborative relationships. Ultimately, Servant Leaders are motivated by a desire to serve first. Their ambition is to develop followers to their fullest potential.
Defining Steward Leadership
Steward Leadership takes a slightly different perspective. Like Servant Leadership, it emphasizes service and responsibility. However, its core focus is stewarding the broader organization, not just the growth of individual followers. As Rodin (2010) explains, Steward Leaders serve their organization’s purpose excellently. They maximize the potential of the people and resources in their care. Wilson (2016) notes that Stewards are committed to sustaining and leaving an inheritance for the future. Rodin identifies several disciplines that define Steward Leaders. These include receiving, redeeming, nurturing, mobilizing, and propagating (Rodin, 2010). Receiving involves contemplation and prayer to gain insight. Redeeming means restoring and reinventing what is broken. Nurturing entails creating a culture where people and resources flourish. Mobilizing means rallying others toward a shared vision. Propagating involves empowering others to carry on the mission. Stewards thus take a long-term view of guarding legacy. They prayerfully attend to God’s purposes for their organization. A key goal is cultivating permanence by empowering others. For Stewards, success means fulfillment of their organization’s mission.
Similarities Between the Models
While differing in emphasis, Servant Leadership and Steward Leadership share many similarities. Both are follower-focused approaches that reject top-down authoritarian styles. They share a central commitment to serving others, not ego. As Boa (2005) notes, both models recognize that all of life is a sacred stewardship from God. So, leaders carry a weighty responsibility to use power ethically. Servant Leaders and Stewards exhibit foresight, listening skills, persuasion, and awareness (Rodin 2010). They emphasize mentorship and growth through empowerment rather than control.
Additionally, both models recognize the importance of community and relationships. Stewards and Servants reject prideful, self-serving leadership in favor of empowering others. This reflects shared values of humility, ethics, and service. They listen closely to followers’ needs and persuade rather than coerce. Mentorship is preferred over authoritarian control. Both build community and strong relationships. Overall, Servant Leadership and Steward Leadership overlap significantly in their emphasis on service and care for followers. There is synergy between the models’ core values.
Differences Between the Models
The core difference between Servant Leadership and Steward Leadership lies in the primary focus of service. For Servants, service means investing in the growth of individual followers. Servant Leaders pour themselves into mentoring and developing followers through one-on-one empowerment (Canavesi & Minelli, 2021). Stewards, however, take a farther-reaching view of their responsibility (Peshawaria, 2020). Their service aims to cultivate the organization’s larger purpose and long-term flourishing. Stewards serve by nurturing a broad legacy of people and resources. Another critical difference is scope. Servant Leadership is primarily about leading within one’s organization or department (Greenleaf Center, 2021). It focuses on directly influencing those under one’s care. Steward Leadership considers a broader scope, including future generations yet to be present. Stewards lead by discerning God’s unfolding purposes for their organization, not just immediate follower needs. Finally, Servant Leaders take a more relationally intimate posture. They lead through close personal attention. Stewards exhibit care for followers but focus more on managing and empowering systems. Their posture is personally engaged but organizationally oriented.
In summary, while the service ethic is shared, Servants focus on empowering individual followers. Stewards take the long view of nurturing organizational legacy. The scope is narrow versus broad, relational versus systemic. These distinctions show that emphasis differs between the models.
Biblical Support for the Models
Both Servant Leadership and Steward Leadership find solid biblical support. Jesus modeled profound servanthood by washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). He taught that whoever wants to be great must become the servant of all (Matthew 20:26). Paul instructed the Philippians to look not only to their interests but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). These verses depict humility and other focus, which are Servant Leader ideals (Holy Bible, n.d.). Jesus modeled servanthood by taking the low position of washing feet. His teaching explicitly urged leaders to serve rather than self-promote. Paul preached, looking out for others’ interests too. Scripture thus clearly endorses the Servant ethic. The Bible also frequently refers to the concept of stewardship. In telling the parable of the talents, Jesus illustrated the importance of stewarding resources well (Matthew 25:14-30) (Holy Bible, n.d.). Paul reminded believers that we are all stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Like Steward Leaders, we are called to faithfully nurture what has been entrusted to our care (Holy Bible, n.d.). Jesus’ parable encourages a long-term perspective in managing resources.
Conclusion
Servant Leadership and Steward Leadership both value service, but their goals differ. Servant leaders mentor and empower followers. Steward Leaders serve their organization’s heritage. Both are moral models for Christian leaders. Understanding these emphases helps apply biblical servanthood and stewardship. Humility and empowerment define servant leadership. Steward Leadership illuminates institutional sustainability. Their cooperation is a solid basis for Christ-centered, others-focused leadership. Both styles emphasize selflessness and a higher cause in our ego-driven leadership culture. Jesus washed feet and preached servanthood, supporting Servant Leader dreams. The talent story shows the Steward’s fidelity call. Scripture supports both focuses. Finding and using these complimentary perspectives helps Christian leaders follow biblical principles. The best leaders sacrifice prestige for service, mission for ego, and legacy.
References
Boa, K. 2005. Stewardship. Kenneth Boa 32. Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/32-stewardshipLinks to an external site.
Canavesi, A., & Minelli, E. (2021). Servant leadership: A systematic literature review and network analysis. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 34(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-021-09381-3
Greenleaf Center. (2021). What Is Servant Leadership? Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. https://www.greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/
Holy Bible. (n.d.). American Bible Society.
Northouse, P.G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). SAGE.
Peshawaria, R. (2020). Stewardship: The Core Compass Of Real Leaders. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rajeevpeshawaria/2020/09/22/stewardship-the-core-compass-of-real-leaders/
Rodin, R. S. (2010). The Steward Leader: Transforming People, Organizations, and Communities. InterVarsity Press.
Wilson, K. (2016). Steward Leadership in the Nonprofit Organization. InterVarsity Press.
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