What Is Competence?

What Does “Competence” Mean Today?

• Competence for Christian Ministry – As used in this article,
  the following definition has been hammered out from several significant resources:
  biblical studies, leadership research, and practical experience. It serves both as my definition of competency and as a factor in building trust:
  

  “Competence that builds trust

  – is a combination of spiritual gifts, values,
  attributes, knowledge, and skills
  – that prepares and enables a Christian minister, lay or staff,
  – to perform a specific task, or set of tasks, even ministry position,
  – within a congregation or organization,
  – to standards required for successful job performance.”

So, competence is the spiritual, mental, and physical capacities to perform a specific job! The question is “Are you prepared for your ministry service and leadership tasks?” Are you up to each challenge? When it comes to consistent performance, “can you cut it?” Are you able to do this assigned task, but not that one? Are you in overall “high performance fitness?” Do you “have what it takes to get the job done?”However we may ask the question, the answer we give about our competency level really does matter. Big time!

• Competency is task-specific: We choose a locksmith to fix a lock, a carpenter to build a cabinet, a physician to diagnose, prescribe, and treat—and a leader to lead. All are trusted because of competence for a specific task. Are you trusted because of your competent performance in ministry leadership? Competence, as preparedness for performing leadership
  tasks, is found to be one of the key attributes expected of leaders by followers; it also consistently builds trusting, productive relationships. This assessment is overwhelmingly underscored by research, observation, and experience. Competence today is not merely a hot topic, from weighty professional publications to water-fountain chatter down the hall. It is an avenue to fulfill your dreams and to build lasting trust in your living and in your leading.