We are highlighting Leadership Journal's Top 40, the best articles of the journal's 36-year history. We will be presenting them in chronological order. Today we present #23, from 1994.

Most pastors I know are committed to personal growth. Most spend hours reading, praying, and studying in an unending quest for spiritual and professional growth.

Yet, curiously, many of us avoid perhaps the most vital ingredient for such growth--a candid, but official assessment of how we are doing as spiritual leaders.

My friend Dave, in 15 years of ministry, has never received a formal evaluation. He's not unaware of the benefits; he's just keenly aware of potential pitfalls. He has felt the sting of betrayal, so he's determined to avoid any forum for grievances. The danger that an adversary may gain a soapbox far outweighs for him the possible benefits of a review.

In many ways, Dave is right. We take great risks by opening ourselves to evaluation. And while the scalpel of correction ...