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The beginning of the tenure of a new student leadership team is a good time to examine and agree about some basic leadership, lifestyle and character qualities. You can make a formal covenant or an informal agreement, whichever fits your team. In either case, laying out clear expectations from the outset will help avoid trouble later, when academic pressure, relational conflict, and leadership responsibilities seem, inevitably, to become an overwhelming challenge.

As you talk through your agreement, keep in mind one of the differences between a covenant and a contract: a covenant is based on mutual trust, while a contract is written and signed in order to insure compliance—often because of distrust. Get off on the right foot. Make your agreement a covenant of trust and respect.

Here's a sample of a very general covenant outline we use at Hamline University. We pull it out at least twice a year to review the quality of our leadership, both as individuals and together as a team. (Note that these are leadership qualities we are shooting for—goals we strive for, not necessarily prerequisites to leadership.) Naturally, your outline will look different—and can be more specific—but perhaps this example can get you started:

A. Willing servanthood: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing . . ." (1 Peter 5:2–3).

B. Increasing vision for the campus and the whole world: Matthew 28:18 says, "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . .'"

C. Faithful to the Lord in daily living. Examples: faithful to prayer and Scripture; faithful to commitments; faithful to attendance at church; faithful in returning calls, messages and in carrying out tasks; faithful in friendships and working relationships; faithful to academic studies.

D. Demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22–24 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

E. Willing to represent Christ publicly on campus.

F. Growing in evangelism: Knowing the gospel message and learning to communicate it effectively.

G. Faithful to InterVarsity: Participating in large groups and small groups, camps and conferences; willing to represent InterVarsity on campus; showing up for meetings and letting people know if you're not able to attend.