ICR looks for the Holy Spirit at work and connects, invests and partners.
Spiritual Leadership is such an overused term and yet it seems the best we have. What does it mean to be a spiritual leader; particularly in the context of a faith tradition and even more particularly in the context of Christian Leadership.
How can we be spiritual leaders when there are so many questions; so many expectations of what that means:
1. “How do we balance ambition and being relational?” Eugene Peterson’s response: “Get rid of your ambition first!”
2. “Deliberate mediocrity is a sin.” Elton Trueblood. Words of liberation for Reggie McNeal who had grown up in a spiritual culture who viewed the desire to be great as pitted against the virtue of humility.
3. “Pastors do study and read the Bible but mostly for sermon preparation and courses that they are teaching. They pray a lot; mostly out loud in groups where they are the leader. A pastor who takes time for his/her own personal relationship with the Lord is, maybe 1/10th of 1% of our pastors. How can these leaders lead a congregation in experiential adult faith formation?”
So many messages and expectations of spiritual leaders and yet…
Eugene Peterson admits that he thinks of ambition as a negative word but goes on to say, (paraphrasing) There is a difference in ambition and being energetic and doing your best; wanting to serve your best. The title of this lecture is “Follow the Leader.” If I am following the leader, I am not the leader. I am taking this relationship very seriously. The minute I become serious about this relationship, following it cures of a lot of stuff. I am not asking how I can succeed, I am not asking how I can win or be the best or have the most members, I am asking how I can follow Jesus; the true leader.
Reggie McNeil goes on to say that Elton Trueblood’s words were freeing for him. Up until he heard these words, he thought that aspiring to greatness was somehow unbecoming to a Christian. The virtue of humility was counter to greatness. What unfolded was an understanding that “greatness in the kingdom of God is a journey toward humility. I also now understand that humility does not correlate with low spotlight” Jesus idea of greatness was in humility and service. A great leader to follow.
Spiritual Leaders is not complicated and really only has one message. Be a follower. As long as we are following the true Leader, Jesus Christ, our leadership will be transformational.
Two suggested readings just for your own forming of spiritual Leadership:
Easy to read articulation of Disciplines for our lives as Leaders: Reggie McNeal, Practicing Greatness
Practical Time Management: David Allen, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Foot notes:
1.Lecture series at Regent College, Follow the Leader: Following Herod: The Powerful Leader (Regent College Audio 3006A)
2. Elton Trueblood quote, Practicing Greatness by Reggie McNeal, San Francisco, Josey-Bass, 2006
3. Paraphrased discussion about adult faith formation curriculum with Presbyterian church leader and educator.
4. McNeal pg 1.
Spiritual Leadership is such an overused term and yet it seems the best we have. What does it mean to be a spiritual leader; particularly in the context of a faith tradition and even more particularly in the context of Christian Leadership.
How can we be spiritual leaders when there are so many questions; so many expectations of what that means:
1. “How do we balance ambition and being relational?” Eugene Peterson’s response: “Get rid of your ambition first!”
2. “Deliberate mediocrity is a sin.” Elton Trueblood. Words of liberation for Reggie McNeal who had grown up in a spiritual culture who viewed the desire to be great as pitted against the virtue of humility.
3. “Pastors do study and read the Bible but mostly for sermon preparation and courses that they are teaching. They pray a lot; mostly out loud in groups where they are the leader. A pastor who takes time for his/her own personal relationship with the Lord is, maybe 1/10th of 1% of our pastors. How can these leaders lead a congregation in experiential adult faith formation?”
So many messages and expectations of spiritual leaders and yet…
Eugene Peterson admits that he thinks of ambition as a negative word but goes on to say, (paraphrasing) There is a difference in ambition and being energetic and doing your best; wanting to serve your best. The title of this lecture is “Follow the Leader.” If I am following the leader, I am not the leader. I am taking this relationship very seriously. The minute I become serious about this relationship, following it cures of a lot of stuff. I am not asking how I can succeed, I am not asking how I can win or be the best or have the most members, I am asking how I can follow Jesus; the true leader.
Reggie McNeil goes on to say that Elton Trueblood’s words were freeing for him. Up until he heard these words, he thought that aspiring to greatness was somehow unbecoming to a Christian. The virtue of humility was counter to greatness. What unfolded was an understanding that “greatness in the kingdom of God is a journey toward humility. I also now understand that humility does not correlate with low spotlight” Jesus idea of greatness was in humility and service. A great leader to follow.
Spiritual Leaders is not complicated and really only has one message. Be a follower. As long as we are following the true Leader, Jesus Christ, our leadership will be transformational.
Two suggested readings just for your own forming of spiritual Leadership:
Easy to read articulation of Disciplines for our lives as Leaders: Reggie McNeal, Practicing Greatness
Practical Time Management: David Allen, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Foot notes:
1.Lecture series at Regent College, Follow the Leader: Following Herod: The Powerful Leader (Regent College Audio 3006A)
2. Elton Trueblood quote, Practicing Greatness by Reggie McNeal, San Francisco, Josey-Bass, 2006
3. Paraphrased discussion about adult faith formation curriculum with Presbyterian church leader and educator.
4. McNeal pg 1.