It’s been a big news in the news! Last time there was a leadership spill in federal politics our church got some great press when our sign read “Despite opinion polls the church is keeping its leader.” If politics is not your thing then we only need to look to the sporting world for examples of unstable leadership in our national cricket and swimming teams. It appears that effective leadership is a direct function of cohesive following – and of course you will only get cohesive following when their is effective leadership – when either or both is dysfunctional then we only have to look at this week’s press to see the possible result.
Leadership has been in the news in the church as well: there is a new Pope finding his feet and if you missed it – overnight a new Archbishop of Canterbury was enthroned. Closer to home we have our own upcoming election for a new Diocesan bishop. Fortunately there are no factions in the church so we couldn’t possibly have any issues like what we’ve read about this week… (excuse my sarcasm).
As a church “leader” I actually don’t feel my primary role is to do a lot of leading – my first role is to be a follower and then to be an enabler of other followers. Last night we elected our Parish Council for 2013 – their role is not to lead the church but to facilitate an environment where others are able to follow. As a church we have just focused Rev’d Ken Youman (9am) and appointed Helen Parr (10:45am) and Anna Blanch (5pm) for a trial period of 6 months as ‘Community Care and Engagement’ which is a fancy way of saying enabling, equipping and encouraging followers.
The person we follow as the community of St John’s Newcastle is not me, it’s not going to be the new bishop, not even the Archbishop of Canterbury – we follow Jesus.
We follow him this week to the cross and we see his sacrifice and the total emptying of himself for me and for you and we can’t help but be humbled by it. Jesus’ leadership is one of giving everything he had and was – but his leadership is also one of radical transformation in the resurrection and presence of the Holy Spirit.
This is what leads us – this is what we follow. Our leadership is is perfect but unfortunately our following is flawed and to be honest it’s hard work. This is why I believe we have the church – so that we never follow alone. We always follow together, we never work it out ourselves, tell it or are told – we share in it together.
As we hear, see & read about dysfunctional organisations and structures can I encourage you to look to Jesus for your try model of leadership and then to look to each other as we follow together.
I pray you are moved to transformation this Holy Week.