Comments on: Spiritual leadership in our culture today

By: ggbolt16

ggbolt16 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:28:56 +0000

Questions…do you think those of us who have “earned” titles or degrees have not given up , sacrificed, or “walked through the fire” in order to be known by those “titles”?

Is it not individualistic to want to be a “different” kind of leader?

When I first read this blog I was put on the defensive, as some one who has grown up in the church, gotten the degrees, and believes in the polity. I don’t believe you are attacking those things but I do wonder in what ways (like Bob) you define leadership or success? Why do you want to be a leader? How have you been affirmed in that call to lead? What is stopping you from being the type of leader you want to be? How do you define authority? Can you accept authority placed on you by others?

As you can see I have a lot of questions…maybe a Deschutes session is in order.

Blessings,
Greg

By: Nate

Nate — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:19:25 +0000

Campenita,
Surely with goodness and mercy will he pursue us all the days of our lives. This is the shepherd I know and I long to be the same. I will call and pursue… may we find our place in this world. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Nate

By: Nate

Nate — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:16:28 +0000

Bob,
Thanks for the thought. Very good connection between leadership and success. I think a lot of the issue really does come down to that. I have been thinking a lot about what happens when a leader is called to lead without the trappings of Western success. Am I prepared to begin giving up those things? What happens when the possession must be given away because they keep me from where the people are? What does it mean for me to be the “pastor” of a community that doesn’t go to church or give money to churches?

By: campenita

campenita — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:55:03 +0000

I am happy that you seek to be a leader by following Jesus. Leading in the way of humility, love, peace, yet never losing one’s integrity, or compromising God’s Word. May He bless you in your journey so that you will truly have a shepherds heart. I am praying for you. Too often, those in positions of “church” authority, have become tyrannical and dictatorial. How far from our Shepherd we have wandered. May you be used, as His vessel, to call many back.

By: bob Pearson

bob Pearson — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:16:13 +0000

Nate,
It is also important to define what it is you are looking for in being a leader as well. Success is very different than being a true leader. People who lead are not always seen as successful. A new definition of success in being a new kind of leader may be a valuable exercise for you to attempt. It may run more to influence, impact, integrity, values and relationships, more than the positional power of most definitions of leadership in our culture.

By: Nate

Nate — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:48:40 +0000

Yah, the font does get big when you type… I’m interested in your thoughts… re-visit when you can!

By: sumijoti

sumijoti — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:32:09 +0000

This is a subject near and dear to my heart. (Whoa! How did this font get so big?)

I tried to write a comment in my own words here but it is not flowing. Perhaps I might come back and re-visit the topic when my brain isn’t so fried.