03/04/2024
Post by Chris Bowater
Very on the mark!
‘Leadership’ is under intense scrutiny. In international, national and local politics, corporate business, media, education and so much more. ‘Leadership’ within the context of Church too is increasingly under the microscope!
Recently I had need for what was meant to be a regular, scheduled eye test at the opticians. I had no apparent dysfunctions of vision, only needing glasses for intense screen work and night driving.
It therefore took me by surprise to hear my practitioner explain his concern over my ‘peripheral vision’ tests, referring me to a hospital consultant. The problem, he explained, was that forward vision, long and short was acceptable but the response to seeing outside of those perimeters, the peripheral activities, ‘life on the edges’, was suspiciously faulty. Potentially dangerous. As it happens, the visit to the hospital produced inconclusive results.
But back to ‘leadership’! Is it possible that there’s a generation of leaders whose vision is so forward, focussed, even ‘tunnel visioned’ that awareness of what is happening on the periphery is absent. The focus can be the ministry itself, how it is perceived, received; the obsession can be on ‘results’ - ‘quantity over quality’ - even on a form of self preservation, so that what is happening around them in the lives of people are disregarded, ignored or considered to be a distraction.
Is it possible that the trend, the demise of ‘the pastor’ has contributed to this. Church is so often led by CEO’s, management gurus, charismatic and gifted individuals, more than by ‘a shepherd!’
My dad was a ‘pastors pastor’ - he loved and served sacrificially. Once asked, ‘what does a pastor mostly do?’ - his reply ‘watch, watch the sheep!’ That showed him how and when and where to respond effectively, appropriately, lovingly.
Please feel free to discuss, agree, disagree (graciously) as this is submitted to you in what I believe are hugely significant times. But let us all who claim to be or desire to be leaders, have a fresh ‘eye test!’
Love always.
Chris B
