I am currently team-teaching a leadership class with Dr. Lamar Vest, former presiding bishop of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN). In a recent assignment, Dr. Vest asked our students to prepare a brief presentation about their core values. Everyone leads (or misleads) from their core values. I decided to participate in the assignment.
Core Value #1 – Humility. The Apostle Paul encourages us, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5). The attitude of Christ is humility, that is, the willingness to be emptied of power and status for the sake of the mission of God. Humility requires the practice of obedience and submission. The practice of submission requires a situation that puts my will against the will of others and I place my will under the will of others. The practice of humility requires that I am emptied of selfish ambition. The example of Christ’s self-humiliation is footwashing (John 13). This is leadership on its knees.
Core Value #2 – Openness. I am open to people – especially those who have a different perspective in religion and/or politics. I am willing to listen and accept the person even if I disagree with their point of view. Following the counsel of Jesus, I seek to make friends with my opponents (Matthew 5:25). I eagerly embrace diversity and new possibilities. Another word for this is hospitality. The example of this is the Table of the Lord. Jesus dined with friends and strangers, as well as saints and sinners of all tribes.
Core Value #3 – Active Listening. The miracle of Pentecost was twofold: speaking and hearing – some spoke in the Spirit and others heard in the Spirit. This means that I seek to pay attention to the nuances of spoken and unspoken words. I try to discern what people are not saying. I try to properly interpret what is being said. This also means speaking less and listening deeper.
Core Value #4 – Go Boldly. Yes, I borrowed this from Star Trek. Even so, it is appropriate for ministry leadership. Leaders need to press forward in spite of known or unknown risks, resist fear, and embrace a hopeful imagination. Leaders need to push against the status quo. Jesus said, “Behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3). The world is a dangerous place and the timid will not prevail.
Core Value #5 – Encouragement.I want to encourage others. That means to love fiercely and to offer wise counsel when invited. Encouragement means that we help others to reinterpret their failures with success in view. Yes, there will be times that rebuke and correction is necessary, but it should be done with gentleness. Finally, if I am to be an encourager that means that I must resist bitterness.
If you know me well you know that I have at times failed to live up to my core values. For that, I seek forgiveness. However, these values have informed my ministry leadership.
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