From Isolation to Leadership Community

I am writing this blog as Joan drives along Highway 64 to Charlottesville, Virginia on route to Washington D.C. and ultimately Phladelphia for Josh's graduation. I am writing partially because I am so amazed that I can be in a car and on the internet at the same time but also because I discovered in my reading this morning an incredible gem written by Ruth Haley Barton, "Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership". In chapter 11 she writes "From Isolation to Leadership Community". She uses the model of Moses to describe how leaders who are so busy trying to mold and shape and create community often feel isolated from the very communities that they are trying to create for others. This is an idea I am exploring in my work on "Trinitarian Leadership". As leaders in the church it is not enough to create comunity but we must be part of a leadership community. And this community is not simply a task community but a spiritual community formed around Jesus Christ. Barton shares a Bonhoeffer quote that I will also share with you from Life Together: "Christian community is founded solely on Jesus Christ, and in fact, it already exists in Christ. It is not an ideal we must realize, it is rather a reality created by God in Christ; in which we may participate. It is a spiritual and not a psychic reality in that it is created by the Holy Spirit." WOW! I will want to include that in my discussion on "Trinitarian leadership" and explore ways in which leadership teams can become leadership communities around Christ, created by God in the power of the Holy Spirit. Barton (Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership) even gives some good advice about how to maintain the distinction of human verses God when try to model our leadership after the TRINITY. She urges us to remember our limitations. Only God is limitless. We are limited, created beings. However, within that limitedness we can participate in a community that is none other that the Triune Community of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Well we are approaching the nation's capital, Washington D. C. Talk about Trinitarian leadership- Executive branch, Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch. Wouldn't it be great if they could be a leadership community that demonstrated the attributes that Barton writes about: community, spiritual transformation, discernment, truth telling, celebration, kindness, acknowledging brokeness, listening to our fears, transforming conflict. But that's really the role of church leadership isn't it? Talk to you soon.