BWA Congress 8 - fragile leadership

When John Upton was inducted as President of the Baptist World Alliance this morning, outgoing President David Coffey presented him with a gift.  An African carving, it depicts a hand holding an egg between thumb and forefinger.  The meaning: Leadership is Fragile – Handle with Care. Most people’s  reaction was like mine, I imagine.  “Ah yes, very profound.” 

And of course it is a profound notion, yet it merits further reflection.  In what sense is leadership fragile?  Is it one’s hold on office?  Ask a Premier League Football Manager and they would recognise that notion of fragility.  Or is it the inherent weakness of the men and women who hold office, the character flaws that could bring them down in a moment?  How many leaders have fallen from grace in a public way.  Church leaders too sadly.

Perhaps the greatest fragility is in the bond of trust between leader and followers that gives legitimacy to someone’s leadership.  As Christians we desire to see leadership that reflects the example of Christ.  Some of the most significant passages in the Bible have direct relevance to leadership.  Passages such as when Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist to wash the feet of his disciples (John13:4), or when Jesus had to reprimand his disciples who were arguing about who was greatest, and remind them that if anyone wants to be first, he must be last. (Mark 9:34-35)  Add to that Phil 2:5-11 and a host of others passages of scripture that give us no shortage of guidance about leadership.

That bond of trust is weakened or broken to the extent that we do not lead in the way that Jesus led.  Often we get the outward things right – we say the right things use the right words, ‘act’ as a leader should act.  But as in all things, its not the outward things that impress God but the inner things.  And sooner or later its the inner things that ordinary people see too.  And in that regard we all fall short. 

Pray for John Upton as he takes up the office of BWA President, and for Neville Callam as he serves as General Secretary, and for all who exercise leadership.  And I believe we can pray selfishly too, for ourselves, that our leadership, in whatever role we have, is authentic. 

Of the many leaders I admire from the Middle East, Elie Haddad, President of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, is one of them.  Meeting together, we talked about the strategic importance of ABTS, a place we have the privilege of being involved through personnel and student scholarships, training leaders for the years to come. I was excited to hear of plans underway for enlarging the reach of ABTS work across the countries of the region.

It was so good too to meet friends from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF).  I’ve known a number of their leaders for some years but it was the first time I had met Harry Rowland (L) and Chris Boltin (R) .  They have a strong plan for the future years in Haiti following the devastating earthquake earlier this year, and it seems possible that we will partner with them as well as others.  Within hours of our meeting, project plans they had already drawn up were in the hands of my colleagues in Didcot.  Final decisions on this will be made in the coming weeks.

This evening Paul Msiza (L), General Secretary of the Baptist Convention of South Africa, preached on the theme of transformation. 

Drawing on his own experience as a young man, he remembered how hard it had been as a young black Christian under the apartheid regime to see that the people who were oppressing him and his people were the same people behind the pulpit preaching on Sunday.   

They were leaders too.  But they did not lead as Christ would lead.  The bond of trust was broken.  Their legitimacy evaporated and it was only a matter of time before their leadership came to an end.

David Kerrigan