|
About
CFCFFL
Who
is the CFCFFL?
The
Movement for Restoration Our
Covenant
Our
Mission and Vision
Our Statement of philosophy
Our
Core Values
Family Ministries Kids
for Family and Life (KFL) Youth
for Family and Life (YFL)
Singles
for Family and Life (SFL)
Handmaids
for Family and Life (HerFL)
Servants
for Family and Life (SirFL)
The
highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity,
choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over
popularity.
Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for THERE IS
NEVER A WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
-
Bishop Soc Villegas
25 July 2007
|
<<Go
back to the Menu
ON
SERVANT LEADERSHIP
(Part 9)
LIVING OUT SERVANT LEADERSHIP
I suppose
none of us who are serving as leaders in CFC-FFL would disagree with
the call to servant leadership. We readily agree and actually try to
live out its high ideals. However, the problem might be in our not
realizing certain aspects of leadership that actually keep us from
fully embracing true servanthood.
I would now like to take up some of these.
When Jesus washed the feet of the apostles, he took the lowest place.
The washing of feet was not even fit for the lowest slave, but that is
what the Master did. To have to wash others’ feet is to experience
shame, humiliation and being looked down on (literally and
figuratively).
Jesus was Master but he did the work of a slave, even lower. This is
the context by which we must understand that we are leaders but more
importantly servants.
Authority and power
Leaders do have authority and power. But it is authority and power
to be able to serve. It is not authority and power to be able to
dominate.
What to avoid:
-
Being
dictatorial. We are pastors and not tyrants. We guide, advise,
enlighten, encourage and also give direction. We are there to give
care. We are there to love.
-
Being
controlling. We do not have to have everything under our control.
We in fact should delegate and practice the principle of
subsidiarity. We trust in our subordinates.
-
Acting
in any way that intimidates subordinates, thus preventing them
from freely expressing their views and giving their inputs.
Leaders must not only not act in an authoritarian way, but must
actively encourage subordinates to give their inputs, even
negative ones.
-
Demanding
blind obedience. We are not a cult, and the freedom of our members
to choose can never be taken from them. What we in fact promote is
active submission, where they can freely (but respectfully)
question anything and give their inputs.
-
Becoming
impatient with people, to the point of just dictating on them. We
must learn to work with and to walk with our people. It indeed is
our privilege, and burden, to help form our brethren through
loving pastoral care.
-
Acting
unilaterally on decisions affecting the body. We must make it a
habit to consult and seek the wisdom of others, especially of
counselors and core teams, who are there precisely to give wise
inputs.
-
Becoming
functional. While we do have a function to perform, the basic
reality is that we live in community, where loving relationships
are at the core. Our relationships are primarily personal and
fraternal, not merely functional.
Looking
good
For their able leadership, leaders ought to be respected,
emulated, esteemed and even extolled. This is to encourage the
brethren and help them trusting in their leaders, for the good of the
body and the mission. However, looking good ought never be a factor in
our handling our leadership. Jesus was demeaned and spat on. If
circumstances cause us to suffer that same fate, then it is cause for
great joy.
What to avoid:
-
Preventing
subordinates from having access to a higher authority where the
subordinates can express their disagreements with their leaders,
so that we do not look bad to our superiors. We in fact should
welcome such, so that if we are doing anything not right, then we
can be corrected. We must humble ourselves. We should also trust
in our superiors to be able to wisely handle any complaints
against us.
-
Telling
subordinates to take up matters with us first before going to a
higher authority. While we do have a pastoral-hierarchical
structure that brings order to our day-to-day community life, a
subordinate must not be intimidated into not freely going to a
higher authority if he/she feels the need to do so.
-
Becoming
defensive or overly sensitive when criticized or questioned.
Rather, welcome the criticism, which hopefully is constructive,
and learn whatever needs to be learned. If there is no validity to
the criticism, then simply explain and then leave the matter in
the hands of the superior.
-
Becoming
resentful when corrected by a superior due to the inputs of a
subordinate. Rather, welcome every correction, wherever and
however it comes about. Thank the one who gave the input that led
to the correction.
-
Not
fully disclosing problems when asked by one’s superior. The
superior is there to help us in improving our service.
-
Keeping
quiet about problems when not asked by one’s superior.
Rather, we should volunteer “negative” information and eagerly
solicit advice and inputs.
Looking
to one’s own shortcomings
Yes, we are leaders. But we are leaders in spite of ourselves.
We stand in the place of the Chief Shepherd Jesus, and so we will
always fall short. But such realization is in fact a blessing, if only
we will acknowledge our shortcomings and look to Jesus for grace and
help. Such help is often given by God through our brethren.
What to avoid:
-
Thinking
we have all the answers, and that seeking inputs from others
especially subordinates would diminish us in their esteem.
-
Not
humbly and actively seeking help from superiors or peers. We work
as a team with other leaders. We compensate for weaknesses and
enhance strengths. Not seeking help when needed is missing out on
a great resource.
-
No
longer being open to learn; being fixed on our ways, even if such
have proven problematic at times.
-
Insisting
on one’s stated position or decision even in the face of clear
indications that a change is desirable. This is sinful pride.
-
Not
constantly being in a posture of dependence on and trust in the
Lord. Such a posture is foolhardy.
Trusting
in God’s working through subordinates
God raises leaders to lead, but God does not speak to His people only
exclusively through His chosen leaders. Every member of community has
a gift from the Holy Spirit, and every member can become a particular
instrument of God to manifest His will and His direction for the
community. Leaders must keenly desire to tap on to the mind of God
through his subordinates.
What to avoid:
-
Looking
on subordinates only as those under one’s leadership, rather
than as brethren who are equal in personal worth and dignity, and
whom God can use to give wise inputs to their superiors.
-
Not
being open to the work of the Spirit in subordinates with regards
to matters of governance. Even though authority resides in a
particular governor, it is always wise to seek counsel from
others.
-
Fault
finding; being focused more on the faults of subordinates. We are
all works in progress. Leaders should in fact thank God that they
are given the privilege to help form subordinates, and so
patiently do so. God has every reason to be impatient with us, but
that is not what we experience from Him.
-
Cold
shoulder treatment to critics. We must always be patient, tolerant
and forgiving, trying to win people over by our good works and
loving care.
Rejoicing
in affliction
Jesus not only washed the feet of the apostles, but he went to the
cross to suffer a humiliating and extremely painful death. The cross
is the only way to glory. This is why Jesus tells his disciples, if
they are to truly follow him, to deny themselves and take up their
cross. As leaders, Jesus certainly wants us to travel the same path.
What to avoid:
-
Being
depressed when things do not go our way. We must realize that God
uses difficulties, challenges and crosses to keep us on the right
track and to purify us. As such, they are blessings to be
embraced.
-
Being
discouraged and even wanting to give up one’s service whenever
we meet with opposition or correction from superiors. We should
persevere and endure. We in fact should be encouraged that
brethren care enough to correct or chastise us.
-
Looking
on affliction as undesirable. Again, the cross is the way of true
discipleship. Suffering is redemptive. As long as we act in
righteousness, being misunderstood or being unjustly persecuted is
to be considered as part of our continuing purification and growth
to holiness.
-
Not
rejoicing in affliction for the sake of righteousness.
-
Missing
out on the reality that our enemy is Satan and not our brethren.
Satan opposes God’s work in and through us. At times he is able
to use brethren to afflict us. But we should always know that he
is the true enemy.
We have a
long way to go in fully appreciating and living out servant
leadership. But this can be the only way for us in CFC-FFL, because
this is the way of Jesus.
Servant leadership is to be lived out, from the very top to the
bottom, from the Servant General to the Household Servants. Servant
leadership is the way to unity and peace in the body.
(July 17, 2009)
|
