PASTOR'S PERSPECTIVE: LEADERSHIP CRISIS NEEDS OUR ATTENTION

Our new billboard on the corner of Broadway and Pacific offers a good news message: "Our Leader has not changed in 2000 years."

Like all Christian churches in our area, we strive to follow the leadership of Jesus Christ at Centenary.

Leadership is in crisis. We need leaders at all levels of our society who practice leadership with integrity. The principles of Christian leadership need our attention. Someone has said, "Anyone who values privileges over their principles soon loses both." We need leaders who value principles over privileges to set better examples for our children and youth.

One year ago this week I began my duties as senior pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church. I have discovered many wonderful people in our church and community. As a new spiritual leader of Centenary I always look for ways to support and encourage our leaders. For example, we offer a Leadership Training Institute at Centenary to undergird the values and practice of Christian Leadership in the church and community. There is a renewed interest in leadership training at all levels of society.

Jesus said, "but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wished to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10: 43-45). Jesus becomes our model of a servant leader. In time of crisis we return to Christ's example.

In our churches and community, in our commerce and industry, in our government and education we can proclaim the principles and tools of servant leadership. We can restore leadership confidence at all levels of our American Society. But each of us need to work together to become a winning team. This is true for family life, church life or community life.

Jesus Christ is the model for the servant leader. A servant leader has vision which always expects the best even in the worst situations. It is leadership without self-interest. It is humble and it discovers that the more you empower others the more power is available for all. It is not meek nor does it control. It is based on conviction and motivated by compassion.

Some of the tools necessary for servant leadership are trust, accountability and the spirit of community. Much is being said about leadership today around the world. Our economy waivers with the leadership crisis. In our wonderful community of Cape Girardeau principles and tools of leadership are essential for us to prosper and grow. I see and celebrate evidence of a powerful spirit of community. Cape has some great leaders.

How can we better encourage one another? Leadership of all levels of life can be improved. One church leader suggests that we can offer heartfelt servant leadership by following these behaviors:

Hear and understand me.

Even if you disagree, please don't make me wrong.

Acknowledge the greatness within me.

Remember to look for my loving intention.

Tell me the truth with compassion.

What does all this mean for you? Each of us is part of the whole. It is so easy to fall away into cynicism, mistrust and apathy in any relationship. God calls us to consciously strive to be good leaders for the sake of others. Let us be a supportive community growing in faith, hope and love through Christlike servant leadership.

Clayton Smith is pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 N. Ellis St.