What motivates me in my leadership role? This was asked of me recently, and as I reflected, it seemed to me that there are three different aspects to how I would frame things.
Character
At the core of leadership, some integrity of character is needed. People need to know where they are with you, and it is no use rolling out a vision or goals which are at odds with what people see expressed in you. So there is something about who I am which motivates me, drives me to live out and express a vision deriving from my own character and how my faith has grown. This kind of authenticity is important in leadership, so in one sense, being myself (and seeking to become a more Christlike version of myself as I grow in faith) underpins my motivation.
Vocation
A sense of vocation not only in myself, but my belief that everyone has a vocation is another key driver. Ultimately, all humans have a vocation to flourish (and the Christian faith has a lot to say about that!). But more specifically, all followers of Jesus have a vocation to become disciples of Christ, to love God and love their neighbour, to share the Good News of God’s Kingdom and to live and work to God’s praise and glory. This is something done in community, not a solo pursuit, and so helping people navigate their own calling as a Christian as part of the church community is a key part of the leadership role of a parish priest, or indeed anyone, lay or ordained in a ministry role. I am motivated by the joy of seeing someone come to faith, grow in faith, or discover new talents and passions for areas of ministry they might never have considered, but which a vision-led church community can enable.
Vision
There has to be vision in leadership, but if the vision is only that of one person who has not engaged in creative dialogue with the church community and the wider culture in which that community operates, as a key part of forming the vision, the chances are that this is a vanity project, not something led by the Holy Spirit. The Church is an expression of the ministry of the Spirit, something communal in which everyone has value, everyone matters, and where everyone is called to play their part. A leader is one part of that community, but cannot lead in a vacuum because we are all baptised in the one Spirit, and it is only by being attentive to how the Spirit is at work throughout the whole church community that a coherent, Spirit-inspired vision can emerge. Yes, it also must be rooted in Scripture, and consistent with the wider vision of the Church, but vision emerging from how God is already at work and equipping his Church is what a leader needs to discern. Then communicating that vision, inspiring everyone to engage with it and pray about what part they might play in it, embedding it into the whole life of the church community, and ensuring the leader is affirming how the vision plays out by remaining connected to how the vision grows is all part of ensuring, as leader, that the vision is kept in sight as everyone lives it out. The idea of playing my part in leading a church into that process is a huge motivator for me as a church leader.
- Are the three aspects I chose the same as what you might choose?
- What might you add that I have not included?
Vicar of Villages 