SQJ Taipei

A couple years ago, I started looking at Harding University Graduate School of Religion. Now that I’ve been out of school for a while, I have a better idea of what I’d like to study. I’m not sure that I’ll study with HUGSR or not. But now I’m on their mailing list.

Their Summer 2007 issue of The Bridge came a while ago. The front page article was really good and I thought I’d share it here so those of you that don’t receive The Bridge can read it too!

It is called Dying to Lead: A Theology of Leadership and the author is Dr. Mark Powell, associate professor of theology.

I can give you a link to the PDF version of The Bridge (Summer 2007).

Here’s an excerpt:

To a group of disciples who are “dying to lead,” Jesus says that in order to truly lead, they must first die. Christian leadership is not about power and status, but suffering and service.

While Jesus’ vision challenges the one viewing leadership in terms of power and privilege, it also confronts one who simply abdicates the responsibility to lead. If leadership involves suffering and service, perhaps it is best to let someone else lead. It is easier to avoid getting involved, or if we must, to only manage rather than provide bold leadership.

But Jesus was a leader. Jesus provided bold leadership that ultimately led to the cross, and he calls us to do the same. While we may lead in different ways, followers of Jesus are not given the option of being passive observers in the world.

Perhaps you’ve never thought it necessary to develop a “theology of leadership”. This short article might change your mind… or it might help you see that you already have developed a theology of leadership even though you never set out to do so.

PS. I’m currently leaning more toward this offering at Azusa Pacific.