SATS 13Th May 2011 Edenvale Baptist Church

SATS 13th May 2011 Edenvale Baptist Church

How should Theological Institutions quip local church leaders to build the next generation of leaders?

Introduction The story of African pastors as I received it:

“We badly need a CT approach, based on humility and servant leadership. What we have are men eager for power and influence in the traditional mould of tribal chiefs, who have simply been baptized so that they continue to seek and gain power in Christian garb.”

(This is mirrored around the world, with an almost identical response in Latin America.)

What sort of leaders are we looking for in the next generation? I guess that there would be a lot of agreement among us today, not only because of what we have heard over the past two days, but also because of what we stand for in children’s ministry.

Can you in small groups agree single words or short phrases for what Christians should be looking for in their future leaders?

My list, drawn up last night, included:

Servant leaders whose Lord (in every way is Jesus Christ). They will take Jesus as their model. They are team players, not one-man bands. They will be thoroughly grounded in the Bible: that is the whole sweep of Scripture. They will seek to support the “little church” (that is families and households). They will be those who naturally stoop when with children: empathetic and attuned. They will be alert to the changing world and worldviews as the pace of globalization speeds up: utilizing its blessings, and challenging its disruptive and more sinister effects. They will love to play; and have a good sense of humour. They will value the role of women and mothers in the church. They will have a heart always for those outside the family of the church: the least and the lowest. They will be good listeners. Acquainted with human suffering and grief. They will be dreamers in the sense that they will have a vision revealed to them by the Holy Spirit. They will seek to create space in which God can work by His Spirit, and never seek to dominate or intrude into this space.

1 They will allow services and worship to reveal the great truths and stories of the Bible believing that these are strong enough to provide the containers in which all human grief and traumas can be identified and healed.

Interesting to compare our lists!

How are leaders formed and trained? That’s a very good question! They may in some ways be born, not made. Certainly their families and households as young children will have shaped and moulded them as people. They are good team players at school and church as well as in clubs. They will have a wider experience of life than just family and church. The best pastors, I have found, have had experience in fields right outside church, and their own locality. They will have been mentored and taught by godly leaders. They will have mentoring peer groups who hold them accountable for the way they live and lead. They will reflect critically and theologically on their ministry. They will learn to enjoy being in the presence of Jesus. They will have experience life in a variety of households and communities.

What can CT offer seminaries? A servant Model of living God’s way, in community. Fresh insights into every part of theology and Bible study New ways of doing theology: the walk with Jesus yesterday, for example. Re-forming current patterns of leadership, and building new communities of leaders including. Listening to children and young people now as children and young people in their idiom and where and when they feel comfortable and safe.

Conclusion Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if the principals of all theological seminaries had been here during this conference: real-life experience is so much more powerful than words. Maybe that is a key message. Jesus did not just speak: he placed a little child in their midst, and welcomed little children into his arms and blessed them. Only then did he speak. Do seminaries get things the wrong way round, starting with words and then intending to change actions?