Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Professional Dissertations DMin Graduate Research 2006 Ellen White's Counsel To Leaders: Identification And Synthesis Of Principles, Experiential Application, And Comparison With Current Leadership Literature Cynthia Ann Tutsch Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Tutsch, Cynthia Ann, "Ellen White's Counsel To Leaders: Identification And Synthesis Of Principles, Experiential Application, And Comparison With Current Leadership Literature" (2006). Professional Dissertations DMin. 372. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/372 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Professional Dissertations DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT ELLEN WHITE’S COUNSEL TO LEADERS: IDENTIFICATION AND SYNTHESIS OF PRINCIPLES, EXPERIENTIAL APPLICATION, AND COMPARISON WITH CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE by Cynthia Ann Tutsch Adviser: Denis Fortin ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: ELLEN WHITE’S COUNSEL TO LEADERS: IDENTIFICATION AND SYNTHESIS OF PRINCIPLES, EXPERIENTIAL APPLICATION AND COMPARISON WITH CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE’ Name of researcher: Cynthia Ann Tutsch Name and degree of faculty adviser: Denis Fortin, Ph.D. Date completed: December 2006 Ellen G. White’s counsel to leaders on both spiritual and practical themes, as well as her personal application of that counsel, has on-going relevance in the twenty-first century. The author researched secondary literature, and Ellen G. White’s published and unpublished works. She surveyed current leadership literature to compare and contrast with Ellen G. White’s leadership principles and constructed a theological foundation for Ellen White’s unique leadership world view. Ellen White’s leadership principles relating to knowing God, authority, visioning, and human relations may still inspire compassionate action and a deepening commitment to Jesus Christ in today’s Christian leader. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary ELLEN WHITE’S COUNSEL TO LEADERS: IDENTIFICATION AND SYNTHESIS OF PRINCIPLES, EXPERIENTIAL APPLICATION, AND COMPARISON WITH CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Cynthia Ann Tutsch December 2006 © Copyright by Cynthia Ann Tutsch 2006 All Rights Reserved ELLEN WHITE’S COUNSEL TO LEADERS: IDENTIFICATION AND SYNTHESIS OF PRINCIPLES, EXPERIENTIAL APPLICATION, AND COMPARISON TO CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Cynthia Aim Tutsch APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Adviser, ' Denis Fortin Dean, SDA Theological ¡Seminary Denis Fortin Ttecemlaer 15, ó10ÔL Date approved DEDICATION To Joy Sorensen capable, loyal, expeditious assistant understanding and perceptive friend faithful prayer partner in TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................... ^ Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................ j Statement of the Problem................................................................ 2 Statement of the T ask ................................................................ 2 Justification for the Dissertation.................................................. 3 Methodology.................................................................. 3 Expectations from the Dissertation.................................................. 6 Delimitations............................................................................ 5 2. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF ELLEN G. WHITE’S MINISTRY AND COUNSELS ON LEADERSHIP.................................. g 3. COMPARISON OF ELLEN G. WHITE’S PRINCIPLES ON LEADERSHIP WITH CURRENT LEADERSHIP LITERATURE.................................. 18 Leadership Concepts from Chapter F o u r........................................ 21 Leadership Concepts from Chapter Five........................................ 26 Leadership Concepts from Chapter Six .......... 29 Leadership Concepts from Chapter Seven...................................... 36 4. COUNSELS TO LEADERS ON KNOWING GOD................................ 43 The Holy S pirit ........................................................................ 45 Scripture Study .............................................................................. 47 Character Development .............................................................. 48 Prayer .................................................................................... 52 Ellen White’s Experiential Demonstration of Her Leadership Principles on Knowing God.................................................................. 56 5. COUNSELS TO LEADERS ON LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY .. 64 Servant Leadership .................................................................... gg Abuse of Authority .......................................................... 72 Moses Model versus Aaron Model................................................ 78 iv Ellen White's Experiential Demonstration of Her Leadership Principles and Theory.......................................................................................... 82 6. COUNSELS TO LEADERS ON HUMAN RELATIONS........................ 91 Empowerment of People for Evangelism and S ervice ...................... 94 Race Inclusive Empowerment ......................................................... 94 Gender Inclusive Empowerment..................................................... 95 Age Inclusive Empowerment ......................................................... 97 Connecting With O thers......................................................................... 101 M entoring.......................................................................................... 101 Care for the Poor ............................................................................. 104 Ellen White’s Experiential Demonstration of Her Leadership Principles on Human R elations........................................................................ 112 7. COUNSELS ON KEY LEADERSHIP ISSUES ..................................... 125 Leadership Qualifications .................................................................... 127 Dealing with the Erring ........................................................................ 134 Proactive Visioning and Planning ....................................................... 140 A lacrity..................................................................................................... 146 Ellen White’s Experiential Demonstration of Her Leadership Principles on Key Leadership Issu es................................................................ 150 8. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ......................................................... 158 Summary of Ellen White’s Counsel to L eaders................................. 158 Summary of Ellen White’s Experiential Practice of Her Leadership Principles .......................................................................................... 163 Ellen White’s Theory of Leadership .................................................. 165 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 170 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 176 VITA .................................................................................................................................. 192 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS No achievement takes place in a vacuum. And so it is with this project—I could never have completed this dissertation without the support of heaven, colleagues, family, and friends. I must first express gratitude to God, who faithfully responded to my constant (and sometimes desperate!) cries for help throughout the process of this project. I am also grateful to the Board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate, who voted to financially subsidize my Doctor of Ministry journey. My boss, Jim Nix, has been particularly supportive of my educational goals, and along with colleagues at the Ellen G. White Estate, sometimes carried extra work loads in my absence. And what would I have done without the verbal support and prayer ministry of the chairman of the board, Kenneth Wood? During the first year of my Doctor of Ministry program, I enrolled inThe Writings o f Ellen G. White class taught by Dr. Denis Fortin. Not only was the class helpful to my present career, Dr. Fortin also encouraged me to do careful, thorough research for the class. I am grateful that as my primary advisor, he has pressed me toward a higher level of excellence throughout this project. I also appreciate Dr. Skip Bell, who has helped me see a broader perspective on a range of topics by encouraging dissent and dialogue in the classroom. My third reader, Dr. John Baldwin, has blessed me throughout my time at the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological vi Seminary by providing tools to help me face the leadership challenge of integrating faith and science while exercising his wonderful