Jesus contrasts his Way with the way of rulers. The contrast he highlights in this Sunday’s Gospel goes to leadership. He tells disciples to be “alert,” “prepared,’ and especially, to be “in charge.” Jesus’ leadership is therefore a contrast to rulers who condition underlings to be subordinate.
Leadership is presented as a paramount value in U.S. culture. Studies show this culture’s leadership priority is effective organizational operations. It means making sure the structure performs as needed. This includes training staff to fit into the organization. Training staff as change agents is also presented as a paramount value. But studies show little evidence of its practice. Another priority is managing and motivating subordinates – conforming them to an institution’s goals. The language itself reflects the dominant subordinate leadership model of rulers. Being charged with ending the dominant subordinate relationship model is therefore given no time or training. Another priority is the boss’ personal leadership – having technical and staff knowledge to impact others. Conversely, evidence shows little emphasis is given to learning how workers experience the boss or how workers lead. It is not important. Also not important is strategic thinking, decision making and problem-solving habits, as well as innovation and creativity. Again, much is presented about these as values but there is, in practice, evidence they are diminished or omitted from leadership training. (Center for Creative Leadership) Rulers keep a system of rule which does not empower leadership but rather exhausts workers. People are used for the rulers’ own ends and purposes. The description is of military rule. Believing the military model of rule is the best leadership model is merely the result of rulers telling us it is.
People across the world are attempting to transcend ruler-based leadership. It is exemplified in Puerto Ricans removing their nation’s governor, Ricardo Rossello. He was caught on tape exhaustively mocking and denigrating the people. He’s part of a history of such rulers. It can be marked from occupation by the Spanish crown who were capitalists using slaves to plunder the area’s sugar, to U.S. imperialism draining the Puerto Rican people of political, economic, and environmental rights (foe example, using Vieques for live-fire military maneuvers and as an ordinance and chemical waste dump). People’s leadership has meant working to remove Rossello using massive demonstrations filled with singing, dancing, yoga, banging on pots and pans, as well as grass roots political organizing, and community development work. Teachers have been among those charged as leaders. Within a system of rulers who do not care about them, teachers routinely lead from their extensive care-based relationship network. They did so during the devastation of Hurricane Maria in September of 2017. Their community of care located and brought needed supplies to homeless and injured parents and children. That community of care is the replacement for Rossello; not another ruler who does not care. Care givers lead through strategic thinking, problem solving, and innovation – not for any one nation but for all people. This includes people in the U.S. Rulers are attempting to exhaust us with violent rhetoric and actions, especially white supremacist rulers. We are charged with leadership in this time of moral crisis. Let us be care givers who offer a revolutionary Way forward.
Prayer: Spirit of Care, we are charged with leadership
Question: What leadership of care is being asked of me?
August 11, 2019 Gospel Luke 12:32-48 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time