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 subordination in underlings.
Leadership is presented as a paramount value in U.S. culture. Studies show this culture’s leadership priority is effective organizational operations – making sure the structure performs as needed. This includes training staff, specifically to fit into the organization. Training staff as change agents is touted but studies show little evidence of its practice. Also emphasized 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 emphasis is the boss’ personal leadership – having technical and staff knowledge to impact others. Conversely, evidence shows little emphasis of learning how others experience the boss. It is not important. Also not important is charging leaders with strategic thinking, decision making and problem-solving habits, as well as innovation and creativity. Again, much is touted 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. Believing the ruler based military model of leadership is the best model is merely the result of them 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; from occupation by the Spanish crown and slave owning capitalists for sugar plunder on 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 and this is not new for them. 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. A system of rulers who do not care can always be replaced by a community of people who do 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. We are charged with leadership in this time of moral crisis. Rulers are attempting to exhaust us with violent rhetoric and actions, especially white supremacist rulers. Care givers offer a revolutionary Way of leadership because it does not revolve around rulers and maintenance of their system. It revolves around people being charged with the care of others.
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