News: The Cathedral Podcast—Spiritual leadership

Spiritual leadership

This article is extracted from a podcast interview with Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, “Spiritual Leadership”, by The Cathedral Podcast, set up and founded by St Andrew’s Cathedral Singapore, and is published with permission. The full podcast can be found at https://cathedral.org.sg/podcast

Distinguishing between spiritual leadership and other forms of leadership

In the context of Mark 10:41 onwards, where James and John ask Jesus to give them a seat on His left and right, Jesus says, “Those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, […] but it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” Jesus does seem to be saying that the type of leadership and the way we rule should be different from the way the world rules.

The type of leadership Jesus Himself, as a perfect human, exercises should be a model—not just for Christian disciples—but for all human leaders.

Jesus came to accomplish a task and He is King, Lord and leader. And yet His leadership style was one in which He ended up being crucified. When Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews” (Jn 18:36). It pretty much means that His style of leadership does not come out of the world’s style of leadership—it comes out of the way heaven exerts leadership.

Even secular leadership bandies about the term “servant leadership”, but we see the way in which Jesus’ servant leadership worked out. It’s a leadership that is willing to sacrifice self rather than one that tries to retain a position—you’re there to serve, for however long or short you’re there; you’re serving and seeking to bless the people under your leadership.

Programmes and people

When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, His straightforward answer was to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and to love your neighbour as yourself [Mt 22:37–39].

As a leader, I want to do whatever I can to help people fulfil these greatest of all commandments. Whatever programmes or projects I have are to try and help us become the kind of people that Jesus says we all ought to be—people who love God and love our neighbours as ourselves. Programmes can change, because over time, cultures change. Different programmes may have worked in one setting, and they need to change and adapt, but the goal is the same.

We should not evaluate the effectiveness of the programme by how many people we got to sign up or attend. We need always to make sure that the programmes are helping us to fulfil that vision. We can ask ourselves, what have I done in the last week that is loving and kind to somebody? Do I more regularly think of each day as an opportunity to do good? Does my work bring benefit to a neighbour?

Some small groups might even decide that, once a month, instead of meeting for Bible study, to do something to show love to their neighbours, such as visiting a nursing home, or even supporting a member who is fostering a child. A church could decide to put a particular emphasis on loving different types of neighbours, such as families with children with disabilities. We have different passions, interests and abilities, so we should encourage each other to articulate and express love for our neighbours within their particular setting or situation.

On leading churches

In The Methodist Church in Singapore, our system allows us to appoint pastors to different churches. Keeping a pastor at the same church for years can be both a positive or negative thing. A person can get set in their ways. It’s important to be nimble in listening to what others are saying. A good leader facilitates other leaders or members of the church in the discussion on how to proceed.

In a church, the leader should be the team builder. God has already given us the vision, but the role of the leader is to facilitate everyone to work together. The members all have their different strengths. The leader needs to get them to contribute their strengths and move forward.

How can we pandemic-proof the Church?

I don’t think that’s possible. There will always be crises, and how we respond to the crisis, how we manage and adapt depends on the nature of the crisis. What I think the pandemic has shown is that when we can’t meet physically so much, there are ways in which we can still have fellowship. We need to ask ourselves how we can love God and our neighbours as ourselves, given the current restrictions.

Advice for worn-out leaders

At the end of Matthew 11, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. […] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Nourish yourself, read God’s Word, hear again His promises that He loves you, and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We do what we can, the best we can, but leave it in God’s hands and trust Him.