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 July
2003
Jesus, the Collaborative Leader
Here are a couple of lessons I have learned from the last month:
1. Words are powerful.
2. Notoriety is interesting.
There has been some stir and hullabaloo over my May
column. If you haven't had the chance to read what I wrote in context,
I would encourage you to read the article in the archive, above, or by
clicking [HERE]. Having revisited the
column myself, I feel compelled to say just a bit more about the
issue.
Collaboration is Important. Collaboration is Great!
Ministering alongside others to build the Reign of God is not just a good
thing to do; it is everything we do. By virtue of our Baptism,
all Christians are drawn into relationship with one another as the Body of
Christ. Striving together to live as the Body of Christ is not
an option. This interdependence lies at the heart of collaboration.
Collaboration is certainly at the heart of my
work in Central Maryland, and, for that matter, just about everything I do.
If that was not clear in my last column, let's be clear about it now!
Yes, you're right - Jesus does provide the
Model for Collaborative Leadership
Some of you responded with chagrin at my iteration of
Myth #4: "Collaborative ministry is the ultimate model for Gospel
leadership" In it I suggested:
"I don't see a lot of collaborative ministry
in the Gospel stories. Most of Jesus' followers ultimately abandoned him
when the going got tough. He did not minister with them; Jesus ministered to them. He did not
recruit partners; Jesus recruited disciples. And the early Christian
community did the same."
See
Deacon Charlie Hiebler's Guest Column this
month. In it he offers a much more nuanced view of how collaboration in
ministry is rooted in the mission and message of Jesus. Without Jesus
constantly forming, cajoling, and empowering his disciples, the Church would
never have been formed. Jesus' teachings and works would have died with him on
the Cross. The coming of his Spirit at Pentecost set his followers on fire for
ministry. Collaborative ministry was born.
Charlie's words, coupled with his quotes from
renowned leaders in the field, say it much better than my column did.
Here's to a calm and restful summer.
As I said above, notoriety is interesting. I am pleased
to have contributed to some of your conversations at table or by the water
cooler. At the same time, I am eager to slip back into the obscurity of my
quiet, collaborative life.
Chris Weber
Director,
Catholic Education Ministries of Central Maryland
301-447-3707
Copyright © 2003 by the Catholic Education
Ministries Center of Central Maryland, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. All rights reserved.
Comments about this
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Without Jesus constantly forming,
cajoling, and empowering his disciples, the Church would never have been
formed. Jesus' teachings and works would have died with him on the Cross.
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