Church leadership

The question of Church leadership has come again to our attention with no less than Pope Benedict describing his work in the new book, “Light of the World.”

Leadership, of course, is a very dynamic phenomenon that needs to be studied and learned thoroughly. And of all kinds of leadership, it’s leadership in the Church that takes the lion’s share in any effort to master it.

But ironically enough, the secret of Church leadership does not lie mainly on one’s own strength and vision, but on his capability to follow and to serve, on his ability to be vitally united to Christ and to everyone else. For this, it might be good to recall some words of Christ.

It’s found in the gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 23, where our Lord talks quite a bit about how one ought to lead, what attitude to cultivate, and what dangers to avoid. It’s worthwhile to go through his words again, which run in this way:

 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do, for they preach, but do not practice.

 “They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with their finger.

 “They do all their deeds to be seen by men, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.

 ¨But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren ... He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.¨ (2-12)

It’s quite clear how Church leadership, if it has to follow the leadership of Christ, has to be. A Church leader is a servant, whose master is Christ, and because of Christ, he has to serve the people.

The privileges he enjoys because of his office and because of our human condition should never detract from this core, irreducible truth that he is meant to serve, echoing Christ’s “I came not to be served but to serve.”

Thus, the more privileges attached to one’s office, the more demanding he has to be in giving himself to God and to the others. If because of our human limitations, this self-demand cannot be done externally, then one has to make sure that he does it internally, in an increasingly intense way.

This is always a tricky position that needs to be constantly examined, since our tendency is always to get spoiled by the perks of power, wealth and fame. The wiles of this world can be so subtle that we can play the devil´s game even in the name and appearance of goodness and holiness.

Pride can mimic humility. Conceit can wear the mask of piety. We need to be brutally frank about ourselves, baring ourselves completely to God and to the extent that prudence dictates, also to the others, so that we drive away any trace of vanity and earthly attachments that can compromise Church leadership.

Since the Church is by nature a communion with God and a communion among ourselves, leadership in it will always have elements of collegiality and participativeness.

Yes, there may be one person who occupies a Church position, but for that position to function well, due attention should be given to the demands of collegiality and participativeness.

A Church leader should be the first to live what he preaches. He always needs to be vigilant so that that consistency of life, a consistency grounded on his union with God, is not weakened.

One common complaint of people against some Church leaders is precisely the inconsistency between their words and their deeds, what they profess and how they live.

For sure, this task of keeping that unity of life is no easy task. It requires first of all God’s grace, which we always have to beg, and then a merciless, continuing effort to be always true and faithful to God’s will.

That’s why a Church leader always prays and begs assistance from God, and asks the others to pray for him and to help him even to the extent of making suggestions and corrections, all done in prudence.

May we develop a culture that is purified from the contaminating influence of a worldly understanding of Church leadership!