Dr. J. Lawrence Cuthill

January 10, 2010

Winter Park Presbyterian

Today we will ordain and install a new group of leaders in the Winter Park Presbyterian Church. It’s an impressive and meaningful act to see them accept the Call of God to serve; to see the newly-ordained officers kneel and all the Elders come forward and, with prayer and the laying on of hands (an ancient act of imparting to them the spirit and authority), and then setting them to the task of leading this church.

It is an awesome task they undertake, not some honorary board that rubber-stamps business as usual. Our Book of Order says, on this day a sermon shall be preached that is appropriate to the occasion. Let me begin with the obvious…

This church and all Presbyterian churches (all Christian churches), need vigorous, creative and courageous leaders for the challenges are great. Servant Leadership is, in my mind, the best way to describe their call. The world might consider that paradoxical, but it was the manner and leadership style of our Leader, Jesus Christ. Christian leadership takes its lead from the head of the church -- who is not the Pastor, the Executive Presbyter, or the Moderator of the General Assembly. In answer to the question the officers must answer, “Who is the head of the PCUSA?” the response is Jesus Christ. That has implications we should and must always remember. We are governed – not by popular opinion, nor by personality, nor by force … but by Christ. Although we vote and act democratically, we are in the final analysis we are a theocracy and adhere to the Reformation principle Sola Scripture, only the Scriptures.

There are, of course, many other sources and styles of leadership. You’ve no doubt heard of the style described by the saying, “There they go and I must hasten after them for I am their leader.” It’s the style of the leader who bases decisions and actions on popular opinion.

In this style of leadership, the finest leader is the one who has best surveyed the constituency, and can therefore best offer them what they want. The main goal is to get re-elected, and to do so you must say what people want to hear. But in the church, that doesn’t fly, for these folk we call leaders answer to God, and are charged to set themselves to the task of discerning – not just the will of the majority, but the will of the Trinity. That principle overrules popularity and can sometimes cause leaders to be out-of-step, criticized… Expect it. Oh, by the way, the most direct route to failure is to try to please everyone.

A second style that can easily insert itself into the church is force of personality or Charisma. Closely related is the thought that, if a person is successful in the business world, that will translate to ecclesiastical success. If that prevails, then we look for church leaders who are affluent, influential, upper management types. Let’s be sure to say their skill sets may, in part, translate to the church, but there are a whole set of principles in Christ’s church that are different. Experience, personality and profit margins are less the concerns. Compassion, people, faith based on promise, transcends.

There is a corny story of a Coast Guard cutter that monitored a faint distress call from a sinking pleasure craft. “What is your position?” “Repeat, what is your position?” shouted the radio operator into the microphone. Finally, the staticky replay cracked back, “I’m the Executive Vice President of First Global Bank. Please hurry!”

Position and authority out there doesn’t necessarily translate to position and authority in the Kingdom of God or God’s church. There is leadership by-the-book. If by that we mean the Bible; then fine. But bear in mind there is always the peril of reading it through lenses that allow us to see what we want, or are prepared, to see. Instead of reading for guidance with the help of the Holy Spirit, history has shown it can be read to confirm our prejudices, our plans and preferences. By-the-book can mean a rigid, stern and legalistic approach that ignores love in favor of the letter of the law. Recall Jesus had far more difficulty with the Pharisees than the “dirty, rotten sinners.”

One of the questions that will be posed to the Officers-Elect is, “will you lead the people of God with energy, intelligence, imagination and … love.” Will you love these people? Even when they are sometimes (rarely) prone to act unlovely … as we all are. If you say “Yes”, that’s grace … after the manner of your Leader Jesus Christ.

Leaders today must be people of vision, not just committed to using tried tactics to maintain, but with the energy, intelligence and imagination to ask and probe for where God is going. The world is changing around us and we must not simply ape or imitate, but innovate with the Spirit’s guidance.

Recall that speech by Bobby Kennedy quoting T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, “All men dream, but not equally. Those men that dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awaken to find it was but vanity. But those that dream by day – these are the dangerous men, for they dream with their eyes open to make sure their (God’s) dream comes true.”

Those words stir the hearts of many because we know it’s true. But most shrink from its truth, which leads to the quality that must be present – courage … and for that, let me simply recall the passage spoken by another visionary, a prophet of God.

As emphasized last week, when God speaks through angels, or in this case through His prophet Isaiah, the message is very often prefaced with the words, “Do not be afraid.” It is the very natural reaction to a confrontation with the unknown, the mysterious, that which we know is a reality far and away greater than we are. Therefore, “Do not be afraid”, comes as a comforting preface and, in the case of this passage from Isaiah, there follows a series of profound declarations intended to breathe comfort, courage and inspiration into those who will hear.

“I have called you by name,

you are mine.”

A statement of belonging. We are not so many statistics in God’s great computer. We are known. It’s personal.

“When you pass through the waters,I will be with you …

they shall not overwhelm you … through fire and you will not be burned or consumed.”

A statement of protection against that which can cause great pain…

“Because you are precious in my sight, and honored

and I love you …

do not fear, for I am with you.”

That is written commitment on the part of God to His people. It is the greatest comfort and hope of the human heart … to know one is loved and present.

If on this Sunday, when men and woman are ordained, they have some trepidation, some self-doubt, some feeling of inadequacy – and I’ve heard many confess they do – then take heart. As you undertake this commitment, remember it is God’s commitment to you that supplies the foundation for all you do.

How firm a foundation!

AMEN