Contagious Leadership

Rev. Dr. Tim Mentzer
Southern Ohio Synod

What does a guy in leadership development do when he goes on a cruise for his 30th anniversary? Well, he observes the leadership style of the captain of the ship.

 

Recently my wife and I took a cruise on the Danube River. River cruise ships are smaller, which allows for more interaction between passenger and crew. I watched the captain lead.

 

The captain did 2 things that demonstrated his preferred style of leadership.

 

First, a couple arrived to the ship late. As they were checking in, the captain picked up their luggage and took it to their room.

 

A day later, there was a “bucket brigade” as the crew loaded supplies on the ship. The captain was in the line passing boxes of supplies.

 

Was his leadership style contagious with the rest of the crew? Yes! At the end of the cruise, we disembarked from the ship at 3:30 in the morning. The crew member that was awake, serving us coffee and muffins, and making sure we and our luggage got on the bus, was the head chef. The captain’s leadership was contagious.

 

“Where the head goes, so goes the body.”

 

Christ is the head of the church. The church is the body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22)

 

Where Jesus goes, so goes the church. We hear the call of Jesus, are made his followers, and we follow him. This is called discipleship.

 

So, what does Jesus do? The words of Philippians clarify who Jesus is and what he does. Jesus, “though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on the cross.” (Philippians 2: 6-7)

 

In a humble and sacrificial way, Jesus restores the world.

 

Jesus calls us to join him in the restoration of the world. In an act of generosity, we are called to share all that we are, all that we have, and all that we can do for the restoration of the world. Living a life of discipleship is living a life of generosity.

 

The generosity to which we are called is one where we use:
Our ears to hear the story of Jesus

Our words to tell the story of Jesus

Our ears to hear the story of Jesus at work in the lives of others

Our bodies—hands, arms, legs, back—to do for others

Our minds to envision a future shaped by hope, joy, and promise

Our courage to challenge false gods and false teachings

Our financial resources for the well-being of all people and creation

 

This issue of Generosity News is dedicated to the lay leaders who—though sometimes surprised by God’s call—find themselves serving in roles they never anticipated. Some are called to service in their congregations or communities, while others are called to serve on synod or churchwide teams and task forces. Some serve in worship, others in administration, and still others in ministries of care for neighbors. Responding to God’s call is an act of generous discipleship, as they share time, talents, and resources for God’s work in the restoration of the world. All of them strive to emulate Jesus’ contagious leadership, and we give thanks to God each and every day for their generosity!