Council of Elders Meeting in Fort Mitchell Kentucky
General Conference of Elders
Fort Mitchell, KY
Monday May 8, 2000
The annual meetings of the General Conference of Elders of the United Church of God concluded today. The morning session was devoted to an address on ãservant leadershipä from Dr. Howard Baker, United Church of God member and former faculty member of Ambassador University. Dr. Baker currently teaches at University of Louisiana at Monroe. Breakout sessions on various subjects concluded the dayâs agenda.
Servant LeadershipDr. Baker launched into his topic by establishing a biblical premise for servant leadership: loving those you serve. The apostle Peter, in 1 Peter:1:8, reminds us that we love Christ, Whom we have not seen. Dr. Baker grounded his topic in the same approach to those we serve ö love them before we even meet them.
He called attention to many differences between this approach to leadership and what the Bible calls the ãlording it overä others approach. Servant leaders encourage dialogue to establish a shared vision. Accountability exchange flows both ways, as do requirements and demands. The goal is to create a culture in the organization of service, not privilege. Leaders, Dr. Baker emphasized, do that by modeling the behaviors, attitudes, values, and actions they advocate for the organization. To understand servant leadership is to truly understand Jesus Christ and God the Father, the ultimate Servant Leaders. Just because one serves, and has a position of power or authority, does not automatically make that person a true servant leader.
Dr. Baker listed ten characteristics. A true servant leader:
1. Is passionate.
2. Gives unconditionally.
3. Is a healer.
4. Is more attuned to others who are true servants.
5. Listens. We must open ourselves up to be influenced. Humility is essential for this kind of listening.
6. Does not set out to be a great leader. Rather, a servant leader sets out to pursue a great purpose, cause, or calling.
7. Is committed to a set of true values, or principles.
8. Gives encouragement and positive feedback.
9. Takes his work very seriously, but not himself.
10. Has foresight ö the ability to foresee the likely outcome of a situation.
Servant leadership is about making the people around you grow as persons, with the result that they are more likely to become servants themselves. Among the people of God, this means the growth multiplies into greater levels of spiritual maturity. In actual fact, it is the building of the Family of God ö in which service is the keynote. This highlights the interdependence we all have, underlying which is the acceptance of personal accountability by each individual.
All this may require a change in thinking, in how we see our world. That describes conversion! We all need help in that process. Godâs help is paramount, of course, but so is the help of others committed to Godâs way of life. Thatâs where accepting feedback from others comes in. It helps us realize that our way of seeing the world is limited because weâre human. It refreshes the mental maps of reality we have in our minds. It helps us continue to have honest and careful self-assessments, a hallmark of a Christianâs mindset. This is what Dr. Baker called an ãinside-outä approach to change ö asking ãhow do I need to change?ä It is the way of personal accountability.
Dr. Baker concluded his very helpful address by listing guidelines for seeking legitimate input (feedback):
1. Consider the source. Donât just seek input from fellow ministers.
2. Keep your cool. Donât allow yourself to get defensive, even if you strongly disagree with certain input.
3. Listen carefully and ask for elaboration.
4. Donât just expect criticism. Ask for both positive and negative feedback.
5. Ask for feedback in writing if it is appropriate.
6. Ask for feedback in the right environment ö a comfortable, quiet setting free of interruptions and distractions.
7. Tell the person from whom you are seeking feedback that you want honest input. Really mean it!
8. Feedback is often most effective when you are contemplating doing something, not after you have already done it.
9. Be approachable. Sometimes unsolicited feedback will be necessary.
10. Donât just receive input ö act on it.
11. Donât cut off someone as a source of input just because they were wrong in a past assessment.
12. Make sure you always express appreciation for the time and help you receive.
Dr. Bakerâs honors class has a web site for those interested:
Breakout Sessions
The General Conference concluded with a variety of breakout sessions presented by various elders. Topics available were:
á Financial planning for retirement years (salaried elders)
á Financial planning for retirement years (non-salaried elders)
á Marital and emotional abuse
á Creating and maintaining local web pages
á Legal insights for ministers
á Implementation and benefits of open communication
á Evidence for Noahâs flood
á Alcoholism
á The longevity revolution: turning back the aging clock and maintaining youthful vitality
á Depression/beating the blues
á Background and exegesis of the Psalms
Elders and wives also had the opportunity to attend lunch discussions on both Sunday and Monday on subjects such as World News and Prophecy, working with young adults, the aging ministry, and possibilities for congregational evangelism.
Chairman Robert Dick briefly addressed the group following the final breakout sessions, expressed the appreciation of the entire General Conference to many members who had helped the weekend run smoothly, and dismissed the Conference.
Doug Johnson
