Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)
Christian leadership begins in the waters of baptism. There our egos and drive for power are drowned in the very death of Christ Jesus, and by the power of the Spirit, we are brought out of the water to walk in newness of life. Christ has become our Great High Priest, connecting us with the gracious God, in whose being we rejoice. We lead so that others can know with us the death of those things that destroy relationships and the life that flows from God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Leadership comes in many forms, with many faces. A few are chosen to be rostered leaders (pastors, deaconal ministers, deaconnesses, associates in minister); all are called to use their spiritual gifts to help lead the church in mission. Leadership is a gift of the Spirit for all the baptized for the sake of creation.
How is the Spirit calling you to leadership?
For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.
(Romans 12:4-6) |
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