Daily Devotion 15th September 2018

At the General Assembly of the Congregational Union of Scotland dominant voices were heard from time to time. After one rather contentious gathering, in private, my late father was encouraged to express his view. His considered opinion was that ministerial leadership had to be by consent, expressed in the phrase ‘primus inter pares’ (well he had been a Latin teacher). ‘First among equals’ allowed leadership in the Church to flourish on the understanding that it was not status which mattered, but the exercise of gifts granted by God for the good of the Church and her mission.

Jesus’ followers struggled with leadership. They were promised greatness and took as their model contemporary examples – both Jewish and Roman. Existing models of behaviour were not what Jesus had in mind at all – for them, or us. To be a servant or slave was one difficult role which he espoused – along with the title ‘friend’ of Jesus, a role very different from the imperial claim of ‘Friend of the People’.

The Church, throughout history, has drawn many differing conclusions about how leadership should be exercised. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. The leadership style of the United Reformed Church is conciliar, one which is a shared dependence of participating members seeking ‘the mind of Christ’. It stands or falls by the willingness of all to contribute what they can.  How are your gifts (and mine) being used?