Many stories will be flowing out of the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference for the next issue of the Reporter — here is just one example. Also, check out the right column for a video from the opening worship session Thursday.
By RJ Walters, Editor
Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., a distinguished Professor of Church Leadership and Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. inspired lay members by focusing on the concept of “multiple leadership” in a session at Adrian College Thursday morning.
Weems argued that instead of people wasting time trying to figure out what type of leaders they are or churches debating who should have specific leadership roles, congregations should look at members and ask, ‘What can they do?’, especially when it comes to youth and young adults.
“There can never be too many leaders,” he said. “People think if they have a pie and more people come to share the pie, they will get a smaller piece. But power is expandable so the more pie other people have, the more pie you have.”
Drawing on the teachings of 1Corinthians 12:14-20, which refers to the ‘many parts of one body,’ Weems said people have five senses to help them experience things, but often times one takes over and dominates while the others take a break.
He also referred to the book Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869 by Stephen Ambrose, to help laity understand that great achievements often take the hard work of many, even if only a few people get the deserved credit.
After writing the book, Ambrose admitted it was difficult to decide whom to focus on, because everyone from Abraham Lincoln to congressmen to engineers to laborers had an incredible impact on the revolutionary project.
Weems said in the end Ambrose decided to write about all of them because “without each one doing their part the Transcontinental Railroad would have never happened.”
Likewise Weems suggested, it is essential for lay members to realize their own strengths and step up when called, while taking a back seat when it is someone else’s turn.
“Some genius is not found in trying to figure out who the leaders are, genius is knowing when your calling is to be a leader and you lead,” he said. “Genius is knowing when your calling is to be a follower and you follow. Genius is knowing when you’re called to be a peer and you help out a colleague.”
He said the life of John Wesley is a perfect example of a Methodist leader who was willing to re-think what leadership meant as the world around him changed.
During Wesley’s time, middle to upper-class white men were usually looked to for religious leadership, but in due time he realized that ministry was simply about asking three core questions: Is there faith? Are there gifts? Is there fruit?
Weems reminded people that even Martin Luther King Jr. was once just a follower, new to Montgomery, Ala. and even a school custodian is a leader — at the end of the day when they remind teachers of the clean-up procedures.
“The question of leadership is not whose name is on the top of a conference charge…it is who are the disciples of God in our midst,” Weems said.
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