From the Chaplaincy
A higher basis for leadership
The quality of our own thoughts and actions is a significant influence on the quality of our leadership.
It's easy to feel good about leadership when thinking of some of history's great leaders, like Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, or Mahatma Gandhi – so much of their individuality was made up of exclusively good qualities. It is not always the case with modern leaders.
Gandhi knowing that violence only begets violence, began practicing passive resistance. He brought one of the world's most powerful nations to its knees... displaying qualities of peace, love and integrity as his method for change. He looked at himself first, saying, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.” - Gandhi.
It is wonderful to witness the high number of senior students putting themselves forward to act as leaders or wanting to serve the student body. In assembly, the senior students heard from our Acting Principal, Ms Christensen, about the humility, courage and kindness required to both lead and to be led. She reminded them that we can all display the qualities of a leader whether we are appointed to lead or are being led.
Mary Baker Eddy in her writings talked about the qualities of true leadership and how to express them wrote, "Godliness (Goodness) or Christianity is a human necessity: man cannot live without it; he has no intelligence, health, hope, nor happiness without godliness (Goodness)."
The right leadership, inspired by this understanding and by Huntingtower values, involves morality and conformity to the standards of righteousness. It is a mental activity—the reflection of spiritual understanding, wisdom, and intelligence.
Such leadership evidences God/good and is manifested and controlled by Divine Mind. One who is following Divine direction in their leadership is not deflected from what is right and true. Following God's/goods leading makes one good, pure, and courageous. Exactly the qualities of a strong leader.
Christ Jesus manifested divinely inspired leadership to the highest degree when he said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." He showed that true leadership includes morality. Its vital properties, or elements, proceed from God, divine Principle. True leadership expresses the integrity of immortal Truth and the kindness, impartiality, and loyalty that are derived from infinite Love. Self-love, self-justification, and self-righteousness have no place in it.
- Pearline Thomson CS Sentinel
To follow the leadings of divine Mind unites individuals and maintains harmony and joy. Willingness to abide by the Christ-idea will generate divinely inspired leadership wherever one is called upon to lead.
From the Chaplaincy Team