From the Dean
Dear Friends in Christ,
We are thinking about leadership at the cathedral as the calendar turns and we begin a new year. You will see pictures and statements from those who offer their services to the Chapter in this newsletter – we are deeply grateful to all of them for their willingness to serve in this way. We also plan to elect delegates to the 2008 Diocesan Convention at our Annual Meeting; we again thank those who have committed themselves to this important and particular task.
Leadership in the Christian community is both similar to and different from leadership in the wider world. Perseverance, fortitude, justice, and prudence are important assets for anyone wanting to lead in almost any environment. Trust, hope, and love are additional virtues required of those who intend to lead the Body of Christ. These last three attributes are needed primarily because the Body of Christ is an organism, not an organization. How we care for and nurture one another along the way is as important to God as what we ultimately get done for him. Therefore, leading the Body of Christ, the Church, requires the mind of Christ – a mind shaped by mercy, wisdom, compassion, and clarity of purpose. Ironically, we can’t develop that mind in a vacuum; we are patterned in the image of Christ as we take up the work of Christ in the world.
I hope that you are thinking about how you are called to lead (what are you called to do and how are you called to be). Is there a ministry at the cathedral or in the community that is appealing to you? Are you now ready to say yes to something that seemed too big for you in the past? Are there other people with whom you would like to partner in order to accomplish something noble for God? A wise preacher once said that God does not call those who are able but makes able those who are called – are you willing to take a small risk to find out if that is true? Please ponder those questions as we prepare to celebrate the gentle spirit and holy accomplishments of a cast of hundreds on January 21st. I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
God’s peace,
Scott +
