The meek ambassador: pastoral power and Christian leadership
The power granted to persons in Christian pastoral leadership is delegated for benevolent exercise. Yet with this power may also come the temptation to exercise power in self-interest. In this paper, we explore the image of the ambassador, as a means of providing moral vision for the exercise of pas...
| Authors: | ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
2022
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| In: |
Practical theology
Year: 2022, Volume: 15, Issue: 3, Pages: 272-284 |
| IxTheo Classification: | NCA Ethics RB Church office; congregation |
| Further subjects: | B
Meekness
B ambassador B pastoral leadership B Care B Power |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The power granted to persons in Christian pastoral leadership is delegated for benevolent exercise. Yet with this power may also come the temptation to exercise power in self-interest. In this paper, we explore the image of the ambassador, as a means of providing moral vision for the exercise of pastoral power. An ambassador works collaboratively with other emissaries in order to faithfully convey messages from a sender. We suggest this image affords those entrusted with pastoral power, a measure of meekness in their work. The pastor/ambassador, as one who communicates divine messages, is also one who conveys the truth. We further suggest that a meek character might be fostered by making space for truth to be spoken. When persons allow what is true to be spoken, individuals meet one another as equals. As an image of collaborative labour, the ambassador is one who both leads, and is led. |
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| ISSN: | 1756-0748 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Practical theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/1756073X.2021.1977476 |