Good Shepherds

As you may have seen from the memo that went out on Tuesday, we have a new CEO of Christian Horizons.  Janet Nolan was announced on Tuesday Morning by Ed Sider.  We had a meeting here at the corporate office to coincide with the announcement and I had the privilege of praying for Janet and sharing a few words.   I felt very honoured to be involved.  I have great respect for both Ed and Janet, and I think we are in good hands.

As I was thinking about what to say, the verses that kept coming to me were from the book of Jude.  Jude is addressing some issues of bad leadership.  It speaks very harshly about some leaders. However, I have always looked to them as an encouragement to any of us who have influence (whether it be at home or work or church or anywhere else).  An encouragement of what we  should be - by looking at what shouldn’t be done.  Jude compares those bad leaders to Cain, Balaam and the Sons of Korah.  I won’t go into those in detail, but all of those Older Testament stories involve people challenging what God says and doing things their own way with dire consequences.  The book continues by saying:

Jude 1:12-13 (NIV)
¹² These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm--shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted--twice dead. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Pretty harsh words.  The thing that always strikes me about these verses is that in every analogy the bad leaders are compared to something that doesn’t give the things you need and expect.   Remember that these words were written in a different time.  Shepherds are expected to feed their flock but these shepherds feed only themselves.  In an agricultural society rain was very important to life and refreshment.  But these clouds are said to bring no rain.  From trees you expect fruit but these bear none.  Sailors who head to sea hope not for wild waves.  And in this day the stars would be used to navigate by.  A wondering star would lead you astray.

People look to leaders (people of influence) for sustenance, refreshment, peace and direction.  I try to keep those things in mind, whether I am in a position of influence as a support worker, or a pastor, or dad, or a friend.   I can say that my experiences with Janet have been ones where she has delivered these things.  I know she would appreciate your prayers, not only for her but also for all of the ministry of CH.  I look forward to this new chapter for Christian Horizons.