Leadership training
Fr. George Manimala, Parish Priest of
St Thomas Church, R K Puram, New Delhi organized an evening get together of
Parish Council Members, including SCC Presidents, Vice Presidents and church
support fund Collectors. As part of the evening
programme a Leadership programme was conducted. Through a PPT presentation
Father explained various aspect of Church leadership and the role each one of
us are required to play for the growth of the church (the people) spiritually
and in society. Three short lessons or
points touched me and which I think is very relevant in today’s times.
Agents of Change.
We are agents
of change. Each one present during the
meeting is a leader representing a community.
The community looks at the leader and draws inspiration from their action
and words. It is for the leader to lead
the people through the right road.
Seeing the way we deal with our family members, our neighbours our non
Christian communities the members of the community learns. It is rightly said that our children learn
from our action and not from our advice, talks, scolding, etc. They learn from seeing not by listening. The eyes play a more vital role than the
ears. Leaders can and must be the agents
of change. The sheep is without a Shepherd. The leader can lead the people to greener
pastures. As a Christian each one of us
has to show the way to others. Seeing
the way the leader leads the people the way he/she behaves in the day to day
life, others will learn. If the leader
does it right they will learn the right way.
God given
opportunity
Most of us are nominated as
leaders of the Small Christian Community, the Parish Council, the Youth,
etc. We are reluctant to take on
responsibilities. Many of us do not have
the time. However, we must remember that
it is a blessing to get a chance to work for the Church. It’s God’s work and it is He who calls. Having accepted the chance to serve, each one
has to use his/her talents to the full.
We cannot give the church activities the least priority. If we get time, without disturbing our daily
routine, without affecting our family visits, social commitments, cricket
match, a relaxed evening, etc then when we are totally free and have nothing to
do we grudgingly help out in the church.
If we realize and accept that this a rare opportunity granted to us then
our priorities will change.
Have
a Vision
Another aspect touched upon during the training was the
need to have a vision. We are casual
about the role we have to play. Without
a vision we won’t reach anywhere. It is
like the pilot of a plane who does not know where to go. Without a defined destination no one will
board that flight. As leaders we need to
have a vision, a vision known and internalized by each member of the unit. Then we are on the right track. A person who has a limited vision of less
than a year will plant flowers, the one who has a vision of a couple of years
will plant trees and those with longer vision will cultivate people. We have to cultivate people so our vision
should be long term. There may be set
backs or hurdles in the short run but keep the goal in sight. Even if there is need to brake or divert we can switch
back and focus on the goal.
