By Fr. Glenn Jones:
Well, a new president with his staff now firmly ensconced, and now we look to four governed years no doubt very differently from the preceding four years due to vast differences between outgoing and incoming. As we witness daily in the media, the situation elicits cheers from the victorious and laments from the defeated. Yet, so it is with every change of administration in national, state or more local elections—speculations about “the devil we know and the devil we don’t” disparities.
This happens in religious groups as well, whether it be with pope or pastor … whisperings of “What’s THIS one going to be like?” Anyone who’s ever worked for another knows the feeling well: Will the new boss, director, team leader, etc., exercise authority with velvet glove or iron fist? Reasonable or no? Seek to advance the good of the group and its members, or ever focused on advancing his own career? Will he be unswerving loyal or unpredictably treacherous? Everyone walks on such proverbial eggshells until the new leader’s style becomes clear.
In this new beginning with a new administration and many new legislators tasked with governing hundreds of millions of people, it seems opportune to reflect generally on moral use of authority, for virtually all of us eventually have authority over someone—whether as boss or manager, parent or pastor.
As always, we can turn to millennia-old wisdom of scriptures for some observations and guidance: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan…[and] transgression increases…” (Proverbs 29:2,16) and “When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.” (Proverbs 28:12). Experience of many centuries’ bears out this understanding, and thus such remembrances should be uppermost in the mind of everyone of good will who takes office. When someone not of good will or of selfish intent obtains office, the veracity of such scriptures is made known quite quickly.
The whole purpose of authority, of course, is that it be used to direct others toward a certain outcome—hopefully a good one. In governance it’s for the protection and advancement of the governed, in business the attainment of the enterprise’s mission, in science the advancement of knowledge and utility, etc.
History shows a full range of leadership types and styles, from the absolute self-seeking to the absolutely self-sacrificing—merit being adjudged in a sliding scale between the two. For instance, Hitler was a remarkably effective leader, but apparently completely selfish—his ambition resulting in many tens of millions dead and nations in ruins. Hitler only leads a lengthy list of self-seeking dictators over the centuries—both past and present—reminding us starkly of the adage: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
On the flip side, there are those in authority who have sought the greater good at great self-sacrifice. Anyone who has been under such an authority knows the confidence and loyalty that it engenders, while self-seeking authority very often rules through fear. For the Christian, Jesus immediately comes to mind as exemplar and very embodiment of self-sacrificial leadership—the absolute Good sacrificing self totally for the good of all with His offering of self upon the cross.
Jesus’ teaching on leadership is quite simple—and quite memorable—as we remember a couple of episodes in the Gospels: “[the apostles] had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.’” (Mark 9:34-35) … and then, at the Last Supper, He lives up to this when He washes the apostles’ feet, and says: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15) Thus the irony within good leadership which holds always: humility in authority. And, of course, indispensable for leadership is example—to be what you want others to be … to do what you want others to do. To live up to expectations that you place on others. How can the hypocritical leader be taken seriously?
The author Catherynne M. Valente wrote: “We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns…” So very true. We often wait with some trepidation the exercise of authority over us. So, a mark of leadership is that willingness to put others’, and the organization’s, good ahead of one’s own … to be consistent in doing the right. In seeking the benefit of an organization—or even of a single person over whom one has authority—charity and self-sacrifice are indispensable elements for success. And those in authority should remember the strand of spaghetti analogy: a leader pulls from the front and does not push from the rear, for pushing will lead nowhere, while pulling—leading from the front by example—will have them behind you in whatever direction you want to go.
—————————–
“For the greatest leaders are those who share as equals in the trials and struggles, the demands and expectations, the hills and trenches, the laws and punishments placed upon the backs of those governed. A great leader is motivated not by power but by compassion. Therefore he can do nothing but make himself a servant to those whom he rules. Such a leader is unequivocally respected, and loved for loving.”
― Author Richelle E. Goodrich
Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.