Acts 1:15-17, 26

Easter 7 – Year B

Acts 1:15-17, 26

Yes, leadership development through a prayer process is still possible.

We can learn something from every leadership attempt and we can help folks grow. Imagine, if you will, a new cycle of leadership selection in whatever group you are a part of. This year, however, you are going to follow this Biblical model of leader selection.

First, put everyone (yes, everyone, not just those deemed appropriate by some criterion or another). Spend some time in prayer that the right leadership for the year will be forthcoming (not the perfect leadership – the right leadership that we can learn from).

Start with what you consider to be the humblest team/committee/whatever and draw out an appropriate number of people for it. The last one selected will be the convener of the group.

Continue until you come to whatever is considered to be the key position and finally draw out the person who will be named.

Use this as your starting point. At a minimum, view this as you would making a decision by flipping a coin – not so much trusting the coin as investigating your response to what turns up. It may lead you to a new appreciation of what it means to be community and to rely upon the least as a way to greatness (whatever that might mean to you).

Presuming you will try it, reflect on these questions after completing the process. What surprised you about viewing someone in a different position than usual? Would you be willing to trust this process over time (perhaps in a given year you might have to learn what not to do as well as what might be done)?

This is as valid a process as a group of nominators sitting around talking about what they know about folks – there is always more to know than we know.

Try it, you may like it.