Service Leadership is a buzzword these days, both in the United States, and the United Kingdom but many people don’t know what it means. In short service leadership means that you lead in a way that empowers the members of your team and propels them to success, whatever that may look like. Volunteering for a year, plays into this idea, that we are spending a year helping to empower the communities and placement sites that we are working in, to accomplish the goals of the site. This fits in with the theory of accompaniment that the ELCA operates under, saying that we as volunteers for the year are not here to change the community to make them who we are or to force our ideas and beliefs upon them but instead we are here to live a life of service to them while walking alongside them as we experience all of the good and bad times as we march forward to become better in all aspects.
Humbleness is also an important concept when looking at service leadership. Humbleness is necessary to continue living a life of service, as volunteers for the ELCA we have been placed on a pedestal both domestically and internationally. While being placed on a pedestal is not inherently bad in itself, it matters what you do with the power given to you. We as christians should strive to live as Jesus would, and if we are able to do that then we have the opportunity to do amazing things with the power entrusted to us.
As I reflect on this I challenge you to look at places in your life where you have been placed on a pedestal, or in a position of power and look at how you are utilizing that position, and if you need to make any adjustments to more fully live in the idea of how Jesus asks us to live.
As I say quite often, If I was ever granted all the power in the world, I would still want to be known as the neighbor down the street that you can come talk to at anytime.
Dear Ryan, I am a member of St. Laurence (that is the correct spelling) Episcopal Church in Conifer, Colorado. Today we are writing supportive comments to you young people who are working overseas to show Christ’s love in the world.
My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
I am a mystery writer, and there were many anxiety-filled times when I was under deadline. I would stop and read that verse, and the anxiety would abate. During your time in the U.K., may God’s Grace be with you.