As Nacoochee Presbyterian Church enters into a time of transition that will lead to the search for a new pastor, some words from David Brubaker are instructive.
In October 2018, Dr. David Brubaker of the Congregational Consulting Group published an article entitled “Character and Leadership.” In that article he made the point that organizations and congregations are shaped most directly by the character of their leaders.
He wrote: “It is increasingly evident that character trumps every other attribute of leadership — including skills, charisma, vision, motivation, and persistence. When the core is rotten, the shell eventually cracks as well.”
Brubaker made several key points: “Leaders set the tone;” “As goes leadership, so goes the congregation;” and, quoting the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “character is destiny.”
Dr. Brubaker went on to spell out what he sees as the traits of real leadership:
- Humility: a commitment to serve and a disinterest in self-promotion.
- Curiosity: an appetite for learning and an openness to hear disagreement.
- Trust: assuming the best about others and refusing to demonize one’s opponents.
- Integrity: including an integration of word and deed.
- Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence: a robust self-awareness combined with a deep sense of dependence on God.
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Peace, Bob