Christine Stride is Executive Assistant to the Baptist National Leader and works at the Baptist National Support Centre in Auckland. She is a member of Titirangi Baptist Church in Auckland.
National Leader Charles Hewlett asked three leaders under 40 about whatu2019s helpful and whatu2019s not when it comes to leading in the Baptist movement. This is the second of two articles on this panel session at the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Eastland Baptist Association regional hui.
What obstacles do younger leaders face in Baptist churches?
Josiah Carr, senior pastor Te Puke Baptist Church
[Joe Desdemona] and I were talking about this earlier - as white males the obstacles have been relatively minimal for us. I feel grateful to be in a church that called a not-even-30-year old pastor.
Joe Desdemona, pastoral team leader Whakatu0101ne Baptist Church
Most of the people sent out from [my childhood church] Titirangi Baptist into pastoral ministry have been men, so acknowledging and addressing barriers to women emerging into this space is still a challenge many of our churches need to consider.
What do Baptist churches need to be more aware of?
Joe Desdemona
How we cultivate more willingness to take responsibility for things and model the taking of that responsibility. Thereu2019s a fear of commitment because of the risks it could entail, something thatu2019s modelled in legislation and there are good reasons for it. But letu2019s understand there are times and spaces where we can (and should) take on responsibility despite the risks, simply because we trust that God will equip us for every good work he has for us to do.
What skills or characteristics do you look for in potential leaders?
Josiah Carr
Sometimes I see the most leadership potential in the kids who are more challenging, perhaps a bit disruptive. I try to be aware that God might have gifted them with something which will be revealed if Iu2019m willing to get alongside them and help them.
I teach drums to a one young person who is a part of our church. He might fall into the u2018disruptiveu2019 category. I gave him an opportunity to serve in church where heu2019d be on drums for just one song. His mum texted me the following morning at 6:45am to say, u2018heu2019s practising the drums! He wonu2019t stop!u2019
Heu2019s on his own journey with Jesus. But I saw in him the same 15-year-old that I was when someone offered me the opportunity to play drums in the worship team, and held that space for me, and journeyed with me.
Brittany Willemse
A passion for Jesus; bringing other people along with them, not just leading from the front; willingness to learn and be guided; consistency u2013 someone who shows up and does what they say theyu2019re going to do; and courage to do the right thing, not just the cool or convenient thing. Someone who has mental and moral strength. This tells me they know who they are in Christ and when the Holy Spirit calls them to do something they will listen and be lead.
Passing on the baton can be very difficult for senior leaders. What would you most want to say to them?
Joe Desdemona
Iu2019ve been privileged to have two older pastors who committed to helping me at the start of my pastoral ministry, David Allen and Neil Perry. Both said, u2018Iu2019m at the end of my race but Iu2019ll stand alongside you for a season longer to help make sure you go wellu2019. They gave up something (their planned retirement dates!) and had a posture of 'sticking around' rather than 'hanging on'.
I think all leaders probably have seasons of transition when we need to step back for someone new.
In that situation I think what Iu2019d need to hear would be, u2018get your mind off yourselfu2019. Iu2019d need to trust the call to follow Jesus rather than the call urge to make sure my identity as a leader is safe or my bank balance is secure. If we do that, we can help one another through those transitions, we can see the whole body flourishing, with young and old alongside each other.
Image caption: From left-right: Charles Hewlett, Brittany Willemse, Josiah Carr, Joe Desdemona by Christine Stride
