Most persons will tell you that they prefer harmony, agreement and concensus to conflict. Conflicts can sometimes drain persons in an organization and make them forget to focus on the main thing. But conflict is not all bad. There is a sense in which a conflict may be a wake up call for an ogranization to change, to grow, to improve. My recent conversation with a friend reminded me of this. Whenever there are conflicts they tend to reveal:
1. People's capacity to cope with challenges.
2. The mindset of key persons in a group or organization.
3. Persons understanding of the vision and mission of an organization.
4. How equipped people are to handle differences of opinions.
5. What an organization is doing thats right and whats wrong.
6. Who the leaders and influencers are.
7. The need for change in structures, procedures, policies, personell and focus.
The role of the leader is critical in order for an organization to benefit from conflict. The leader:
a. Must not panic in the times of conflict.
b. Must steer away from attacking people personally.
c. Must draw on his / her expertise and inner resources.
d. Must know the rules and procedures of the organization.
e. Should be willing to change course when that becomes necessary.
God bless.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
I'D RATHER BE A LIFEGIVER THAN A HANGMAN
I have been reflecting on the recent comments made three members of the Jamaican clergy on the capital punishment debate. Rev. Ronald Blair in his usual conservative and measured style called on the Government of Jamaica to activate the law and start hanging convicted murderers again. He genuinely believes that this will act as a deterrent to future murders. Rev. Clement Brown, the past President of the Spanish Town Ministers' Fraternal went even further than Bishop Blair and out of obvious frustration over the crime situation and the government's apparent tardiness, offered himself to be the hangman. One has to wonder how he would in his duty as clergy prepare the person for death, kill him and them do the last rites? Just wondering aloud!
It is the comments of the very outspoken Fellowship Tabernacle Pastor, the Rev. Al Miller that have not only raised the most eyebrows but have has caused puffs of smoke to come from the ears and noses of some in the society. In displaying a high level of intolerance to opposing views Miller categorizes those who believe that capital punishment will not act as a deterrent to crime as been “dunce”, in fact, “very dunce”, he says. I believe that all well thinking Jamaicans share the frustration of these men of the cloth even though there may be disagreement over the prescription for this state of chronic that we find ourselves in. To say that Jamaica's murder rate is too high is a gross understatement. To be ranked in the top twenty in the world as it relates to murder is most undesirable but to be fighting for the number one spot is earth shattering and ill-omened. Everybody is searching for an answer. My problem with the recommendation given by the clergy men is that it further deepens the culture of death in this country. Already communities are taking the law in their own hands and brutally killing captured thieves out of the frustration that the justice system moves too slow and in some cases has ground to a halt. With a thirst for blood and a justice system that is corrupt, poorly staffed and dilapidated one wonders about the wisdom of introducing capital punishment in this context. Responding to murder by killing four persons every year will not in my mind counter the death culture in this country. When we speak with many of the young men from communities where crime and violence are on the rise they often tell you that "mi dead aready". They have no future orientation. They have seen death around them and have resigned themselves to the reality that they will not live as long as Jesus. The threat of punishment by death is nothing new to young men who live on the edge everyday. Their argument is "before you can hang me you have to catch me". Many are confident that they have the fire power to outgun the police, the brain power to outsmart them and the money to buy them.
What then is the answer?? There is no one answer. There is no one sector that can solve the problem. This is not a political issue it is a survival issue. It is an issue that has implication for the generations to come. Here are seven simple suggestions that I posit:
1. Dust off all the crime plans that have been presented over the past ten years and see where they converge in terms of causes, effects and solutions.
2. Establish a national action team that consists of well thinking Jamaican citizens from all sectors of the society to give leadership to a national two year campaign to reduce crime by 50%.
3. Ensure that there is budgetary allocation to ensure that the police force is adequately manned, well equipped and well paid.
4. Target all crime ridden communities for development. Give business persons major tax breaks and other incentives to invest in these communities.
5. Have a zero tolerance approach to all crimes, from major to minor.
6. Strengthen the Youth Service Programme and give support to groups and associations that have a focus on helping young men between the ages of 12 and 21.
7. Challenge the church to lead the battle on the spiritual front, engaging in sustained ecumenical functional partnerships to rescue communities through prayer, capacity building, and the giving of hope to families.
I am convinced that capital punishment is not the answer. I would rather volunteer myself to be a lifegiver than a hangman. Though I may sound dunce I still believe that threatening to hang murderers will not lessen crime in this context. It will take more. Simply having more legislation passed is not the answer since those already on the books are not been enforced.
One of the critical element that is needed in all of this is leadership. Leadership that is analytic, practical, tough, selfless and just. Who will lead this SAVE JAMAICA CAMPAIGN???
It is the comments of the very outspoken Fellowship Tabernacle Pastor, the Rev. Al Miller that have not only raised the most eyebrows but have has caused puffs of smoke to come from the ears and noses of some in the society. In displaying a high level of intolerance to opposing views Miller categorizes those who believe that capital punishment will not act as a deterrent to crime as been “dunce”, in fact, “very dunce”, he says. I believe that all well thinking Jamaicans share the frustration of these men of the cloth even though there may be disagreement over the prescription for this state of chronic that we find ourselves in. To say that Jamaica's murder rate is too high is a gross understatement. To be ranked in the top twenty in the world as it relates to murder is most undesirable but to be fighting for the number one spot is earth shattering and ill-omened. Everybody is searching for an answer. My problem with the recommendation given by the clergy men is that it further deepens the culture of death in this country. Already communities are taking the law in their own hands and brutally killing captured thieves out of the frustration that the justice system moves too slow and in some cases has ground to a halt. With a thirst for blood and a justice system that is corrupt, poorly staffed and dilapidated one wonders about the wisdom of introducing capital punishment in this context. Responding to murder by killing four persons every year will not in my mind counter the death culture in this country. When we speak with many of the young men from communities where crime and violence are on the rise they often tell you that "mi dead aready". They have no future orientation. They have seen death around them and have resigned themselves to the reality that they will not live as long as Jesus. The threat of punishment by death is nothing new to young men who live on the edge everyday. Their argument is "before you can hang me you have to catch me". Many are confident that they have the fire power to outgun the police, the brain power to outsmart them and the money to buy them.
What then is the answer?? There is no one answer. There is no one sector that can solve the problem. This is not a political issue it is a survival issue. It is an issue that has implication for the generations to come. Here are seven simple suggestions that I posit:
1. Dust off all the crime plans that have been presented over the past ten years and see where they converge in terms of causes, effects and solutions.
2. Establish a national action team that consists of well thinking Jamaican citizens from all sectors of the society to give leadership to a national two year campaign to reduce crime by 50%.
3. Ensure that there is budgetary allocation to ensure that the police force is adequately manned, well equipped and well paid.
4. Target all crime ridden communities for development. Give business persons major tax breaks and other incentives to invest in these communities.
5. Have a zero tolerance approach to all crimes, from major to minor.
6. Strengthen the Youth Service Programme and give support to groups and associations that have a focus on helping young men between the ages of 12 and 21.
7. Challenge the church to lead the battle on the spiritual front, engaging in sustained ecumenical functional partnerships to rescue communities through prayer, capacity building, and the giving of hope to families.
I am convinced that capital punishment is not the answer. I would rather volunteer myself to be a lifegiver than a hangman. Though I may sound dunce I still believe that threatening to hang murderers will not lessen crime in this context. It will take more. Simply having more legislation passed is not the answer since those already on the books are not been enforced.
One of the critical element that is needed in all of this is leadership. Leadership that is analytic, practical, tough, selfless and just. Who will lead this SAVE JAMAICA CAMPAIGN???
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Pt. 1 Leader or Warrior: The Church Leader's Role in Conflicts
Have you ever been to a church where there is more war than worship, more hatchets that harmony? Well maybe not, you go to an ideal church. Church conflicts can be a pain and can stand in the way of Kingdom building.
We can become distracted by personality clashes, power struggles, doctrinal differences and moral fingerpointing. Whatever the cause, if these conflicts are not managed then they can affect the public witness of the church and cause it to detour from its mission. I do not wish to give a dissertation on conflict resolution but permit me to share a few thoughts on how leaders can best create an atmosphere where conflicts are managed in a healthy way.
I believe that leaders must be clear about the mission and purpose of the church. When the church can concentrate its energies on placing first things first there is hardly any room for conflicts to thrive. Can you imagine a church where worship, evangelism, stewardship, ministry, fellowship and discipleship are at the center? The leader who keeps the church foccussed on the essentials will not spend time putting out fires. The absence of a clear mission and purpose will allow all kinds of factions to emerge and the church will turn on itself instead of being externally focussed and Jesus driven.
The leader would do well if he or she is equipped with good judgement, sound character, competence and confidence. This kind of leader creates an atmosphere of trust and security. A rounded leader gives confidence to the congregation. When people are confident about being led in the right direction they will feel more comfortable to voice their concerns because they sense these will be handled in a fair and just way. If the leader is deceitful, jittery, wavering and partial in judgement it creates the atmostphere for the breeding of conflicts.
My last word is that the leader must be clothed with a spirit of humility. A confident, humble leader will be approachable and will diffuse many potentially explosive situations. A leader must not take himself or herself too seriously. One has to learn to ignore many negative criticisms and attempts to embroil one in "cass, cass" (quarrels). Our case must not become bigger than the cause of Christ. When the leader removes herself from the center of focus and places Christ at the center attention will be rightly shifted. When as leaders however we crave the attention of others, we thrive on hero worship and gaining followers with blind loyalty the ground becomes ripe for conflict.
The leader can be a peacemaker or a creator of strife. We need to decide the kind of leader we want to be becuae certainly how we lead will affect how conflicts are managed in our churches and organizations
We can become distracted by personality clashes, power struggles, doctrinal differences and moral fingerpointing. Whatever the cause, if these conflicts are not managed then they can affect the public witness of the church and cause it to detour from its mission. I do not wish to give a dissertation on conflict resolution but permit me to share a few thoughts on how leaders can best create an atmosphere where conflicts are managed in a healthy way.
I believe that leaders must be clear about the mission and purpose of the church. When the church can concentrate its energies on placing first things first there is hardly any room for conflicts to thrive. Can you imagine a church where worship, evangelism, stewardship, ministry, fellowship and discipleship are at the center? The leader who keeps the church foccussed on the essentials will not spend time putting out fires. The absence of a clear mission and purpose will allow all kinds of factions to emerge and the church will turn on itself instead of being externally focussed and Jesus driven.
The leader would do well if he or she is equipped with good judgement, sound character, competence and confidence. This kind of leader creates an atmosphere of trust and security. A rounded leader gives confidence to the congregation. When people are confident about being led in the right direction they will feel more comfortable to voice their concerns because they sense these will be handled in a fair and just way. If the leader is deceitful, jittery, wavering and partial in judgement it creates the atmostphere for the breeding of conflicts.
My last word is that the leader must be clothed with a spirit of humility. A confident, humble leader will be approachable and will diffuse many potentially explosive situations. A leader must not take himself or herself too seriously. One has to learn to ignore many negative criticisms and attempts to embroil one in "cass, cass" (quarrels). Our case must not become bigger than the cause of Christ. When the leader removes herself from the center of focus and places Christ at the center attention will be rightly shifted. When as leaders however we crave the attention of others, we thrive on hero worship and gaining followers with blind loyalty the ground becomes ripe for conflict.
The leader can be a peacemaker or a creator of strife. We need to decide the kind of leader we want to be becuae certainly how we lead will affect how conflicts are managed in our churches and organizations
Friday, October 10, 2008
PASTORING WHERE THE LIGHTS ARE DIM
I had the honour of sharing the sermon at the welcome service for one of my colleagues in ministry. He just completed four years of ministry in the city where he did fairly well. He is now stationed in rural Jamaica where he is serving two fledging congregations in Trelawny. As my wife and I drove to the service we couldn’t help but comment on the narrow, pothole riddled, steep path that we had to take to reach the Freeman’s Hall church. The roadsides were overgrown and one had to compete with bushes to find space to drive on what was left of the road. There were only few houses and we saw no other vehicle or pedestrian. It was a long, slow drive to the church. The lights leading to the church were dim.
My friend is following the path that the Lord is leading. The Lord has led him along a path where not many others would be willing to follow on. The congregations are small, the resources are limited and the contacts are few. But as I listened to my friend shared about his call to the ministry I sensed that one can bloom where he or she is planted. He was convinced that he was sent to these communities by God. He is not naive, he was not pretending that the issues are not there but I sensed that he trusts God, loves people and doesn’t mind going into the uncertain as long as God is with him.
When called to pastoral ministry we declare that the world is our parish. This suggests that we have a commitment to engage people where ever they are once we sense the Divine urge. The way taken by the Divine can be difficult to follow at times. The Lord leads both where the lights are bright and where the lights are dim. It is easier, I believe, to go with God when God takes us to places where ministry is in keeping with our gifts and talents, where resources are available, where people are willing to be led and equipped to do the work of the ministry. These are comfortable places, places we love to be. There are however other paths that the Lord may lead.
When the lights around us are dim it is the inner light that shines in the soul that gives clarity of vision and fixity of purpose. It doesn’t matter how dim the lights are around us, if we have the eternal light of God shining in and through our lives we will be able not only to navigate our way through ministry but we can help others to find their way in life. I am convinced that what matters in ministry is not the lights that shine on us or around us but rather the light that shines from us. The challenge of Jesus is : "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven."
Perhaps doing ministry where the lights are dim is not that bad after all. We are less likely to get into the performance mode in order for the bright lights to shine on us.
Our desire should be for Jesus to make us a light for others as their lights go dim. So I pray: A LITTLE MORE OIL IN MY LAMP KEEP IT BURINING.
I pray for blessings on my friend Markel Wright as he journeys with God through Freeman's Hall and Joe Hut in Trelawny Jamaica.
peace.
My friend is following the path that the Lord is leading. The Lord has led him along a path where not many others would be willing to follow on. The congregations are small, the resources are limited and the contacts are few. But as I listened to my friend shared about his call to the ministry I sensed that one can bloom where he or she is planted. He was convinced that he was sent to these communities by God. He is not naive, he was not pretending that the issues are not there but I sensed that he trusts God, loves people and doesn’t mind going into the uncertain as long as God is with him.
When called to pastoral ministry we declare that the world is our parish. This suggests that we have a commitment to engage people where ever they are once we sense the Divine urge. The way taken by the Divine can be difficult to follow at times. The Lord leads both where the lights are bright and where the lights are dim. It is easier, I believe, to go with God when God takes us to places where ministry is in keeping with our gifts and talents, where resources are available, where people are willing to be led and equipped to do the work of the ministry. These are comfortable places, places we love to be. There are however other paths that the Lord may lead.
When the lights around us are dim it is the inner light that shines in the soul that gives clarity of vision and fixity of purpose. It doesn’t matter how dim the lights are around us, if we have the eternal light of God shining in and through our lives we will be able not only to navigate our way through ministry but we can help others to find their way in life. I am convinced that what matters in ministry is not the lights that shine on us or around us but rather the light that shines from us. The challenge of Jesus is : "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven."
Perhaps doing ministry where the lights are dim is not that bad after all. We are less likely to get into the performance mode in order for the bright lights to shine on us.
Our desire should be for Jesus to make us a light for others as their lights go dim. So I pray: A LITTLE MORE OIL IN MY LAMP KEEP IT BURINING.
I pray for blessings on my friend Markel Wright as he journeys with God through Freeman's Hall and Joe Hut in Trelawny Jamaica.
peace.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Church of God Inducts New Bishop
Despite torrential rainfall hundreds of Jamaicans and overseas guests gathered at the Waltham Park New Testament Church to send up prayers for Rev. Dr. Barrington Brown as he was consecrated as Bishop of the church. The function was for the most part meaningful except for the unnecessary length of some of the presentations. There was an attempt to preach over the sermon and all that happened was that the second sermon was longer and of a much poorer quality. The quality singing, the first sermon and the response of the Inducted Bishop made the function worthwhile attending.
The focus certainly was on servanthood but the pomp and pageantry evidenced in the setting challenged the simplicity of servanthood. Some of the Bishops arriving in a limousine with police outriders seem to me not in keeping with the calls made in the service to a life of humility.
As I left the function I wondered whether or not we give more lip service to the idea of servanthood than genuine reflective practice. The speaker expressed so eloquently and passionately the call to selflessness, impeccable character and godliness that anyone who missed it was bent on doing so. Even after that stirring sermon as I examined my life I am still not convinced that I have fully embraced the servant posture of Jesus Christ. Am I totally given over to the Master? Is His agenda mine or am I operating off my own mandate? Do I seek personal recognition for service or am I seeking God’s glory?
The only answer that I am convinced about is that I want to make myself available to serve where needs are. My desire is to make a difference in the lives of people, to the glory of God. May all those who claim we have the call of God to be servants rise up and SERVE.
The focus certainly was on servanthood but the pomp and pageantry evidenced in the setting challenged the simplicity of servanthood. Some of the Bishops arriving in a limousine with police outriders seem to me not in keeping with the calls made in the service to a life of humility.
As I left the function I wondered whether or not we give more lip service to the idea of servanthood than genuine reflective practice. The speaker expressed so eloquently and passionately the call to selflessness, impeccable character and godliness that anyone who missed it was bent on doing so. Even after that stirring sermon as I examined my life I am still not convinced that I have fully embraced the servant posture of Jesus Christ. Am I totally given over to the Master? Is His agenda mine or am I operating off my own mandate? Do I seek personal recognition for service or am I seeking God’s glory?
The only answer that I am convinced about is that I want to make myself available to serve where needs are. My desire is to make a difference in the lives of people, to the glory of God. May all those who claim we have the call of God to be servants rise up and SERVE.
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