A "Janet" writes about "inspirational" versus "institutional" leadership

I’d be cautious about getting simplistic here with “inspirational leadership = good, institutional leadership = bad”. The other great leader of the 20th century would have to be Nelson Mandela. His moral influence reverberated around the world when “institutionally helpless” in prison. However… he also continued to exercise moral leadership AND institutional leadership as President of South Africa. In that capacity, the Truth and Reconcillation process he instituted is one of the utterly remarkable stories of civil (indeed Christ-like) use of institutional power.

We actually live in a world of institutions… schools, governments, businesses… this is our current reality. I would rather leadership of these organisations be exercised by people who also have moral authority, than by those who are narcisists or worse.

Organisational leadership puts good people occasionally into moral grey zones… but isn’t it better to have bosses who agonise over whether there is any alternative to making good people redundant, than bosses who are only interested in maximizing short term profits to maximise their short term bonuses? Isn’t it better to have presidents / prime ministers / governors etc. who prayerfully agonise over whether tax increases to fund initiatives to benefit the poor might in fact increase unemployment and increase the numbers of poor people (for example)… rather than leaders whose only consideration in decisions is shoring up votes for the next election?

I do not believe aspiring power for power’s sake is ever Jesus’ way. But I do believe some Christians are called to institutional leadership. At least… I hope some are. I don’t want all institutional leadership to be exercised by those whose moral character is weak.

Ghandi exercised inspirational leadership only… and changed a nation. Mandela exercised inspirational leadership and (for a time) institutional leadership… and changed a nation. I think both types of leadership MAY be an expression of God-given vocation.

But of course… temporal power corrupts so often we take it up with fear and trembling.