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1.5 years ago I wrote an article for an LDS Blog. The topic was participative leadership. It essentially went into how to use a democratic style of leadership to achieve church objectives. I gave rationale, steps, and an example from real life church leaders of the approach in action. This was based on my personal experience although the article was replete with references to research. In my mind, I was getting away from the conscription model of service, into one where volunteers are treated as volunteers, where leaders see their role as identifying where individual strengths and passions overlap with the needs of the Ward. That was one reason I wrote the article in the first place. Partly as a reaction to “It’s your turn to clean the chapel” as if I’m a paid employee. Well, interesting, a Bishopric member told me he refers to that site a lot and found my article from way back then. He approached me and asked if I would be willing to “sell the Ward council” on the idea. He was concerned, though, that it’s not church doctrine. I indicated I didn’t think it had to be doctrine, just another perspective on how to do the work of the church, without going out of compliance with general guidelines. That I wouldn’t consider it something to sell, as that style of leadership isn’t for everyone, but I would be willing to devote some time to it if they wanted me there.
I asked — “are you sure if I’m the right person to do it? I have no crediblity here anymore”. He didn’t really give an answer but thought the idea had merits and wondered if I’d do it. I said I would and then we talked leadership philosophy for a while.
Not sure if it will go anywhere, but his concern about my approach to quorum leadership not being doctrine revealed a common problem I see in the church. I mentioned it in another thread today — anti-intellectualism and an unwillingness to adopt/adapt perfectly good ideas that aren’t in the manual or from higher leader sources. In my case, my approach was one that I had implemented successfully as a quorum president years ago. It was liberating because it didn’t have home teaching in it except for a blitz, and the blitz was something the quorum wanted to do, not me.
We achieved a number of goals important to the church on a grander scale than ever before.
We’ll see where it leads. I believe they will probably NOT go ahead with the idea due to a) anti-intellectualism and b) my reputation in the Ward.
Congrats. Even if it only started a conversation with a real person, you did good. I will send success vibes your way. I have always said that wards were more autonomous and church more empowered when Salt Lake was miles away. I hope you get to teach it. Drop by drop is a good thing.
No matter what happens, it is cool he found it and asked you. I agree. That is cool. I love the idea of commissioning and aligning with passions.
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