“From Hero to Host”

My mother runs a magical kingdom – a kingdom where fairy tales come to life and wild imaginations are free to roam.

Some of the world’s greatest leaders, despite their amazing power to bring about change, are actually humble servants to a cause. We might think of Mother Teresa, or Greg Mortenson, whose mission is to promote peace one school at a time in Pakistan. Who or what do these leaders serve?

I’m often asked, “Why are you a pastor?” Or, “What’s it like being a young(er) pastor?” Or I simply get intrigued looks when strangers discover my profession. These reactions reveal stereotypes about pastors and church leaders that many people hold, as those people assume they know who I should be or how I should act.

What type of leadership does the world need? In a 2001 interview, writer and management consultant Margaret Wheatley said, “We need to move from the leader as hero, to the leader as host. Can we be as welcoming, congenial, and invitational to the people who work with us as we would be if they were our guests at a party? Can we think of the leader as a convener of people?