I read a mildly interesting article in the newspaper this past week. It appears that the Vatican not only has an “Astronomical Observatory” (Baptists and Presbyterians should be jealous) but the director has published a report that the Vatican now states that belief in alien life doesn’t contradict faith in God.I’m not going to comment on that announcement (I’m sure that Galileo would be happy to see how progressive Catholics have become) other than agree that we are not met to be alone.
I've come to know many of the men and women that are the heads of other religious organizations and many that serve as Senior Pastors. These people are my peers and I’m sorry to report that most believe that it’s “lonely at the top”.
There was a great book published a few years ago called, “Leading from the Second Chair” which was a very uplifting and encouraging book for people that typically hold “Executive Pastor” or other senior director positions (including volunteers) in churches. The authors, Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson, also agree however that it’s “lonely at the top”, and possibly even lonelier when you are sitting in the “second chair”.
While I’m still encouraged and excited about leadership and how God uniquely uses people in positions of authority where they are gifted and prepared, I’m troubled that people in leadership positions in the church are lonely. I’m particularly troubled because I've experienced the same.
Can we read the New Testament and see loneliness in Paul or Peter or James or John? Paul writes so passionately about the brethren and how he so loved his friends Timothy, Barnabas and Titus. Since Paul was “breathing threats and murder” earlier against the disciples, it’s obvious that it was his regeneration by the Spirit of the living God that made a remarkable change in him.
That regeneration should have the same impact on all of us, including those in senior leadership portions.
We are the community of faith, the brotherhood of believers, the literal Body of Christ.
A community, a brotherhood, a body.
As of this moment, I'm making a commitment to community. God didn’t mean for us to be alone, particularly when we have the burden of leadership on our shoulders.
