In our house night a couple of weeks ago, we were discussing Lydia, who appears in Acts 16. In stepping out in faith and leadership, she plays a pivotal role in mobilising a foundling Christian presence in Philippi. As a Gentile woman, attracted to the local Jewish community but perhaps not yet converted, she was an unlikely candidate for leadership in that space. But as we now know, God had other plans.

Through Lydia, we see the importance of mobilised local leadership which steps up in sometimes surprising ways when the breath of God’s Spirit blows through a situation. This is what we have seen in our diocese during the COVID-19 season, with new leadership developing in new and beautiful ways. We have seen small groups develop under new mixtures of lay and ordained leadership.  This was at first a response to a need to move our connections to an online space but since then, has continued in strength and health to grow our parish families in love for each other and their communities. In our online space we have seen other leaders step up into running online services (team Zoom Evening Prayer, we’re thinking of you!).

In so many ways, in this season people have adopted a courageous posture like Lydia, taking a deep breath and putting up their hands to lead. This feels like a strong move of God’s Spirit in our Church. When in this season our world is darkened by waves of despair, fear, suspicion and hatred, each person who stands up in the name of Jesus to join in building His church stands against this tide. Even when we don’t feel like we have the skills or talents to lead, we rejoice in a God in whom we are made strong by grace, whose power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12).

Our diocesan team have been busy in the last couple of weeks putting the finishing touches on the Leadership Development Course we have developed in partnership with St John’s Theological College in Auckland. If you are at all interested in developing skills in discipleship and leadership we strongly encourage you to check out the details of this and talk to your parish leader, or to Rev Dr Joe McGarry to see whether it might be right for you.

The topics look so good: the mission of God, the relationship of the established church and new expressions across church history, including in Aotearoa New Zealand, the characteristics of Jesus’ leadership; forming healthy community; identifying neighbourhood needs, and more. This is a 40 week course of on average 1.5 hours of contact teaching time per week, led primarily by me, over Zoom.  Whilst it is available as 25 credits towards the New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies, it can also be attended just for contact hours alone, which means no need to do assignments.

Each of us in one way or another have a place of leadership in the body of Christ, as the theology of passages such as 1 Corinthians 12 or Ephesians 4 reminds us. In praying this week, the image that has come to mind has been one of each of our leaders, lay and ordained, as a linked fence of protection against the powers which seek to divide. May each of us seek to strengthen our leadership so that Christ’s church may shine brightly in a world which needs to know God’s love. 

In Christ,

+Justin

PS: Bishop Ellie’s surgery recuperation journey continues and she is so grateful for all your prayers and well wishes. Please pray over the holidays for a restful time for her with her family, and that the juggle of school holidays whilst recuperating will be light and easy.