This study is written using the book, Just Leadership, as a guide for the themes and concepts. In each session there is a short video which gives an overview on the topic for discussion and then deep diving in with some questions to aide your study.
To see the whole TV series click on the below link.
https://watch.tbn.uk/just-leadership
In this session we look at the third section of the book entitled JUST WORLD. From session one, we understand that to become just leaders we need to understand who we are in God, our identity and how we need to give ourselves away in the pursuit of a common cause by creating an environment in which others can join in. In session two we explored attributes and characteristics of a just leader. This session is all about how we can address the injustice more collectively in our world, churches, charities, and businesses.
Love and justice to replace hatred and injustice. For us to experience life to its fullest, justice must prevail and this surely must be a message that is lived out by the Church, his people. But how many of us see these words in action through the church today amid a world that is tearing itself apart through selfishness, greed, intolerance, inequality and oppression? It is as though we have only opened one eye to look around us and see what is going on in the world – to see too clearly would bring us too much pain perhaps. Maybe we have failed to kneel long enough for God to reveal the depths of his own pain and to sufficiently direct our footsteps to intervene as suggested by the great C. S. Lewis: ‘Have we ever risen from our knees in haste for fear God’s will should become too unmistakable if we prayed longer?’
Eric Jesperson, Founder of The Lighthouse Project said that justice always must start in the heart; Leaders who live authentically and deal with their own heart issues, will create cultures where that flows out. When leaders can live out of an authentic self, even being honest about their weaknesses and limitations it will help create charities and organisations that people can trust.
Discussing Christians in the workplace Roger Fairhead said that in organisations where the bottom line and the profit is not the only purpose for the business, passion and purpose shine through. Sharon Amesu explains that for an organisation to cascade well the leader should show their ethos through personal accountability; role model what they want to see in the workplace, being willing to say sorry when things go wrong, be transparent and invite feedback.
Nikki and Peter Simms discuss the issues of abuse and inequality in the Church setting. The Church should be a sanctuary and a place that people can come to as it represents Jesus to the community. The Church has lost some credibility because it has not represented Jesus well. Unfortunately, at the core of society, there is systematic injustice and as a Church we need to address this from the inside out. We all have ‘blind spots’ but we need to be better at accepting criticism and then acting in a positive way. When we do this, we listen, learn, and move forwards, mobilised in prayer and unity.
The Church should interact and have influence with all spheres of society. There is no other organisation or network that engages with people to the extent that the Church does. Tarn Bright, CEO of Home for Good, speaking about exploring a Christian vision for a just society points out that if we could collectively speak up around injustice that could equal a solution. We are talking about being counter-cultural even if it costs us. The goal is to serve our society, so it is just.
With the presence that the Church has in every community around the world, we have a huge opportunity and responsibility to be a voice and make a difference around injustice
