Leadership Draft

This “The Minister as Leader” paper interacts with my readings and appropriate biblical texts and theological resources. I will address my strengths and weaknesses as a leader. For my weaknesses, I will provide a preliminary plan to address them and strengthen my leadership. Because I write frankly, I ask that you keep this material to yourself.

My strengths are being a pastor, teacher, worship leader, and participating in outreach. My main way of doing the latter at the Federal Correctional Complex in Florence, Colorado is by teaching a reentry-to-society class called Threshold. It hints at Christianity even though it is open to all faiths. I also do the previous three at the prison and I did in the Army for 22 years.

Carrie Nieuwhof’s chapter two is about “Kicking Cynicism in the Teeth,”, which snuffs out hope. I have been warned about cynicism and sarcasm since 1990. He wrote curiosity is the discipline that kills it. The points from Nieuwhof that I need to work on are as follows:

Ask open-ended questions, give fewer answers, and ask why and why not. The older I get the more introverted I am becoming. I agree we need to sometimes ask questions that sometimes do not have yes or no answers. I ask why and why not, but it sometimes irritates my bosses.

Nieuwhof’s chapter four is about “Taking Your Soul off the Market.”. I agree with taking responsibility if I make mistakes and making my talk match my walk with Christ. I have paid for lunch since working at the Federal prison, even though many others do not. The inmates and staff notice. I pray others get closer to Christ because of this. Luke 16:10 states, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much.”

He wrote about putting yourself first regarding growth. Examples of this are professional development in the Army, the Federal prison, school, etc. My thesis is about the Army relationship program I volunteered to get trained in career. I go to church conferences when I can for development, and I attend Zoom conferences on my lunch at work when I can. This includes a monthly Rocky Mountain Family Therapy Network Zoom.

Nieuwhof’s chapter seven is “Change Never Asks Permission.”. When I found out I would not make Major on Active Duty I went to our airfield in Afghanistan, threw rocks, and yelled at God. Looking back, I believe in Providence, as I have been leading worship / preaching to more people at the Federal prison since 2010 than I would have on Active Duty. As you know, several chaplains want to preach every Sunday at Army chapels. We are short chaplains in the prison. I have also led reentry small groups consistently and have counseled since then.

Nieuwhof’s chapter eight is about “Craving Different.”. Change can be difficult for me. I agree I may need to get radical. My interpretation of this is to be prophetic, which I do more at the prison since I do not want to risk my Army Reserve retirement. If I retire by the end of the year from the latter, I will be able to share my thoughts more freely. At the moment I have to be careful what I write and say.

He wrote, “Be a student of culture.” I have studied about fifteen religions in the Federal prison. This includes different cultures as well. I have been to thirty countries. I will discuss this more in my weakness section below.

Nieuwoff suggested I surround myself with younger people. I am 58, so this is somewhat easy. Many of whom I minister to at the Federal prison in Florence, Colorado. I do not have any children, so I mentor those who are younger there.

He advised us to lean into God. I try to go to two services a week and listen to worship CDs on the way to work. I pray, study the Bible and worship daily. I share my faith when I can.

Nieuwoff encouraged rest. I purposefully sleep in on my two days off a week and use the evenings for work. I occasionally use my sick leave at work which I will lose if I do not retire from the prison.

He wrote about comparing ourselves with others, writing: “Your self-worth is determined by your latest performance.” As you know, we have to “walk on water” on Army evaluations to get promoted. I do not want my supervisor’s job at the prison, due to potential lawsuits, etc. But getting good evaluations are important to me, as well as awards. I realize I may have to wait to get my reward in heaven.

I must be careful regarding this quotation by Keller: “When work is your identity, success goes to your head, and failure goes to your heart.” I was very busy with work, school, and the Reserve. If I do not do well with them, it affects me negatively. I realize I was too busy. I'm thankful I retired from the Army and I graduated.