The Servant Leadership School is dedicated to training, empowering, and
sustaining serious Christians (lay and ordained), transforming them into
spiritually-grounded servant leaders deeply committed to Christ and preparing
them for servant ministry in their local community, congregation or workplace.
Teaching and learning for faithful living must start with trust in the presence of Christ, but these simple guidelines can change a class from information to transformation. These methods create a crucible of transformation. The elements of our life together include prayer, prayer partners, one-page reflection papers and class discussion. Regular attendance at the 12-week session is expected.
1. PRAYER -- Because one purpose of each class is spiritual formation, reliance upon the Holy Spirit is demonstrated through prayer. Every aspect of our classes is saturated in prayer: the teacher's preparation time, prayer for individual class members, conversations between the teacher and the class shepherd, and a period of silence and prayer time to open and close each session.
2. PRAYER PARTNERS -- In the last five minutes of each class, participants divide into pairs and they talk about how each can pray for the other every day during the coming week. What specific concern, burden, or growing edge can each partner pray for. (Telephone or e-mail contact is also encouraged.) Prayer opens up ways to care and commit ourselves to each other so we can become the family of Christ to each other. Leaders often ask, "What was it like to pray for your partner on a daily basis?"
3. ONE-PAGE REFLECTION PAPERS -- To encourage serious reflection and provide opportunity to integrate theological motifs with life issues, causes of celebration and gratitude, areas of pain and brokenness, cultural addictions, and/or occasions of transformation, one page papers provide a clear focus. Sometimes I have written, re-written, and even re-written my reflection paper a third time in order to break through to clarity on the assigned question.
During class, we often read portions of these written assignments. These self-disclosing reflections are a gift. They enrich and deepen the class experience, help to foster community, awaken an appreciation for diversity and provide opportunities for creativity. What seems best for me is to divide the class into groups of three or four and have the assignments read within these more intimate settings. As this happens, new awareness breaks and change occurs. We are all teachers and learners. In addition, class members learn how better to pray for each other.
Afterwards, the papers are collected. Either the teacher or the shepherd will read and respond to them by the next class. Participants will often find their learnings extended when their papers are returned with comments, words of encouragement or possible next steps.
4. CLASS DISCUSSION -- So many gatherings are marked by an outward friendliness and inward loneliness. Places where it is possible to share faith and life and to "spur one another on to love and good works" (Heb 10:24) are welcome and often hard to find. Our Servant Leadership classes provide an opportunity for all members to talk, share something of themselves, and emphasize the practical relevance of what is being learned.
In the latter part of the session, I divide the class into circles of 3-5 people (the size contributes to fuller participation.) I introduce a brief Bible study or pull out a paragraph from the assigned reading, then turn the group loose with a focus question. Studies remind us that people tend to remember far more of what they say and discover for themselves than what they are told by others. Perhaps that is why penetrating questions are such an integral part of Jesus' teaching style.
As we work to develop servant leaders, we want to make creative use of structures that will support, encourage and help individuals discover God's unfolding call for their lives.
Dick Busch is a staff member at the Servant Leadership School in Washington, DC. For more information call 202/328-7312 or send an email.
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