Leaders as Servants

Posted on by Fr. Peter

Jesus washing the feet painting – Calvin Carter

Yesterday, I wrote an essay about Pastoral Leadership.  At the end of the essay I suggested that Great Leaders are those who are servants.  I would like to pick up that theme today.
I have mentioned before that I spent 12 years in the US Army.  During that time I had the privilege of serving under some wonderful leaders.  I also had the, shall I say, honor of serving under some not so great leaders.  There are many things that will distinguish a great leader from a bad one but the one that sticks out in my mind the most was great leaders were true servants of those they led.  By that I mean they truly cared for their troops.  They were concerned that they had enough chow, that they were all okay, and that they all knew what the mission was.  I never saw a great leader first in the chow line.
I make it a practice in my pastoral ministry to never put myself before my parishioners.  I try to live as simple of a life as I can and to be available to them when and if they need me.  After I bless the food at coffee hour or any other function I do not go through line first, rather I take my place at the end of the line.  Although they want me to go first, I choose not to.  I do not make a big deal out of this I just do it.  Funny thing is now they have come to expect it.  Leaders need to care for those they lead.
Much of our servant ministry comes from the image of the shepherd.  The shepherd will do anything, including laying down his life, for the sheep he has in his care.  The shepherd would not think of eating his meal before he had feed his sheep and seen to their needs.
In the 15th Chapter of the Gospel of St. John Jesus asks Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?”  Peter responds, “Yes, Lord: You know that I love you.”  We miss the subtle word play here in English but in Greek it is very obvious.
When Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?” Jesus is using the word agape.  Agape is the highest form of sacrificial and self-emptying love.  This is the kind of love that God has for humanity.  Peter’s responds, “yes Lord, You know that I love You” and again we miss the subtlety in English.  Peter uses philo, a lesser form of love like that of love between brothers.  Jesus is asking Peter if he is willing to sacrifice everything, including his life, for those that Jesus is about to place in his care.
Earlier in the same Gospel, John 3:30, John states that, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  This is the humility that all of us in pastoral ministry have to have.  I have to constantly remind myself that it is not about me!  Anyone who knows me knows how hard that is for me to do sometimes.  If we want to minster affectively we have to get out of the way and let God minster.  We have just the vessel that God uses; we must decrease in order for Him to increase.
Pastoral ministers need to develop the agape love for those they are leading.  We need to be willing to do anything for them, including the sacrificing of our lives in both a literal and figurative way.  Most of us will not be called upon to give up or lives by martyrdom for those we care for, but we are called to a different type of martyrdom.  Just like when a man marries a women they cease to exist as individuals and live now for one another, so it is with pastoral ministry.  This is why the same hymns are used in the ordination ceremony as they are in the marriage ceremony.
In a very real sense the priest is married to his congregation much like the man and woman are married to each other.  The priest no longer lives entirely for himself but has to live for his community.  During the ordination service, the newly ordained priest is given the lamb, the consecrated bread that will be used to commune the faithful, he is given the lamb and told to guard it.  We are being asked to guard the lambs that God has given us to care for.  Guard them with our lives.  This is the agape love that Jesus was asking Peter about.  This is the agape love in action.  What and awesome responsibility.
In the Romanian tradition a priest is ordained for a particular altar.  This does not mean we cannot move from one church to another, but the idea is that we are ordained for that particular community, it becomes our spouse.  We will grow together.  We will laugh together and we will cry together and the hope is that the agapelove will develop between the priest and the community but there has to be willingness for that to develop.
Agape love develops over time.  Pastoral ministers need to allow that love to develop.  We must be willing to decrease so He can increase in love.  Our will has to become the servant of God’s will.
To be a great leader we must become the servant to those we lead.  Are we willing to humble ourselves so we can become great leaders?  The church needs great leaders, are you ready?

Pastoral Leadership

Posted on by Fr. Peter

I have written on this topic in the past and I continue to learn more and more each day about leadership.  Sometimes I learn by doing and sometimes it’s simply by observing other leaders and what they do, but more importantly what they do not do.  Great leaders are not born, great leaders are trained and willing to be trained.  Great leaders will admit when they do not know something and they are willing to find the answer, great leaders are always learning.
Leadership is about people, it’s not about managing people it’s about leading them.  Jesus did not manage his apostles He lead them.  He chose each one of them for a specific reason.  He saw their potential and then led them to that potential.  That to me is the number one task of a great leader, lead your people to their full potential.  A leader cannot accomplish this if he or she does not have a relationship with those they lead.
Pastoral leadership is all about relationships.  The priest is the father of the parish and the leader of those people that God has entrusted to him.  This is a sacred task that needs to be taken seriously.  I spoke to a young priest recently about challenges he was having in his parish.  After he went through the laundry list of problems he was having I sat back and asked, “do you love them?”
When I came to this parish almost eight years ago I thought I had all of the answers.  I was filled with the arrogance that many new priests have.  I was going to do it better than the guy before me.  I knew what I was doing and I was going to do it.  It was not until I loved the people, really loved them, that I truly felt I was their pastor.  You see before I loved them I was just going through the motions.  But when I discovered that I needed to love them it became less about me and more about us.  Once I entered into a relationship with them I found, and unlocked, the potential that they had and we have done some amazing things.
How do we do this?  We have to listen.  We need to sit and just listen to what they have to say.  Where are them from?  Where do they hope to go?  What is the story of the parish?  This parish was founded by immigrants who came here to find a better life.  They found that life here and, once they determined to stay, they built a church.  When I say they built a church I mean they literally built the church, stone on top of stone.  They worked all day in the factory and then came to the church and worked.  They loved this place and it shows.
When you listen to the stories you get to know them, on a very deep level.  The joy of a small parish is that I have time to really get to know each parishioner.  Some would say that there should be a line that is drawn between the priest and the people.  I agree with that to a point.  There is a line, but that line moves as you get to know them and fall in love with them.  Once you get to know them then you will see their potential and that is when the development happens.
Jesus worked with His apostles for three years.  We are not privy to every conversation that He had with them but the ones we are show a pattern of development of each person to reach their potential.  They were given opportunities and placed in situations where they could develop the skills they would need.  Of course this did not come to fulfillment until the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost but the hard work was done during those three years of ministry.
Great leaders have a personal vision that they are able to get other excited about.  This vision is developed as they are getting to know the team.  The pastor of a parish needs to lead his people to holiness.  Again I turn to Jesus and the way He dealt with people that He met.  He was stern with them when He needed to be but it was always done out of love and with the vision to show them how to get their life back on track.  Gentle correction and love that is what it is all about.
The 4th Century B.C. teacher Chanakya, teacher of the first Indian Emperor to rule then entire Subcontinent wrote, “the king shall consider as good, not what pleases himself but what pleases his subjects” “the king is a paid servant and enjoys the resources of the state together with the people.”  Great Leaders are servants first, and this is so true with pastoral leadership.  I was reminded recently that Pharaoh of Egypt carried a shepherds crook to lead the people and a whip for the horses that pulled his chariot to defend those people.
Pastoral leaders would be served well to remember that we are servants first.  Jesus came to serve not to be served.  Being a servant means to be able to listen to those we serve, get to know them and love them.  Only then will we be able to lead them.
General

Pentecost Sermon

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Today we celebrate the feast of Pentecost also known as the Sunday of the Holy Trinity.  We heard the depiction of what happened on that day read from the Book of Acts and we only have to look at the great stained glass window above the Holy Altar to see what happened.
The feast comes 50 days after the Great Feast of Pascha and it is the fulfillment of the mission of Jesus Christ and is the start of the messianic age of the Kingdom of God mystically present in the Church.  One might also call this the birthday of the Church as tradition tells us that this is when the Church began her public ministry.  We see in this feast for the first time the revelation of the Divine Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Scripture tells us in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles that all those who were present heard the Apostles speak in their own language.  People had gathered in Jerusalem from all points of the Empire and each was able to hear in his own language the message of St. Peter as he quoted from the Prophet Joel, the passage that was read last night at the Vespers service, “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:25)
In the Vespers Hymns last night we heard of the fulfillment of another event from the Old Testament that has to do with language:
The arrogance of building the tower in the days of old led to the confusion of tongues.
Now the glory of the knowledge of God brings them wisdom.

 

There God condemned the impious for their transgression.

Here Christ has enlightened the fishermen by the Spirit.
There disharmony was brought about for punishment.
Now harmony is renewed for the salvation of our souls.

We also heard about the power of the Holy Spirit and the mission:
The Holy Spirit provides all things:
He pours forth prophecies,

 

He leads priests to perfection,

He teaches unschooled people wisdom,
He reveals fishermen as theologians,
He confirms the Church.
O Comforter, one in essence and enthroned with the Father and the Son, glory to You!

This day has a special significance for me.  8 Years ago, on Pentecost Sunday, I knelt before the Royal Doors of this very Church and was Chrismated into the Orthodox Church.  For me Pentecost is the culmination of a very long journey that brought out of the faith of my birth and into the faith of the Orthodox.  In a sense, the day of my Chrismation is my birthday, the day that my spiritual life began.
Through the Sacrament of Chrismation we are anointed with oil, a special oil, that can only be blessed by the Patriarch of a particular Church, for us that is the Patriarch of Romania.  The Myron that we are anointed with is a link to the Ancient Church, the symbol of what joins us to that unbroken line all the way back to the Apostles who were anointed on that first Pentecost in the upper room.  A transformation takes place that has to continue each and every day.
You have heard me say many times before, but it bears repeating, that our spiritual life is not a sprint but a marathon.  Each day we have to renew our commitment to be sons and daughters of the light.  We have to relight that light if you will each and every day and this is not an easy task.
We come to Church each week to find the strength that we need for the journey.  The Church has been called a hospital the soul.  This is the place we come to find refreshment and healing.  Healing of all those hurts, all of those things that have estranged us from fulfilling our full potential to be the sons and daughters of the light.  We come and gather in the presence of the Sacred and ask the Holy Spirit to come upon us and remain with us as we continue the week.  Life is good inside, but once we walk outside that door life become real.
At the start of every Liturgy I pray the prayer of the Holy Spirit.  Three times I recite the prayer that asks for the Holy Spirit to enter this place and abide with us.  Everything that we do is through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The realization that we need the healing, the healing that only the Holy Church can offer, comes to us through the Holy Spirit.  The ministry that I have, that I celebrate on behalf of all of us, is completed in and through the power of the Holy Spirit.  I call the Holy Spirit down upon the gifts of bread and wine, the final sacrifice, the simple, humble gifts that have been placed on the altar by and from all of us.  The Holy Spirit comes and sanctifies the bread and wine and it becomes for us the bread of life, the actual Body and Blood of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Today we celebrate and remember and event that took place more than 2,000 years ago.  The day the Church was born, the day the Apostles started their earthly ministry.  But this is not just a date in history because we celebrate this event each time we gather as Church.  We call upon the Holy Spirit to be with us and to guide us in all that we do as Church.  Just as the Holy Spirit emboldened the Apostles I pray that each of us will experience the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in each of us as we continue of spiritual journey.

O heavenly King,

O Comforter, O Spirit of Truth,

You are everywhere present, filling all things;

O Treasury of blessings

and Giver of life,

come and abide in us,

and cleanse us from every impurity,

and save our souls, O Good One!

One Year Ago Today

Posted on by Fr. Peter

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 started just like any other day in Central Massachusetts.  People woke up and readied themselves for the day that was about to unfold in front of them.  People went about their lives as normal not knowing that latter on that day lives would change forever.
Returning to Dudley from Sturbridge a bone chilling announcement was made over the Worcester County fire radio system.  The voice said that Central Massachusetts was under a tornado watch until later that day.  Now we have had such watches before but there was something in the voice that told me this time it was serious.
As the afternoon continued, and we watched the news for any sign of what was to come, the sky continued to darken.  Perhaps it would just be a thunder storm and all would be well.  Then, right there on the television news, one of the most horrifying sites I had even seen before, a tornado forming right on the Connecticut River in Springfield.  I am somewhat of a weather geek so I was fascinated by what I saw as the river actually changed direction as the tornado passed over and slammed into the bridge ten continued east out of the frame of the camera.
Town after town between Springfield and Charlton started to report “Tornado on the ground.”  This was becoming real.
Members of the fire department started to arrive at the station some out of curiosity and some out of the desire to be ready when whatever was going to happen, happens.  Then the words I never thought I would hear were broadcast over the radio, the tornado had hit Southbridge and there was significant damage.  I felt helpless as my first duty was to the town where I was working as the Chief Fire Administrator.
We were glued to the radio and television and then the alarm bell rang out and an engine company was requested to head to Southbridge.  More fire fighters arrived at the station as the sky darkened, it was not over.
Eventually I ended up in Southbridge, first stopping by the Church to make sure all was well and saying a little prayer for those who would have been affected by this storm.  The neighbors were out on the street as the power was out and everyone was looking toward the sky.  Would there be another one?  What was going to happen next?
I arrived on Worcester Street, what would become known as ground zero, and I could not believe my eyes.  I have never seen this kind of destruction up close.  Sure I watched video on television of town out west but this is Massachusetts, we have snow storms and hurricanes but tornadoes?  Then over the radio came the words that another one was on the ground and heading our way.  We sought shelter wherever we could find it until the danger passed.
It’s hard to put into words the feelings that you experience when watching your neighbors climb out of their homes that have just been destroyed.  The feeling of happiness for every life that emerged from the rubble that was once their home and the feeling of sadness for lives lost and those that will be changed forever.
I was there not in my role as chief administrator in the Town of Dudley but as a fire chaplain and a member of the local clergy.  On the front of my helmet, on the shield that is adorned with symbols of the fire service stands the cross of Jesus Christ.  They symbol of my Christian faith and for many a symbol of hope.  As I helped people climb out, they would ask me why this happened and I had no answer for them.  I felt helpless that I could not answer this basic question for them as their lives were crumbling around them.  All any of us can do is be there for our neighbors when they are in need.
As the night continued word came that four people had lost their lives.  The story of the young mother who lost her life protecting her child, and the other stories touched us all but we were also thankful that the death toll was not higher.  Survivors told their stories of how they were able to get to the basement just seconds before the twister hit their house and others who rode it out in their cars.  No one expected this.
So here we are one year later.  Today memorial services will take place in many of the affected towns as the victims try and put their lives back together.  It is important to remember those who lost their lives, those whose lives have changed, those who came to help, and the ability of humans to recover and reclaim their lives.  I am always amazed by the ability of people to come back from some of the worst experiences, and although changed, continue on.
The effects of June 1, 2011 directly and indirectly affected many people and the memory of that day will continue for years to come.  The landscape of our area and of our lives has changed and will continue to be a reminder of that day. 
My prayer today is for all of those who endured that dark day.  For the people who lost their lives, the people who lost their homes, the people who responded and who helped in anyway and for those who continue to help their neighbors rebuild their lives and their homes.  God bless all of you.

8 Reasons Your Church is Stuck

Posted on by Fr. Peter

  1. You lack a leadership empowerment plan. We have failed as leaders in the church if we do not embrace the unique gift-mix that God designed. And we won’t fully know the power and impact of the local church until people are empowered to be the people God wired them up to be. 
  2. You are unclear about your vision and mission. There are lots of churches with vision statements, but I don’t think there are very many churches that really have a vision statement that clarifies who they are as an organization. A clear vision that is properly communicated will both rally and repel people. 
  3. You blame outsiders and external factors. Victim-thinking will only lead to bitterness and competition. Leaders who blame outsiders and external factors actually are confessing their own failure to think creatively and inspire their team. 
  4. Your structure inhibits growth. One of the attributes of a church in decline is a complex structure. The natural tendency of organizations is to add complexity to their structure and systems. The longer an organization exists, the more complex it typically gets. 
  5. You worship your past success. Our past successes can be one of the greatest contributing factors to our future demise. When organizations stick to “the way we do it,” the safe approach of avoiding innovation and change becomes the riskiest approach. 
  6. You focus on activities instead of outcomes. While many church leaders are full of vision and passion, they lack an effective strategy to accomplish their mission. That leads to a feeling of disorganization, and ultimately they become stuck. 
  7. You fail to equip God’s people. For whatever reason, smaller churches I work with have a tendency to rely on the pastors and paid staff to carry the ministry load rather than equipping lay people. 
  8. Your ministries ignore people outside the church. When churches become inward-focused and start making decisions about ministry to keep people rather than reach people, they also start to die. 

h/t Ministry Best Practices

Lead Like Jesus

Posted on by Fr. Peter
In the past, on this blog, I have written about different leadership styles and what it takes to be a leader.  There is no better leadership example for one who leads a Christian community then Jesus himself.  I think we often over look the leadership qualities that Jesus showed.  I recently came across a blog article on this topic and there were listed the 5 Leadership Secrets of Jesus.  Take a look and see what you think.
1- Jesus prayed and fasted all night asking God who He should bring on His team.
2- Jesus chose the “uneducated and untrained.” He didn’t choose leaders, He built His own.
3- Jesus trained His followers by example, and then empowered them to do the same.
4- Jesus expected those that were with Him, would do greater things than He did.
5- Jesus gave His life to and for those that were with Him.
As the author of the essay reminds us, Jesus lead with love and humility.  That’s how every authentic Christian leader should lead, with love and humility.  Thanks for the reminder.

Memorial Day

Posted on by Fr. Peter


In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.


We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.


Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Letter of condolences for Metropolitan Constantine of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

Posted on by Fr. Peter

His Eminence Archbishop Antony,
His Grace Bishop Daniel,
Beloved clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA          
Christ is risen!
It is with deep sadness that we have heard about the falling asleep in the Lord of His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine of Irinoupolis, First Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. We were aware of his illness and struggle. The Almighty God called His servant Metropolitan Constantine to eternal repose in the kingdom of heaven just 2 days after his 40th anniversary of Archpastoral Ministry.
Many of our Romanian people have met His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine and appreciate his kindness, fatherly love for the priests and laymen, pastoral care for every person in need. As a member of the Assembly of Bishops and brother concelebrant of the Holy Mysteries, I have always valued his wisdom and leadership.
We share with all the priests and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA the feelings of regret and sorrow. On behalf of the priests and faithful of our Archdiocese, please accept our sincere condolences. We pray our Risen Lord Jesus Christ to establish his soul where the righteous repose. We assure you of our prayers for the soul of His departed servant Metropolitan Constantine.
May God rest his soul in peace!
† Archbishop NICOLAE
The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas
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