A case study in leadership

Through my years at Bethany, one thing has remained a constant presence in my life: Bethany Memorial Church. The members and leadership of the congregation were there to celebrate my achievements and guide me through the rough patches I faced. There were always welcoming faces every Sunday that warmly greeted me and made me feel like part of their special family. What I have realized most recently is that Bethany Memorial Church is a wonderful example of leadership.

Leadership is a tricky word to define. Every person has a different take on what leadership is, and what it should be. Leadership has always been a word I have struggled to define through out the years. Every time I have taken on a leadership position it has required different types of skills, time, and energy. No leadership experience is exactly the same. For me, leadership is about providing guidance, making tough decisions, and being supportive of what is going on around you. Bethany Memorial Church has done all of those things and more!

When struggling with decisions of staying at Bethany or trying to discern what the next step after graduation should be, the people of Bethany Memorial Church have been there to offer me guidance. I received a variety of opinions, advice, and perspectives on different decisions throughout my four years at Bethany, and some of the most useful information came from members of BMC. No one ever told me what I should do, but there were always words of encouragement, support, and wisdom that they freely bestowed upon me. A leader should be willing to offer guidance and assistance with making decisions, but not force a certain viewpoint upon another person.

There are times when a person has to make tough decisions. No one enjoys being in those types of situations, but you can't really say you have lived until you have had to make a tough decision. BMC, like many congregations has to make tough decisions about where to put money, how to reach out to the community, and how to develop their identity. Recently, Bethany Memorial Church has been working to write their Mission Statement. I am sad that I do not get to fully participate in this process, because a lot of good is coming from this work. Putting this Mission Statement together will be one of the toughest decisions BMC will have to make. There are so many things that could be included in the mission statement, discerning what the right words are will take a lot of dedication and hard work. I know that as a congregation they are capable of writing the perfect mission statement for their congregation.

Finally, support is something that a leader should always show. Groups and group members need to know that their leader supports their decisions and stands behind them. I always knew that I was supported by Bethany Memorial Church and the members. People contributed funds and goods to help support some of my activities and group projects; they came to hear me preach, and encouraged me to take on leadership roles in the church and on campus. It was always nice to know I had people who were there to support me.

Being a leader has taught me a lot of things. You can't make everyone happy, no matter how hard you try. Some people will criticize you and expect you to fail. And everyone does things differently, so you have to be flexible. I have learned a lot from Bethany Memorial Church. They have been great teachers and have helped me to develop my leadership skills greatly. Being a leader is hard work, but offers great rewards. Everyone has the ability to be a leader; they just need to proper grooming. Congregations, regional ministries, and HELM are wonderful places to get the right kind of grooming to be a leader in whatever field or role you want in the future.