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Leadership and power
Get PDFLeadership does not exist without power. Thus we have to reflect on power in order to lay a theoretical foundation for responsible leadership. This interdisciplinary article collects insights from the disciplines of theology, sociology, and crosscultural management. It provides a concise summary of what a Christian leader should know about power in order to use his/her power in an adequate way. The theological reflection reminds us of the fact that, according to the Judeo-Christian tradition, God gave power to humankind (Guardini, 1998). Two opposite dangers are described in this article, namely the abuse of power on the one hand and the misconception of powerlessness as a Christian virtue on the other hand. The sociological section describes different forms of power. Following French and Raven (1960), it introduces seven power bases, which are illustrated by examples from society and the church. The next section describes the different cultural perceptions on power. It shows how the cultural parameter of power distance may influence the appropriate leadership style (Hofstede & Hofstede, 2005). It is argued that our understanding of a right or wrong use of power is strongly influenced by the culture in which we grew up. The article concludes with a list of ethical guidelines on the use of power for responsible Christian leaders
The role of God in the father/son relationship during identity formation – a Gestalt theoretical perspective
Get PDFThis article is based on research done within the Afrikaansspeaking community in the area of the Drakenstein Municipality, Western Cape province, South Africa. The focus falls specifically on one concept that was outlined during the research, namely the perceptions of fathers and adolescent sons on identity formation within their relationship as well as the role that God plays. Combined qualitative/quantitative research was conducted with emphasis on semi-structured interviews with fathers (n=4) and adolescent boys (n=4) and an auto-ethnography of the author as the dominant component. The lessdominant quantitative component consisted of questionnaires completed by fathers (n=42) and adolescent boys (n=180). Metatheoretical assumptions and theoretical assumptions as grounding for the male identity are discussed as part of the author’s paradigmatic perspective. Furthermore, empirical findings are discussed and recommendations are made. From the discussions with fathers and their sons it was clear that both fathers and sons have a need to stand in close relationship to each other and to God. It is within this relationship where their identities are formed. However, fathers seemed to be resistant of transferring their beliefs to their sons. Adolescent boys also indicated no need to one day transfer learned behaviour from their fathers to their sons
Economism
Get PDFModern society is characterised not only by a fascination with scientific technology as a means of solving all problems, especially those that stand in the way of material progress (technicism), but also by an obsessive interest in everything that has to do with money (economism or mammonism). The article discusses the relationship between technicism and economism, on the basis of their relationship to utilitarian thinking: the quest for the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Recent major studies of neo-liberalism (seen as an intensification of utilitarianism) by Laval and Dardot are used as reference to the development of utilitarianism. It is suggested that the western view of the world, as expressed in economism and technicism, with a utilitarian ethics, features three absolutisations: those of theoretical thinking, technology and economics. In a second part, the article draws on the framework of reformational philosophy to suggest an approach that, in principle, is not marred by such absolutisations
Female leaders in an international evangelical mission organisation: an empirical study of Youth With A Mission in Germany
Get PDFEvangelicals are frequently perceived as conservative, for instance in their perspective on women. There is indeed a widespread evangelical hierarchical or complementarian theological view which objects to women in church leadership. There is, however, a growing egalitarian counter position, sometimes also referred to as “evangelical feminism”, which supports female leadership. This article concentrates on the international missionary organisation Youth With A Mission (YWAM), which clearly endorses female leaders in formal statements. In YWAM Germany, however, women are under-represented in leadership positions. The article seeks to explain this under-representation, especially in terms of the role played by Scripture. By means of interviews with leaders in YWAM Germany, possible answers were explored. Surprisingly, for an evangelical organisation, the interpretation of Scripture proved not to be a significant factor. Factors that do play a role are church background, the lack of female role models, lower self-confidence of women, family responsibilities, and the role of incumbent leadership. The latter appears to be the most crucial factor, since the incumbent leaders, who mostly are men, select and appoint new leaders. It is likely that in this they are influenced by stereotypical conceptions of the leader as male and are inclined to appoint leaders similar to themselves
Editorial
Get PDFThe Editorial Board is pleased to present this issue. This number brings to a focus the Christian-scientific perspective’s engagement with key issues in present-day society; the interaction between worldview, culture, ethnicity, and different religious commitments; as well as subject-specific considerations in regard to ethical decisionmaking. Three of the articles appear as the final installments of a series by the respective authors
Perspectives
Get PDFInterview with Bennie van der Walt A footpath through reality – philosophical memoirs How does a philosopher come into being? By employing the metaphor of a foot-path through life and its realities, Professor B.J. (Bennie) van der Walt traces his own intellectual development, indicating the many people and different circumstances during the previous century that influenced his shaping into a Christian philosopher. These memoirs are done not in the traditional, typical academic curriculum vitae style, but simply in telling his personal story about understanding reality. His journey through different seasons develops from his early childhood up to the age of 70. He also provides a brief evaluation of his own publications. In his review of the past he recognises the hand of his Father in heaven. He now hands over the torch of reformational philosophy to the present generation. Finally he looks ahead, expecting another journey (that will be both continuous and discontinuous compared to the present) on a new earth
A reading of T.S.Eliot’s Ash-Wednesday
Get PDFThe title of this poem tells the reader that it will be a religious meditation. It helps to know that the main themes of Ash- Wednesday in the history of the church are those of repentance and renewal. From at least the fourth century the Western Church decided to set the Lenten season as 40 days before Easter. This is analogous to the 40 days of Christ’s fasting in the desert (Matt. 4:2). The 40 days of Lent do not count the Sundays, and so Ash- Wednesday as the first day of Lent starts in the seventh week before Easter Sunday. In the early church, converts prepared for baptism during this time