{"id":23874,"date":"2019-09-05T20:45:26","date_gmt":"2019-09-06T03:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=23874"},"modified":"2019-09-05T20:51:35","modified_gmt":"2019-09-06T03:51:35","slug":"confusion-of-an-arkeigetologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/confusion-of-an-arkeigetologist\/","title":{"rendered":"Confusion of an Arkeigetologist"},"content":{"rendered":"

In most cases, I find introductions merely state the intention of the material that follows. It is a preamble of sorts; a way to explain the rationale for the chapters to come, so introductions rarely give reason to pause for further thought and inquiry. However, the Theology of Leadership Journal did precisely that, meaning I wish to reflect on the editorial itself.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Though each of the articles is interesting in its own right, I am not convinced that the material cannot be found elsewhere in leadership literature. What is true is that it may not so easily be accessed than it might be if positioned in one location. Despite this, I am intrigued by two things of note. The first is the self-critiquing question asked by the editor Russell L. Huizing, and the second surrounds the definition of terms.<\/p>\n

Huizing’s editorial is titled, Do We Really Need Another Academic Journal?[2]<\/a> The answer depends on the clarity of the editorial committee regarding the purpose of the Journal. On first reading, I was a little confused as to the purpose of the Journal given its title. “Theology”, like “love”, is a noun often used with little reflection on its meaning, and it would have been helpful to have that clarified in the first issue of a new Journal. However, more on that later.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, what is clear is the Journals outcomes in regards to ongoing academic discussion regarding leadership from a Christian perspective in three particular ways.<\/p>\n

First, it must be academically accessible to all levels of the academy and peer-reviewed. At the moment, most articles on Christian leadership, though having good intent, have rarely (if ever) received independent academic review before publication. Consequently, the Journal may be an essential resource for the student of leadership at higher levels of education and research.<\/p>\n

Second, the Journal is determined to offer various biblical studies, alongside historical and contemporary case studies.<\/p>\n

Third, and perhaps more importantly in our multifaceted world, the Journal promises to engage with alternative and creative expressions of leadership that are more aligned to what our doctoral course has referred to as “Visual Ethnography”.<\/p>\n

Having read all the articles from\u00a0Paul the Team Leader<\/em>\u00a0to\u00a0Weak Enough to Lead<\/em>, I am full of hope for the usefulness of the Journal in providing rigorous Christian thinking to leadership models and frameworks, while at the same time offering possibilities from “out of the box expressions”.<\/p>\n

However, where confusion remains is the use of “Theology” in the title.<\/p>\n

Theology is straightforward; it is the study of God and little else. Theology defines our limited understanding of the Creator. That\u00a0God understanding<\/em>\u00a0provides the framework from which we understand ourselves, each other, our world, our place in it and our obligations as creatures made in the image of the Creator. As such, theology is an ongoing process. Wolfhart Pannenberg in reviewing both Hegel and Michael Polany determined that theology, as with all human knowledge, is provisional. It is not reducible to mere formulas of truth about God. The future is the focal point of the final truth. Consequently, all dogmatic assertions are systems that need assessing for integration with other knowledge. Pannenberg claims this position reflects the Scriptures, as it is only at the end of history that the deity of God is indisputably revealed. [3]<\/a><\/p>\n

As a result, I wonder if there is such a thing as a theology of leadership. We can have a doctrine of leadership in the same way we have a doctrine of the church; each doctrine flows from our theology (It is worth noting that Roman Catholics and Protestants have different understandings of the terms). That being the case, we can assess a doctrines alignment with our understanding of God’s being and the created order, and this indeed appears to be the understanding of the editor, Russell Huizing. “…we would expect that the Christian approach to leadership will be unique to the character of the Godhead, from which Christian leadership draws its vision.” At this point, Huizing is addressing leadership in relation “to” theology which makes it a doctrine. Then comes the confusion. “At the very least, then,\u00a0we would expect that a theology of leadership would need to be developed<\/u>, out of which we would be able to build our theories and models.”[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Definition of terms is essential to understanding outcomes. In straightforward terms, theology is the “why” of our beliefs or doctrines. As a result, though the Journal is attempting three important outcomes mentioned above, I am unable to see how the essays are creating a theology when they are trying to offer biblical credence or critique to leadership practices based on the underlying theology of the author.<\/p>\n

On a personal note, the Journal’s lack of “term definitions” has allowed me to think more clearly about leadership as a result of theology, rather than a theology waiting for invention. As we have seen throughout this doctoral programme, leadership is a complex of religious, cultural, philosophical, moral and social mores. That complex of realities influences all Christian leaders and, as Huizing points out, they are not devoid of universal truth. So, do we need a theology of leadership to lead? Perhaps we need to reconnect with our actual theology that reveals, discussed and engages, in a kaleidoscope of ways, the nature of our living God expressed more visibly in the Life of Christ Jesus? I am leaning toward the latter, as a I think it determines the character and nature of our leadership in the variety of contexts we find ourselves.<\/p>\n

Thus, we need a new title for this Journal, and lgp9 could begin a leadership “title” revolution. As a result of Christian Theology, we now have studies called ecclesiology, eschatology, soteriology, Christology, pneumatology, hamartiology (my favourite) and of course angelology (really?)<\/p>\n

The common biblical words for leadership are:<\/p>\n

Greek: \u0397\u03b3\u03b5\u03c3\u03af\u03b1 and \u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03b7\u03b3\u03af\u03b1.<\/p>\n

Hebrew: \u05de\u05b7\u05e0\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05d2\u05d5\u05bc\u05ea (manhigut)<\/p>\n

This means, rather than a Theology of Leadership, we should be studying Christian leadership as a result of our theology under any one of the following possible ology\u2019s:<\/p>\n

Hegetology – \u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u03c3\u03af\u03b1<\/p>\n

Arkeigetology \u2013 \u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03b7\u03b3\u03af\u03b1<\/p>\n

Manhigatology \u00ad\u2013 \u05de\u05b7\u05e0\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05d2\u05d5\u05bc\u05ea<\/p>\n

We need a poll to determine which of these ology\u2019s will lead the way. Calling yourself an expert in leadership is somewhat pass\u00e9 these days. But imagine calling yourself an Arkeigetologist! Now that is both impressive and a fabulous segway in to a missional conversation. Try it. I dare you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

Huizing, Russel L. \u201cDo We Really Need Another Another Academic Journal.\u201d Theology of Leadership Journal 1, no. 1 (2018): 3.<\/p>\n

Russel L. Huizing, Mary Jo Burchard, Chris Hamstra, David H. Schuringa, and Artem Kliuchnikov, eds. Theology of Leadership Journal<\/em>. Vol. 1(1), Theology of Leadership Journal. 2018.<\/p>\n

Pannenberg, Wolfhart. Basic Questions in Theology<\/em>. London: SCM Press, 1970.<\/p>\n

Bibliography<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Russel L. Huizing and others, eds., Theology of Leadership Journal<\/em>, Theology of Leadership Journal, vol. 1(1) (2018).<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Russel L. Huizing, \u201cDo We Really Need Another Another Academic Journal,\u201d Theology of Leadership Journal 1, no. 1 (2018). 3<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Wolfhart Pannenberg, Basic Questions in Theology<\/em> (London: SCM Press, 1970). 1-25<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Huizing, \u201cDo We Really Need Another Another Academic Journal\u201d. 3<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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