Duty of Care – Defined Biblically<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter 5:1-4 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the word used for “Shepherd.” Peter says, “Shepherd the flock that God has entrusted to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interesting how he describes the care of the shepherd. He says that we are to care\/shepherd by “Watching over it willingly, not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Peter’s audience, \u201cwatch over\u201d meant vigilant, compassionate leadership<\/strong> in a time when the church\u2019s survival depended on faithful shepherds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the work of a shepherd whose eyes are always on the sheep, whose heart is for their good, and whose leadership reflects the Chief Shepherd (v. 4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shepherds lead by<\/em> caring<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the ancient world, a shepherd didn\u2019t switch hats between \u201ccomforting\u201d and \u201ccommanding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He led by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership was expressed through care, and care required leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter acknowledges there is a danger for leaders to “lord over” those they lead. But, he also doesn’t shirk the responsibility to lead! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Oversight protects, not controls<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oversight is not authoritarian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter explicitly rejects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oversight is protective guidance<\/strong>, not positional power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As leaders we have been talking a lot about this dichotomy. Leading AND caring. It was interesting when I listened through Dan Rabe’s challenge to the SAM field, this topic was at the forefront also. In this passage, Peter is clearly calling us as leaders to both Care AND lead! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Care without direction leaves people vulnerable<\/p>\n\n\n\n Barnes and other commentaries note that a flock without guidance is exposed to wolves, cliffs, and starvation. So \u201ccare\u201d that refuses to lead is actually neglect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, direction without tenderness distorts Christ\u2019s model<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus leads His sheep, but He also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christlike leadership is always authority expressed through sacrifice.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We can’t lead effectively without caring for our personnel<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also can’t care for our personnel if we aren’t leading well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter did not see a dichotomy between these 2 things at all. He saw them as two sides of one calling<\/strong>, and he intentionally binds them together so they can\u2019t be separated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The modern dichotomy between \u201cpastoral care\u201d and \u201cleadership\u201d is foreign to Peter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shepherding is willing, joyful responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How does this dichotomy play out in other life scenarios:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Family \/ marriage<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does this work in a family? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Parenting: Parents have a duty of care for their children. This includes lovingly leading them by shepherding their hearts (Ted Tripp)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a parent made no decisions and just let the kids do what they want, what kind of family environment would that produce? Or when parents abdicate the decisions to the kids, what kind of family does that produce?<\/p>\n\n\n\n a flock without guidance is exposed to wolves, cliffs, and starvation. So \u201ccare\u201d that refuses to lead is actually neglect<\/strong>. In child protection realm, parents can be prosecuted for neglect<\/p>\n\n\n\n How about in a marriage: <\/p>\n\n\n\n For those of you who were here on Sunday, I shared my story about the measuring spoons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When there is a difference of opinion in how a decision should be made, what produces unity? Does unity come when I agree with my wife about how to put the dishes away? That does produce some unity\u2026 but what happens in the long term if the wife continues to dominate and the husband feels he has no authority? Is that unity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when there is a difference of opinion when it comes to decision making\u2026 and a decision needs to be made\u2026 and the parties don\u2019t agree, unity is not the decision\u2026 unity is how we respond to the decision\u2026 are we still seeking God\u2019s glory and His righteousness? Sometimes as a husband, that means I consider my wife, and I choose to listen to her and prefer her over my own desire. But, there are also times, as the head of my house that I make the decision, and even if she disagrees, unity comes when she is willing to give up her desire, and submit\u2026 in pursuit of God’s glory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And when we are all focused on that, then our righteousness \/ His righteousness will shine like the dawn! And that\u2019s where unity comes from! (Is 62:1-2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you still have unity if you don\u2019t agree on a decision?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a marriage, the husband has the responsibility to make the decision. Husbands are also commanded to love your wife, as Christ loved the church. That should result in listen to and understand his wife, but when there are differences, it is the husbands Biblical responsibility as the head of the house to LEAD, which means making the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1 Cor 13 Love is presented not only as the fruit of leadership, but as its fuel\u2014rooted in receiving God\u2019s love and expressed in leadership that endures because \u201cChrist\u2019s love compels us\u201d This should be true in our marriage, but also in our leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gifting, sacrifice, competence, and even faithfulness over time are rendered empty if they are not \u201cbathed fully in love.\u201d While at the same time, the leader is the one who has the responsibility to make a decision. And just like in a marriage, unity comes in submission to the authority God has established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A husband who rules with an iron fist and does not consider his wife does not bring glory to God. The same is true with leaders. But, the responsibility of decision making still rests with the leaders, and it\u2019s the responsibility of the wife to submit as well as followers\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Care without direction leaves people vulnerable. \u201cCare\u201d that refuses to lead is actually neglect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can’t lead effectively without caring for our personnel<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also can’t care for our personnel if we aren’t leading well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I want to give one more analogy on this topic before we move on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sports team<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have always been a runner. I started running track in Jr High. I was a middle \/ long distance guy. But I never really liked running in circles on the track. So, I really enjoyed cross-country season. But, In my 4 years of high school, I had 3 different coaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These coaches set the tone for the team. Elkins and Seigel were excellent coaches. As they worked with us continually evaluated our progress, helped strategize with us how to improve. Inspired courage in us, as they marked the runners on the opposing team that we need to beat in order to succeed as a team. They constantly helped us to make difficult adjustments so we could improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We worked together toward the common goal. Stronger members encouraging and running alongside weaker members. In Cross Country, the collective total of your finishing positions is what makes up your team score. If I took 1st place, and the rest of my team was in the 50s, we would lose as a team. Coach helped us learn to work together. Every person I could beat was one less point for the team. We were not just running for ourselves, we were running for the collaborative score of the whole team. And if you could catch up to a team mate, and run together, it helped you both to work harder together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, they were also very caring in how they led. They were very personable guy. They got to know us as individuals and had such a way to making us feel cared for. Seigel was a believer, and even encouraged those of us who were believers to remember who we were running for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, my senior year, we got a new coach. We could all tell, this guy was really only in it for the job and the extra money. He didn’t really care about us. He wasn’t even very competent as a coach. He didn’t help us work together as a team. By the end of the season he had run me so hard that, instead of “peaking” for the State race, I was exhausted and had the worst race of my season. As a team we did terrible that year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what made the difference in these coaches?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Duty of care for the individual\u2026 but also for the whole team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is another dynamic of our responsibility and duty of care as leaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duty of Care: Who<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Improving our Serve pages 16-18 – The people part of leadership<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we are not thinking about the best interest of those we have come to reach, it’s possible there is no one else who is thinking of their interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your unique role as Field Leaders gives you an opportunity and responsibility toward the unreached of the host country that is shared by few others<\/p>\n\n\n\n We should be keeping this in front of our people. These people must be heavy on our hearts If we falter in this, consider the implications<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChrist loved the Church and gave Himself for it.\u201d We, too, should love the Church and, in a sense, should give ourselves for it. We should give ourselves in loving, glad service –sacrificially and devotedly — in order that the Church on earth might progress and prosper and triumph.\u201d <\/em>William McDonald<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is easy to apply when we are talking about church planting in the bush. But how does this apply on our centers? What does thinking of their interests mean? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just yesterday I spoke with someone who gave me this argument when I challenged them with our mandate to train and develop PNGians (well, if I train a PNGian to do my job, then what will I do? This job is why I am here.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n As leaders, part of our duty of care is looking out for the interests of those we came to reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our commitment to consider the interest of those who work together with us<\/p>\n\n\n\n People are our greatest asset<\/p>\n\n\n\n The world is going to be reached by people\u2026 this is God’s plan. He could have done it so much better himself\u2026 but he chose to use us\u2026 the complexity, the faults, the failures\u2026 to pursue his purpose\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n You do not have the luxury to choose who you lead.. Who’s best interest you are looking out for\u2026 even at the expense of efficient use of your time. (I can speak from experience, this is true) Keep this in mind as you consider one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Matt. 9:35-38). We have the special privilege of working with those that the Lord of the harvest has \u201cthrust\u201d our way. His harvest, His laborers\u2026.our privilege to serve them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Max De Pree says that organizations like ours should make it their business to be crazy about the people they serve. \u201cSomebody has to be crazy about you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n When someone takes a special interest in you\u2026 it’s empowering<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is in their best interest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Communication<\/p>\n\n\n\n When problems come up\u2026 to draw them in to be part of the solution<\/p>\n\n\n\n Equipping them to better care for their people<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the church, we don’t skip over the local church<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is God already doing here? <\/p>\n\n\n\n We have a responsibility to people who are already a part of what God is doing in PNG<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are the local, legal things that relate to what we are doing<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compliance with employment laws<\/p>\n\n\n\n Procedures for visas and work permits<\/p>\n\n\n\n Citizen training<\/p>\n\n\n\n Concerns for health and spreading disease (Health department visitors a couple months ago, asking to vaccinate all our kids for polio)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grant funding and anti terrorism laws<\/p>\n\n\n\n (This is all part of our duty of care as leaders)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The importance of loving and leading your family<\/p>\n\n\n\n God has entrusted our family to us<\/p>\n\n\n\n How can we look at to the best interest of our family, while drawing them in to what we are doing.. Not family or ministry\u2026 not sacrificing your family for ministry, but learning to sacrifice as a family<\/p>\n\n\n\n God wants to use as a family<\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefits of keeping them on your team and engaging them with you in ministry cannot be overstated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duty of Care – Scope of Care – Chapter 4 – Improving our Serve<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep \u2013 Guard \u2013 Entrust<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you heard from me, <\/em>keep<\/em><\/strong> as the pattern of sound teaching,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n with faith and love in Christ Jesus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Guard<\/em><\/strong> the good deposit that was entrusted to you–guard it<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. <\/em>2 <\/em>Timothy<\/em><\/strong> 1:13-14<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>entrust<\/em><\/strong> to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. <\/em>2 <\/em>Timothy<\/em><\/strong> 2:2<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is part of the scope of our Duty of Care as leaders<\/p>\n\n\n\n Families serving together<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the greatest strengths of organizations like ours is that families come to work as families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Families are not a threat to the ministry; ministry is not a threat to families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n De Pree talks about the incredible resource that organizations like our have in our families; how they are key to all of us reaching our potential. (Leading without power)<\/p>\n\n\n\n GMA Statement Re: Education of Children<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n All Sending and Field Entities will have defined strategies and procedures which are appropriate within their contexts to address the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Assistance to missionaries in providing adequate education for their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommended Educational Policies for Fields<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Strategic Plan for Children\u2019s Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents will develop a strategic plan for the education of their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChild Safety for Global Partner Fields<\/strong>\u201d should be regularly reviewed by field leaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some key areas for your attention are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Peter describes 2 aspects of leading that cannot be separated. Caring AND leading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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