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Winnipeg, Man.
Servant Leadership: Where we work, live and play


The Manitoba MB Conference has taken the call to develop leaders seriously. To aid in this development, Ray Bystrom, associate professor of pastoral ministries and director of theological field education at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif., was invited to give four seminars on the topic of Servant Leadership.

About 150 people gathered around tables in Eastview Community Church on Friday morning, February 22, to discuss the topic of leadership and how it relates to the workplace. A well-developed workbook and powerpoint presentation aided the discussion. Bystrom based his discussion on Jude. Jude was uniquely qualified to speak to the topic. He was a brother to the Lord and felt loved, called and kept by the Lord. Jude talked about false leaders in the church. From that, Bystrom inferred what a servant leader should be.

Bystrom began the day by stating that leadership is tied to the notion of ministry. Leaders are needed not only in the pulpit but also in the workplace, to bring healing to the workplace and challenge what is unethical in the workplace, “Leadership is a relationship in which one person seeks to influence the thoughts and behaviours of another person or group,” stated Bystrom.

Session One, entitled “Creating Vision”, was centred on Jude 1-2. Bystrom used Jude as an example of a servant leader, saying, “Servant leaders point away from themselves to the people they seek to influence.” Servants leaders, too, know they are called, loved and kept. He continued by saying that God measures success by the number of priests that are out in the world on Monday morning. Between ages 25 and 60, 44% of our time is spent in the workplace, while only 2% of our waking time is spent in church. Relevant churches in the 21st century are those which can help their people be relevant in their workplace.

Session Two focused on “Growing People” and was based on Jude 12. Bystrom noted that false leaders use their power for their own benefit, while servant leaders use their power for the good of the people. They encourage the integration of faith and work. However, Bystrom stated that espoused religion, or proclaiming faith in order to gain allegiance to the person of Christ, has no place in the workplace. Rather, Christians should have a catalytic faith which energizes the worker and transforms his or her work. Bystrom listed ten “spirituality at work” disciplines:

Place “sacred objects” in your workplace. Live with the imperfections of yourself and others. Perform your workplace tasks with care and competence. Express thanks and congratulate good effort in the workplace. Cultivate relationships and build community at work. Treat others as you want them to treat you. Know when enough is enough, then stick to it. Balance personal, family, church and work. Organize to change the system, if it sucks. Engage in life-long personal and professional growth.

Session Three related to “Shaping Culture”. Again based on Jude 12, Bystrom stated that false leaders are not rooted in the love of God and produce no fruit, while servant leaders nourish communities where wounded relationships are reconciled and healed. Pastors were encouraged to commission people for workplace ministries; to celebrate the Lord’s supper in work style; to conduct pastoral visits in the workplace; and to plan “faith-work” retreats or connection groups.

Ray Bystrom

Session Four was devoted to “Practising Truth”. Jude 13 talks about false leaders making a big splash but leaving a trail of debris behind them, but servant leaders are responsible and accountable; they care enough to walk with people toward a shared community purpose. Although Bystrom was not able to lead this discussion due to illness, the table groups worked through the workbook presentation. Bystrom concluded by quoting from Richard Halverson: “The church is at its best when the building is empty and the salt is out of the shaker, penetrating and seasoning the workplaces of society.”

 – sbb

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Last modified April 15, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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