Leadership development is a hot topic in society because it's elusive and puzzling. Effective leadership is desired in companies, communities and universities.
Based on this concept, two Washington Conference pastors, Cleveland Hobdy and Greg Schaller, are organizing and providing lay leadership training opportunities.
The most recent session, held the first weekend of April and sponsored by Love of Life Fellowship, challenged church leaders from 10 area churches to commit to creative and compelling leadership.
Christian leaders—Leslie Pollard, Loma Linda University vice president for diversity; Roscoe Howard, North American Division secretary; Jere Patzer, North Pacific Union Conference president; and others—presented the weekend of leadership-honing sessions to more than 65 participants.
Leadership sessions this year covered leading change, handling conflict, maintaining a spiritual life, developing worship and outreach ministries, and servant leadership.
“Servant leadership,” Pollard said, “begins with a commitment to serve and a commitment to follow Christ.”
Four years ago, Love of Life Fellowship wanted to celebrate the role of leaders and encourage leadership and so developed these seminars.
“The goal,” Hobdy said, “is to try to develop a strong base of leadership among the laity. We want to bring people to the “Aha!” moment so they can go back to their churches energized for effective leadership.”
Jere Patzer, North Pacific Union Conference president, encourages more than 60 people attending the Love of Life Leadership Summit to maintain spiritual lives as leaders.
Leslie Pollard, Loma Linda University vice president for diversity, presents the concept of servant leadership at the Love of Life Leadership Summit.
