Vision, Paradigms, and Other Thoughts...

This past week I have been doing some reading on urban ministry, community development, etc. One of the articles I found pertinent and timely was "Community & Reconciliation" by David S. Apple, founder of Reconcilers Fellowship.

In the midst of talking about community development within urban settings, he had some very solid leadership and vision principles. And I thought they were worth sharing:

In Christian community building, the gospel map guides us and the love of God persuades us. And vision makes it possible. Vision is the basic building block which inspires creativity to what is possible. Vision catches the spirit. The role of leadership is to hold forth the vision and purpose of the full human potential. A leader with vision regards the welfare of others. S/he models Christ so others may follow. The leaders knows where s/he is going - prayerfully seeking God's will for direction. The leaders build on people without climbing over them. The leader initiates, proclaiming, "Do you see what I see!" Above all, the leader is proactive and innovative. S/he does not let the words, "We never did it that way before," discourage community building and growth. The leader encourages new ways of thinking and action.

In his book Paradigms, Joel Arthur Barker states that "we need a leader who innovates, has a long range perspective (with an eye on the horizon) and challenges the status quo. This person needs to be a good manager of people and a visionary."

What is a paradigm? It is the collective consciousness, that is, the grid which people view their world. Adam Smith in Powers of the Mind states, "A paradigm is a shared set of assumptions. It is the way we perceive the world. When we are in the middle of the paradigm it is hard to imagine any other paradigm...." It is a psychological filter, a set of rules of thought which do not change. Barker calls this paradigm paralysis or hardening of the categories....

The opposite of paradigm paralysis is paradigm pliancy. It is the purposeful seeking out of new ways of doing things.... It is learning to speak and hear a new language. It is made possible by the transformation of attitudes....

The leader who will bring a paradigm shift or enhancement is one who is a catalyst or pioneer... who will take a risk.

...

Lesson for Today: The history and time period of intertestamental Judaism is actually much more interesting than it sounds...