Part I: Understanding True Leadership
Who is the model for true leadership?
God/Jesus Christ
The text looked at Christian Conviction through the lens of faith, hope, and charity. These 3 are referred to as what?
Theological Virtues
What is, "a grace, whether of temperament or talent or circumstance or spiritual aptitude, that God has placed within us for the good of others and the building of the Kingdom"?
Gift
What are the two primary institutions?
1. Family
2. Church
What are the five foundations of leadership in order?
1. Christian Conviction
2. Christian Character
3. Vocation
4. Gifts
5. Skills
A fundamental message of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ came to establish this.
Kingdom of God
The text looked at Christian Character through the lens of the Cardinal Virtues. What are the cardinal virtues?
1. Prudence
2. Justice
3. Fortitude/Courage
4. Temperance
According to the text, the third question regarding vocation is, "What are the specific contours of my call to love?" It looks at this through the lens of 3 calls. What is the first call that it gives?
"the universal and irresistible call into being" (page 94)
Regarding institutions, the text says American culture is obsessed with this figure who is a courageous, skillful, gritty hero who saves the day and promptly leaves.
Cowboy
Part of God's leadership principle is that "there is no truth to the popular myth of self-generated human __________________"
Independence
What does the text call "the desire to save the world apart from the mind and action of God"?
*Hint: St. Thomas More*
The Utopian Temptation
Regarding Christian Character, the text mentions that we must "gain the character of Christ." To illustrate what this means, what word in place of "character" does the text use?
Stamp/Image/Mold
The word "vocation" comes from this Latin word.
Vocare
The text gives a comparison of human beings compared to angels and irrational animals. In comparison to these, why do humans need institutions?
Body-Spirit, Material and Immaterial
"we are time-bound creatures who long for eternity" (page 160)
What does the text refer to the negative view of leadership that involves the establishment of protocols and rules that do not require leaders to take responsibility or operate with conviction?
Procedural Leadership
The definition of "true leadership" has 6 components (detailed in Chapter II). List 3 of these components.
1. Participation in the leadership of Jesus Christ
2. Exercise of influence
3. Moves others toward goodness and Kingdom of God
4. Respects human dignity
5. Works through moral and spiritual being of leader
6. Takes place in common institutional life
Character is about the transformation of the "heart." What is the name of Pope Francis's encyclical letter on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ?
Dilexit Nos
What are the three categories of skills that all leaders should acquire?
1. Organization of Life
2. Communicating Well
3. Team Leadership
What is one of the three temptations faced concerning institutions?
1. Form without spirit
2. Building unhealthy institutions
3. Freedom from institutions entirely
According to the chapter on failure in leadership, what is the "interpretive lens for the whole of life"?
We must die to bear fruit
Crucifixion
John 12:24 - grain of wheat
What is the foundational truth of the whole book?
"All true leadership is a participation in the leadership of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit." (page 9)
As mentioned in class, why is it easier to talk about leadership from the perspective of skills and gifts, rather than conviction and character?
We can control acquiring skills or using gifts.
We cannot control the redemption we need.
What are the four groups of gifts?
1. Spiritual
2. Natural
3. Circumstances of Life
4. Personality and temperament
What are the four secondary institutions?
1. Government
2. Economy
3. Education
4. Charity
Based on the Christian Character assessment, which cardinal virtue was my highest? Which was the lowest?
Highest: Prudence
Lowest: Courage