 
John
Engle (left) in discussion with Haitian and American
co-workers and leaders from partner organizations. |
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by
John Engle
Several
months ago someone broke into the church near where I live
when I’m in Haiti and stole the sound system—a
speaker and a microphone. Of course, my immediate reaction
was disappointment. (Who would rob a poor church?) Yet I couldn’t
help thinking it might also be a disguised blessing for the
congregation.
The
pastor, Andre, is among my closest friends in the neighborhood.
He is kind, generous, and thoughtful. But there is a strong
inclination toward a certain seductive kind of power and
authority in Haiti, one that is neither inclusive nor participatory.
This temptation trips up many leaders, including pastors.
One Sunday evening before the sound system was stolen, I
heard the loudspeakers blasting. When I walked up the path
and peeked into the church, I was astonished to see Andre
standing in the pulpit preaching into the microphone to
four shell-shocked people sitting on the pew just ten feet
in front of him.
In
virtually any circumstance or country, leaders face the
temptation to drown out the quieter voices around them in
the name of authority or personal agendas. Much of our work
with The Experiment in Alternative Leadership involves creating
space for others to express, decide, brainstorm, and act—in
an effort to transcend people’s tendencies to fill
up the space with themselves and to exclude others.
| A
Prayer
In
your last hours you shared what was most important.
You
told us, "Serve each other like this."
You
showed us then with a towel around your waist.
We
were not, are not, easy to accept.
You
knelt down and washed us clean.
Then
you spread out your arms to say, “What
more of my love can I show you than this?”
And
so we pray, show us how to accept the power
of your love so that we can seek to love and
lead as you have taught.
This
we pray to you, God of power and love,
Amen. |
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We
use methods like Open
Space and Reflection
Circles, which enable ideas to emerge from the group
(not just the leaders), give each person responsibility,
and empower people’s passion for change. Some would
say this encourages the image of God, which is present in
each person, the opportunity to be expressed. For me, learning
to be inviting rather than excluding is a life-long apprenticeship,
and these methods have encouraged me along this journey.
I’m excited that through this work and the initiative
of a growing number of Haitian leaders, more and more people
are stepping away from the microphone and sitting in circles
engaged in respectful dialogue.
John
Engle coordinates The
Experiment in Alternative Leadership, a Beyond Borders
program.
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