Taken from the September 28th publication of The Clause:
According to APU’s Student Leadership Covenant, Christian leadership involves a calling to model selflessness for the good of the larger Christian community. While I see how, for the most part, the covenant aims to benefit students, its word choice, ambiguity and micro-managing nature are just too much to handle. The covenant does not allow student leaders the choice to model what they consider leadership.
To be perfectly honest, the one thing on the covenant that catches my eye above everything else is “honor God with my conduct in all relationships, including choosing to abstain from the use of alcohol…” I understand the rules APU places on the student body to refrain from using any alcoholic substance ON campus (even if they tick me off a bit), but this rule applies to 21-year-old students while they are OFF campus as well. How does a “no alcohol” policy ensure students conduct themselves in a God-honoring manner?
What I feel is being overlooked here is the word “leader.” If a person chooses to take a leadership position it should be their responsibility (not requirement) to act in a way they think fits a leader. When I was a freshman and found out my RA couldn’t drink even though she had turned 21, all I thought was how lame it was the school had placed that on her. But when I found out that a 22-year-old friend of mine was choosing not to drink because she was leading a Bible study and felt she could better model Christ that way, I was very impressed, even if I did think she was a little crazy. It was her choice. It wasn’t about rules or being afraid to get in trouble. It was her choice to live how she felt called.
As Editor-in-Chief of the Clause, I act in a way that I believe is appropriate to lead the other people on staff whom I love so much. Does it mean I am perfect? Not at all. But I have the ability to learn how to be an effective leader based on my relationship with Christ, not on the regulations of an outside party. It even says in the covenant to “live publicly and privately in a manner that is consistent with my commitment to Christ and the relationship I have with Him.” My PERSONAL relationship with Christ.
It is a learning experience, and if every action student leaders take is going to be thwarted by yet another rule, how are they ever going to learn to stand on their own and truly reflect their relationship with God? They should be given that chance. While I realize that, technically, it is the choice of the student to step into a leadership position when such rules bind them, I also know that putting covenant requirements on students doesn’t call them to lead. It calls them to follow.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I loved this article in the Clause. I definitely agree with your points that you have made in the article especially when you said "if a person chooses to take a leadership position it should be their responsiblity (not requirement) to act in a way they think fits a leader." Excellent point! Also the way the article was written was very strong and you backed it up with excellent points. Good job Jilly!
Interesting last paragraph. I definitely think you have something going there with the whole "rules cause people to be more like followers then actual leaders"
If people truely want to lead, they should take the initative to stand and make wise choices on their own. Couldn't agree more.
But what do these rules mean anyway. Even with them in place we still have people who rebel. Seems to me they act like guidelines already. It really is up to the "honor-system" anyway to make sure these things are enforced.
And my guess is...if you can live by the honor system....you are a leader.
Post a Comment