There was a lot of joy and happy energy in the dining hall of the Rosemary Heights Retreat Centre in South Surrey, BC at 6 pm on the evening of July 26th. The occasion was the finale of the Second Annual Diocesan School for Leadership (Year B) of the Diocese of New Westminster which featured the first group of graduates of the two year program.
The 2013 School for Leadership program (Year B) began on Sunday, July 21st and concluded on July 27th. The week-long program saw the 54 students, 5 instructors and the director living and learning 24-7 on the premises of the idyllic Roman Catholic retreat centre. Each participant had their own room (of various sizes) with shared bathroom facilities and meals taken in a community environment. The students were divided up into five groups, each under the guidance of one of the instructors: Tasha Carrothers, MAP Associate, member of Synod Staff, Diocese of New Westminster; the Reverend Jeremy Clark-King, Rector, St. Mary's, Kerrisdale; the Reverend Marnie Peterson, MAP Associate, member of Synod Staff, Diocese of New Westminster; the Reverend Susan Cleveley, Diocese of Spokane, Instructor at the College for Congregational Development (a program of the Diocese of Olympia); the Venerable Lynne McNaughton, Archdeacon of Capilano and Rector of St. Clement's, Lynn Valley; and all under the directorship of the Reverend Canon Melissa Skelton, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, Canon for Congregational Development and Evangelism and founder of the College for Congregational Development in the Diocese of Olympia. Each group was comprised of 5 clergy and 5 lay people in order to achieve one of the goals of the program which is to have clergy and laity working together as leaders of their ministries. Part of the program was taught in plenary, much of the work was done in the groups and in smaller groups of 2, 3 or 4.Bishop Michael Ingham joined the plenary for the dinner and participated in the presentation of certificates to the 19 graduates.
After a dinner of Miso Salmon, rice and vegetables, Diocesan School for Leadership Director, the Reverend Canon Melissa Skelton called Bishop Michael to the front of the dining hall to address the school participants.
With a bit of a grin he opened with the question, “Well, what did you learn?” The room erupted with laughter, immediately followed by a flurry of activity as most of the students grabbed and held aloft their placemats. Each placemat displayed: diagrams, flo-charts, graphs, bullet points and other pieces of course material drawn on the bleached white paper in an assortment of “flipchart” felt pen colours. The bishop peered out at the placemats and then quite calmly asked, “What is leadership?” This question was greeted with an intake of breath, and a couple of soft moans which melted into a rather uncomfortable quiet. He paused and asked again, “So what is leadership?” Near the front of the room, soon-to-be certificate recipient, Chris Richards of St. Helen’s, Surrey rose from his chair and gave a brief description of leadership as the act of mentoring and nurturing others so they can achieve their goals and reach their potentials. He closed with the admission that leadership is not all positive and altruistic when he said (and I paraphrase) “(leaders) can cast shadow or shed light.” Chris’s offering was met with approval. After a pause, Bishop Michael responded that the best description of leadership for him was supplied in a statement by former British Prime-Minister, Tony Blair who said, “The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes.”
Bishop Michael then explored that concept by putting it into the context of scripture, first citing Moses, but then moving on to discuss the very difficult choices that Jesus had to make in his leadership as reported in the Gospels. In his extemporaneous address he also talked about his own experiences in servant leadership as Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster for 20 years and the difficult decisions he has faced, and the many times has had to say “no” and the happier times when he said, “yes.”
After the bishop’s words, it was time to distribute the certificates to the 19 graduates, and as each name was called the recipient was greeted with encouraging hoots, cheers and copious applause. A highlight of the certificate distribution event was the special “certificate” prepared for the Reverend Faun Harriman of St. Alban’s, Burnaby. The organizers of the school had not prepared a printed certificate for Faun so they made a special one out of flipchart paper in order to have something to present at the appropriate time. She will receive an “official” certificate in the near future.
This happy event was followed by the distribution of appropriate small gifts to the instructors, chosen by the director and likewise gifts to the director chosen by the instructors. A metallic wig made of red Christmas tree tinsel for Tasha, and a children’s-party style pirate’s hat for Jeremy were among the gift highlights.
First year student, the Venerable Stephen Rowe, Archdeacon of Fraser, Rector of The Anglican Church of the Epiphany, Surrey was heard to say that the Diocesan School for Leadership was the best diocesan program/event he had ever experienced; high praise indeed from someone who has certainly attended his share of diocesan events.
For more information about the school and 2014 registration information please visit the page on the diocesan website later in the fall of 2013.
Images: Top and homepage, the first 19 graduates of the two year program with Director, the Rev. Canon Melissa Skelton on the far left. Top right, a more permanent resident of the Rosemary Heights Retreat Centre. Middle left, "Well, what did you learn?" Lower right, the Reverend Faun Harriman's special certificate. Lower left, Melissa has found just the right gift for Instructor, the Rev. Jeremy Clark-King. Below. All the participants (instructors and students) at the 2013 Diocesan School for Leadership.