University of St Andrews

 

I am deeply honour to be able to join you at the commencement of another semester at St Andrews. Thank you Dr McEwan, Tracy and Emma for your most kind invitation and assistance! I fondly recalled my first visit five years ago. I have to tell you that my mother was very deeply impressed indeed, that such an historical and hallowed seat of learning known the world over actually accommodated her son as guest. She was beside herself with joy. I am not sure what she will do now when she hears that I have had the privilege of visiting with you again!

Modern notions of service and greatness

In comparison with 21^st century ideas, biblical tradition has an inverted sense of notion of greatness which is naturally associated with quality and integrity in leadership. We have thus witnessed with a measure of astonishment several internally and locally significant events in politics and economics which have telling implications for service:

• Radical political and social transformation Win what has come to be known as the Arab Spring, not least the Libyan situation;
• Global financial meltdown and the once trusted financial systems in which the people had placed their faith.
• The catastrophic military decisions in parts of the world which has achieved certain goals designed not to benefit the people.
• National austerity measures support some at the expense of others and the international protest movements now springing up once again.
• The human condition which admits albeit reluctantly the spectre of the poverty gap extending inexorably at the national and global level.
• The ignominious spectre of the expenses scandal, and riots in England.
• Hacking of communications systems defended as a laudable activity regardless of the consequences upon its victims.
• The increasingly frequent denial in the public domain of the importance and relevance of the Christian faith for setting clear standards in public and private life.      

These developments have played their part in the increase of human insecurity on a huge scale, greater levels of skepticism, and we ignore this at our peril. So often, notions of service and greatness are not assessed apart, but one derives from the other as forms of Servanthood.

I have chosen the Lectionary readings for today which call our attention to justice and the source of true greatness in leadership. The biblical terminology used by the Evangelist Matthew is the word diakonos rather than doulos here to denote service, help, or Servanthood. It is used primarily of natural conditions (Matt. 8:9) and loyalty to God (Matt. 6:24). If one wants to be great in leadership, one has to be servant and the quality and integrity of greatness is dependent upon one’s quality and integrity of service.

The recent spectacle of radical political transformation nationally and globally becomes vital for all forms of modern leadership or service. There are important principles which underpin the structure of effective leadership and service, and the source and character of solutions to difficulties which often eventuate in violence.

A recent statement made by Nobel Peace Laureates and Laureates organisations in 2007 crafted what they called a ‘Charter for a World without Violence’. They reminded us that ‘No state or individual can be secure in an insecure world. The values of non-violence in intention, thought, and practice have grown from an option to a necessity. These values are expressed in their application between states, groups and individuals.’^[1]

It is my contention today that if greatness and service must be proper bed fellows, then the shaping and cultivation of leadership must impact character also - values to shape the entire person "The price of greatness is responsibility" (Winston Churchill).

 

Daisaku Ikeda said: ‘There are many kinds of revolutions—political, economic, industrial, scientific, artistic and so on. But no matter how external factors change the world will never get better as long as people remain selfish and apathetic. John F. Kennedy said, in 1963, “Our problems are man-made—therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants.” An inner change for the better in a single person is the essential first turn of the wheel in the process of making the human race stronger and wiser. This human revolution is, I believe, the most fundamental and most vital of all revolutions. This kind of revolution—an inner process of self-reformation—is completely bloodless and peaceful.  In it everyone wins and there are no victims’.

 

Cultivating minds and character

 

The academy and the church have a primary responsibility in forging unions of peace and security producing true servants of the people. The shaping and the development of minds precisely impacts of the character and critical intent in leadership. Servanthood must be the focus of cultural expressions, economic advantage, religious appeal and the general common good. But the quality of Servanthood cannot naively be construed in simplistic terms. Radical altruism has historically characterised those whose contributions to the common good has positively distinguished them. I want to suggest, therefore, three principles of leadership greatness which characterizes Jesus’ warning to leaders of the day:

     

      Humanity

 

At the heart of Jesus’ response to the leaders is the notion of service to all humanity. It was easy to exalt oneself because of ones position in the community. Jesus’ exposition of the hypocritical attitudes in leadership authority is precise and not by accident.

 

In our time, Ghandi said: ‘You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty’.

 

Humility

 

The biblical sayings on humility are clearly directed against authoritarianism and vanity. Hence the idea of abasement in verse 12 must be interpreted, says David Hill, in terms of service, ‘not paralyzing self-negation’. The Phylacteries worn as evidence of biblical faith had become more important for the status they gave than for the truth they contained.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge : ‘ And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin Is pride that apes humility’ (The Devil's Thoughts), st. 6 (1799).

              ‘Humility, that low, sweet root, from which all heavenly virtues shoot’ (Thomas Moore).

     

Honesty

 

The religious leaders cared only about looking holy, rather than being holy so that admiration and praise would be derived from the people. They knew the Scriptures but did not live by them. Leadership that is self-serving rather than serving others leads to crisis after crisis, and justice never rolls like a mighty stream, but perhaps a trickle!

 

‘Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?’ Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC) .

 

The Laureates’ Charter calls for recognition that people across the globe have a right to not be killed and have a responsibility not to kill, and appeals to the global community ‘to address all forms of violence we encourage scientific research in the fields of human interaction and dialogue, and we invite participation from the academic, scientific, and religious communities to aid us in the transition to non-violent, non-killing societies’.^[2]

 

Greatness is inherent in and ultimately reflected as the core of sacramental theology. The Cross painfully demonstrates the human capacity to be human and altruistic, yet not meaningless self-abasement.

 

In Torture and the Eucharist: Theology Politics and the Body of Christ, William T. Cavanaugh^[3] contends that the Eucharist is the Church’s response to the use of torture as a social discipline. He believes that a Christian practice of politics is embodied in Jesus’ own torture at the hands the authorities. The principles of humanity, humility and honesty are classically expressed here. In challenging human insecurity, the picture of Jesus is all-embracing and helpful. Dietrich Bonhoeffer^[4] notes that any society incapable of ‘giving God his due fails to give its citizens their due - as human beings are made for the quest and enjoyment of God.'^[5] Leadership and service at all levels means invitation to communing and identifying with him.

 

Conclusion

 

Respect for the humanity, sanctity and the cultural value of all people and the importance of fully appreciating that religious, economic and political leadership rooted in the forces of altruism enriches the life of the entire community. Servanthood is fundamental to the achievement of an era of genuine security and prosperity, and differences between peoples must not be regarded as threat, but an exciting opportunity for peace, new knowledge and a dignified existence. It is not a problem, but a gift. National security must be redefined in terms of human security so that the insecurity individuals in society face are eliminated through the avenues of genuine greatness.

 

Adherence to the values of nonviolence in all forms can usher in a more peaceful, civilized world order in which more effective and fair governance, respect for human dignity and the sanctity of life itself. Equally, the minds and character of the servants of such an era cannot be underestimated because they represent core values in our culture and history. The inevitable interconnectedness and interdependence of life demand true Servanthood, the substance of true greatness.