Bishop Hoyt speaks frankly on Convocation theme: 'Good to Great' leadership must be Compassionate
By Dr. Kenneth E. Jones for The Daily Index, Sept. 27, 2006
Close to 2,000 worshippers crowded the Galleria Ballroom at the Westin Galleria Hotel Tuesday evening for the Keynote Assembly officially opening the 20th Anniversary Annual CME Convocation, Houston TX. Led by Executive Secretary Attorney Juanita Bryant as worship leader, the program seemed to be bursting open with excitement as the first connectional meeting of the 2006-10 quadrennium. The theme for this year’s Convocation is "From Good to Great: Developing Effective Servant Leaders." And the Convocation, whose training and workshops start today, is set to begin laying the foundation of how our churches can effectuate this new thrust.
Music and praise for the evening included the Convocation Praise team, youth dancers from Houston-area churches and the 8th Episcopal District; the 8th Episcopal District Mass Choir, consisting of men from throughout the District; and the Texas College Choir, which traveled from Tyler, TX at the request of host Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham. Participating on the program were General Officers Dr. Willie C. Champion, Dr. Elnora P. Hamb, Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, Dr. Joseph C. Neal, Jr., and Dr. Carmicheal Crutchfield. Bishops participating in the program were host Bishop Cunningham and Bishop E. Lynn Brown. Senior Bishop William H. Graves was presented a specially made African staff by Bishop Kenneth W. Carter as a gift recognizing being recently confirmed a member of the Tennessee Valley Authority. In addition to Bishop Brown, greetings were brought by Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Dist. 13). A reception, hosted by Bishop and Mrs. Cunningham, followed the evening service.
When Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. stepped to the podium after his introduction by Senior Bishop Graves, it is doubtful that many had any inkling of the type of message they would receive. "I’m going to give a frank talk," said Bishop Hoyt. "I want to speak on our theme ‘From Good to Great’ in terms of a compassionate ministry. But in essence, the focus of the message was that of a model of leadership in the CME Church—going from good to great. The Bishop used as scriptural context John 21:18, in which Jesus admonished Peter that there will come a time when he would stretch out his hands and someone else would take hold of him and carry him where he did not want to go. He said that this background of scripture offered a compassionate viewpoint for ministry. A compassionate form of leadership is one indeed where we must go into places we otherwise might not go—often places of danger. He gave the example of his trips to places such as Columbia, South America, which was a dangerous place. It was a place known as the drug capitol of the world. Under normal circumstances, he would not go there. But he had to go—even knowing of the danger. Yet, there is danger everywhere else.
He talked about human nature and how there are some things that cause us to slip. "We’re all in the need of God’s grace." This set the tone for the Bishop’s exhortation that we must know the nature of the church before we go from good to great.
Bishop Hoyt said first, we are a legal entity. We must observe both ecclesiastical law and secular laws. He said we have liabilities. We accept the requirements of legal corporations. There are things that the government says we must do and we have to do them. But the bishop said that we also reap the benefits of observing secular laws. For example, we don’t have to pay taxes (as a tax exempt entity). Bishop Hoyt said that because we have secular responsibilities, we must negotiate the trappings of a secular world. We must do more than just "pray and sing." We must take care of business. He said trustees, for example, must look after the property of the churches, not transfer church property to themselves. Those on the local church level must understand that sometimes they most receive permission from the larger church first before conducting business on their own. "You are holding in trust the property we have," said Bishop Hoyt. "As a leader, you must operate in the world of civil and ecclesiastical law." If you don’t know the answers to important questions or how to perform certain tasks, go to those who do know, the bishop said. He said there are people in your churches who can do if you ask them. Further, officials in the local church must be trained in their areas of responsibility.
Bishop Hoyt said bishops should act as colleagues—working together for the common good of the Church. Every bishop is equal, including those who are retired, and ministry on the Episcopal level of the Church is a shared ministry. In going from good to great, bishops have to operate with honesty and integrity. He said every person has a right to his or her opinion. He said that in a world of good to great, we need everyone talking to each other. We must be honest with each other about what we see that needs to be done in the church. It’s not about the (individual Episcopal Districts), but everyone.
Second, we are a voluntary organization. Leadership on the Bishops’ level is a microcosm of local leadership. "What gnaws at our integrity is we can’t differentiate between friendship and leadership responsibility," Bishop Hoyt said. He said sometimes (in meetings) we want to vote another way, but then we look over to see friends or relatives and vote in ways that preserve those relationships. We must distinguish from friendship and what is right. Ultimately what goes on in the organizational structure of the church is based on volunteerism. By this we mean that nothing done by members of the group is mandatory or required. He said church is based on "whomever will let them come." But Bishop Hoyt said that too often we turn these words around to say, "Whosoever we want, let them come. No general funds? Don’t come. Wrong clothes? Don’t come. We love (people), but from afar. We must remember that people are volunteering. They can’t be driven to conform. People don’t have to do anything. They don’t have to come to church on Sunday. They don’t have to sing in the choir. Threats don’t help members. Bishop Hoyt said that good leadership doesn’t drive members away. Don’t use the pulpit to embarrass people. He said you can do more with honey.
Bishop Hoyt urged pastors/leaders to motivate people. Don’t chastise all of the time. Standards of affiliation and association with the church organization are affirmed at the local church. After an individual takes his or her vows, they are then able to participate meaningfully. He said membership in the organization—the church—places the individual within the Priesthood of all Believers. But the Priesthood of all Believers includes people who will shout and cuss—perhaps shout then cuss you out. Hesaid these often are hurting people, people who have endured much, gone through sickness… He said stop putting devils everyone. When people act out, that could be their way of crying out for help, saying, "I need someone to care about me."
He equated turmoil with "participatory democracy." We don’t like disturbance, he said, "But I get scared if it’s too quiet." He said there are those who, even faced with the authoritative word of the bishop, will not change. And sometimes those persons don’t change until it’s too late. Yet, there are those who can and have changed. Therefore, "we must still have hope for those who can be saved." He said that regardless, the church will stand. He said given this hope for the believer, the preacher must guard his own soul. "Let not the preacher preach to everyone else, but lose his own soul. We must find a way to help preachers … and lay people who lose their way."
Bishop Hoyt said that we must observe the behavior of others and be able to help boys and girls. Leaders must have training in people skills and people relationship with respect to church structure, including the Discipline.
Bishop Hoyt said leadership is diplomatic. When something is said, there is no turning back. The truth is good, but often the truth hurts. We must learn how to tell the truth without harming others. "Tell the truth but try to build people up." He said leaders must think of the entire process—not only their initial acts, but the consequences. He gave the example of when pastors contemplate moving members from office. "Ask questions before you move someone. A wise leader looks down the road and sees the end before it happens," said the bishop. In this vein, bishops have the responsibility to provide both the negative and positive of given situations such as when considering preachers for transfer. He said that perhaps there should be a ministerial profile on each pastor.
We must be careful not to create a leadership of cultism, to the detriment of the organization. People must be allowed to have a say. In the long run, it will be a better church. Good leadership encourages open dialogue. "There should be no meeting before the real meeting," he said. A them-and-us attitude kills the group, resulting in a demonizing of human beings. We must be issue oriented, not human being oriented. We must have compassion. We must rule with compassion. We must talk with Jesus and walk with Jesus.
We must be conferred with the D.D. degree—"drunk and disorderly;" that is, "drunk and disorderly" with the Holy Spirit.