11th July 2022

In the past week we have learnt that we will have a change of Prime Minister relatively soon. It feels like a moment to pray for all those involved in choosing a new leader and for all those seeking to take on this incredibly important role.

I don’t know any politicians personally. I hope that at least the majority will have been motivated by, felt called even, to public service and to play their part to try and change the world for the better. Media stories week in week out can make that feel like a naive dream. Uneasily we may ponder on ambition, power, and what it takes to be the sort of person who will put their name forward for high office.

We know that good leaders are needed in all sorts of areas of life – for tasks big and small, from CEOs of multinational corporations to leaders of the local toddler group – and everything in between and beyond.

The flip side of the question about whether we feel comfortable with the motivation of those seeking powerful positions, is about people holding back and not putting themselves forward when actually they are the right person for the job!

Do we ourselves recognise when our insights, skills and experience are needed? When we recognise potential in others, how can we better encourage them in the use of their gifts?

Thinking about leadership, these words from the Old Testament come to mind, telling us what God requires of us: “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6: 8).

Ruth Allen