I'm posting this question to reserve a spot for any future (or present) discussion on this question... Everyone expects Lyon "to change the GS job" but how? What will she do
differently? What will she
stop doing? If you hear reports stick them here so we can watch.
14 comments:
A wife of a DS just told me by the pool that Lyon told at least one DS he should "Chair his own district conference." Anyone know if this is true? If so, is it just one conference is all? Is she showing up for the pastoral letter & ordination but not going to deal with the weightier matters of conference like setting the mileage rates for DS? ;-)
The husband (of the woman above) said at lunch,
"You watch--men will submit to Joanne Lyon easier than submitting another male.. guys compete with other guys, but they'll salute a powerful wowman--just watch..."
I believe the thought that is being expressed by, "change the job," would be more accurately stated as, "change our mindset about the job." Electing a woman as GS has broken the "mold" of what we previously thought a "Typical GS" should be.
Now that that mold has been broken, we are probably imagining what it would be like to break the next one - the mold of administrative practices - much like 3 days ago when we were imagining breaking the "Typical GS" mold.
And, I might tend to agree with the "anonymous husband of the woman above".
That said -- Go JoAnne!
Guys love a strong leader, so even if they have private misgivings about a woman in high leadership - they'll follow the guys following her.
How will she change the job? Well, as pointed out, she's already changed our perception of it.
I think that she'll bring fresh ideas from "outside" the usual circuit of candidates because she's so well traveled, so un-naaive about world crises, and respects both local and global dimensions of the denomination.
Plus, she brings a "cool" factor - this woman has met with world leaders because of her humanitarian work.
Biggest change: say goodbye to the old boys club.You want a fraternity, go somewhere else. You want a robust Body of Christ? Well, I think the Body of Christ just stretched and grew a bit.
One word: Communication. Dr. Lyon is a masterful communicator both in preaching and in print. World Hope is a stellar organization that does a tremendous job at getting it's message out...something the Wesleyan Church could do better on. Hopefully she will help the G.S.'s communicate their vision in a more intelligible and attractive way to the local churches. This alone will probably help the vote totals 4 years from now.
I think that we now have a GS who is more of a practicioner than someone who has made a career out of administrative duty. That is not to diminish the contributions of those such as Dr. Wilson, but she does command the respect of others because of her experience. It will be an interesting change at HQ to not have so many officers name Wilson...
Keith it's funny you brought up this last post about chair district conference. I had just been imagining JoAnne Lyon going from meeting with the president and other dignitaries to receiving all those "weighty" matters in district conference you mentioned.
I saw Dave Holdren let the DS chair the district conference, at least unofficially, when he was over the chesapeake district a while ago. I thought it made sense then and it does now. The DS's rarely ever chair the local church conference, the local pastor does. The DS is the pastor of the district so it would make sense to have it the same way.
From what I know of JoAnne, I would expect a great focus on action. She is not going to rest (except the Lord's Day) when she knows there is a task at hand. I also don't expect to see her shy away from big decisions or meddle in the unnecessary.
She knows how to lead, she knows how to accomplish and she expects results.
I'm excited...
MLK
I also think JoAnne's pragmatism of the Gospel is going to appeal to the younger believers - and even the "emergents."
MLK
Jo Anne loves the Lord and loves the church. She accepted her position as GS as an opportunity to serve and not to control. She seeks no power, only influence to encourage believers to take the opportunity to change the world for Christ's sake. She had more power in Washington, but I believe she genuinely desires the church and its people to experience all of the "blessings" the Lord has to offer.
Hi Keith
thanks for the updates from conference. For those of us not chosen to get to play it really made a difference. Here's my insight on the impact the new GS will have. Buckle up cause this is profound...I doubt Joanne will be able to bring about much change at all. I’m not being negative, I’m simply looking through wisdom at what will most likely become a reality we may not want to admit. I'm sure she is a great leader but sweeping change in a denomination is not something that happens in a building. Maxwell, who we would all conservatively consider to be at least a 5 on the leadership scale spent some time in a headquarter’s position and quickly retreated back to a place where change could happen. Moses lead the children out of Egypt, but he never really changed many of them. In fact, God Himself didn’t have the greatest track record in that department. I think change will happen in time and I'm sure the new GS will be a big part of the steering but I think we may be expecting way more than this talented lady could possibly make happen. The membership issue sort of proves the point. We are starting to turn and think "outside the box" but it will take a great deal of time for the masses of rank and file to embrace the kind of change that requires..... well.... change! We have a great number of great people that love Jesus and have been faithful but are just not going to be able to wrap their arms around huge sweeping change. I think we're going somewhere, but sweeping change is most likely not in the picture. That's not a problem, but most likely a reality.
JoAnne will bring a passion for street level ministry to the BGS. She will also bring a bias toward developing and deploying grassroots leaders at all levels of the church. I agree with joe that change may be slow, but even reluctant Gideon was able to see change with God's help. Go Jo!
I think that Dr. Lyon is an outstanding and marvelously qualified person. She is obviously called of God and effective in ways that are remarkable.
I also think that she will accomplish much good in ministry as GS but there are problems that I regret.
Will the denomination's placing a woman in the highest level of authority make ministry easier or harder to the Muslims we are striving to reach with the Gospel?
What about the huge movement in our country that the Wesleyan church largely ignores already? I mean those who homeschool, and/or have large families, and/or believe in modesty, and/or may have some Calvinistic roots that are a stumbling block regarding women in ministry. As it was, we had the freedom to not make it an issue while we discipled such people. Now it is a stumbling block that cannot be avoided. The issue of women in spiritual authority is biblically debateable and the honest reader will admit that it is. Why take such a militant and loud stand?
If any other women was elected I would have nothing with which to defend the denomination's actions to those who cannot get over some of Pauls more obvious words in Scripture.
Although Joan always accomplishes much, my ministry got markedly more difficult as a result.
Is there anyone who feels anything besides glee and delight at this step?
Sorry to be a downer, but I cannot just write off every good family that supects that we are following the feminist movement just a little bit.
Help me think some other way if I am wrong. I have not seen any negative thought regarding any of this. Sort of scary for everyone to feel and think the same isn't it?
Let us not forget Deborah. If people want to be Baptists, let them.
As a resident of the deep South, let us not forget many of the comments above were made about slavery and kept us in a very dark time for a very long while.
...a Wesleyan.
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