Spiritual Leadership, by Dr. Margaret Stortz

There is no question in my mind that, if we are to serve as spiritual leaders, we ourselves need to lead the most Divinely-guided, intentional lives possible. We won't be perfect, but we can live as purposefully as possible, using all our best efforts. To be a leader is to admit that we have stepped out of the crowd, at least for a while. to be a leader is to be willing to be occasionally ridiculed, shouted at, and sometimes disliked, but if we have real gifts to share, we'll need to step forward to share them.

A spiritual system like the Science of Mind not only encourages individual leadership but also helps us to recognize our qualities through active Oneness with God. Our belief is, of course, in a shared unity with the Divine, but our use of this relationship belongs to us. The Infinite always awaits our participation but never forces it upon us. I believe that, as spiritual beings, it is incumbent upon us to bring our personal good to life, that we are not on hand to simply take life's qualities for our private use but to add to what is already present. I think that such a belief would naturally call out any leadership qualities that we have and put us in positions to serve, for real leadership is already service to the greater good. Essentially I think that natural leaders will simply gravitate to opportunities where they can utilize their inherent skills.

Usually, we would look to ministers as spiritual leaders, but through the practice of a spiritual system like the Science of Mind, which encourages personal development, we will find many leaders among the lay members of our congregations who can and do serve as leaders. Actually, a wise minister will readily recognize the stand-outs in his or her congregation and find ways to put their special skills to work. It is not difficult to see that, the more a community's leaders can come together in a shared dream, the more wonderful service all the members will enjoy.

Dr. Margaret Stortz

Margaret Stortz has been an ordained Minister of Religious Science for more than 25 years. As well as enjoying a successful pulpit ministry, she served as Chair of the International Board of Trustees and President of the United Church of Religious Science. Now retired from a permanent pulpit, she enjoys an active counseling practice and serves as a guest speaker and teacher as well as conducts weddings, baptisms and special ceremonies. She is a regular contributor to the Science of Mind Magazine. Her latest book out April 2013, is entitled Essays on Everything- From the Sublime to the Ridiculous with a little in between. This may be obtained from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above. For copies of Lights Along the Way - Concise Histories and Comparisons of Christian Science, Unity, and Religious Science, contact Margaret personally at margaretstortz.com."

You can read more of Dr. Stortz's writing on her blog at Essays on Everything by Margaret Stortz