“My beloved church misunderstood me. It preached the corruptibility of humanity when I came to demonstrate its potential for incorruptibility. It propounded the sinfulness of humanity when I suffered to reveal our godliness and to overcome our guilt by demonstrating that we can totally rise above the death of the body."--Barbara Marx Hubbard
The next ten years is crunch time. Nationally and internationally few candidates for leadership meet the four essential criteria: 1) willing to discern the call to leadership; 2) able physically and cognitively to provide leadership; 3) electable, i.e., well enough known and credibility enough to be elected; and 4) compatible enough with collaborate with others and form a viable leadership team. These limitations are real, and the consequences are painful for leaders and members alike.
The financial issues are complex, interrelated and emotionally loaded. They represent a major hurdle to leaders who, for the most part, are not formally trained in the legal, financial, medical, architectural, or real estate competencies needed to address them. Belt-tightening is not enough.
Members feeling an increased pressure to work put off retirement and work well into the 70’s and 80’s. Some are capable. Some are struggling and others are disappointed and resentful. The majority of people in their 70’s and 80’s face physical challenges as well as functional limitations that impact problem solving, cognitive flexibility, abstract thinking, reasoning, and judgment – the very skills needed to deal with today’s complex and rapid changes.
Dunn, Ted, Graced Crossroads: Pathways to Deep Change & Transformation, CSS Publications, 2020, pp. 97-100
