Unfinished
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Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven, Part 1 and Part 2 CREATING COMMUNITY - Part 1 40 days of Change through Transformational Leadership By Berit Kjos |
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"Families need rebuilding. Jobs are scarce. The cost of living is increasing. ... Children do not have a level playing field for every intellectual, social and emotional development. We are flooded with evidence of the need for societal transformation everywhere we look....
"Peter Drucker, in The Age of Transformation, says that this age is far from over and predicts it will reach well into the next century. This is a time, which calls for a critical mass of transformational leaders who will commit to creating a synergy of energy within their circle of influence so new level of social, economic, organizational and spiritual success can be reached." Erik Rees, Minister of Life Mission at Saddleback Church. "Seven Principles of Transformational Leadership -- Creating A Synergy of Energy"
"Citizenship for the next century is learning to live together. The 21st Century city will be a city of social solidarity.... We have to redefine the words... [and write a new] social contract." Federico Mayor, former Director General of UNESCO, "The UN Plan For Global Control"
You don't find Rick Warren's vision for the 21st century community by simply reading his top-selling books. Yet, many have sensed that his five familiar motivational purposes hide a more complex vision of social and global change. Some have even recognized that his steps toward "transformation" match those trod by UN globalists and the world's leading change agents. After all, the same management gurus -- Peter Drucker, Peter Senge, Bob Buford and others -- are shaping the path to the future for the church and the world alike.
But our eyes are blinded to this strange partnership by the clever use of words and the complexities of their strategies. They defy simple explanations. Who knows the philosophy and transforming power behind behavioral skills and management ideals such as "systems thinking," "facilitated learning" and "transformational leadership?" As with educational buzzwords, the old familiar terms take on new meaning when used in the context of continual social and global change.
I glimpsed the UN vision for the 21st century community during 1996 UN conference on Human Settlements in Istanbul. At a day-long panel presentation on Solidarity and social change, I heard the world's political, spiritual and social leaders share their common goals and guidelines on human resource development and oneness. They would gather people together in communities within cities, then use the latest psycho-social strategies, including the dialectic process, to train the masses in "a new way of thinking" and living.
"Change your whole way of thinking, because the new order of the spirit is confronting and challenging you," said Millard Fuller, President of Habitat for Humanity.
"Citizenship for the next century is learning to live together," said Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO. "The 21st Century city will be a city of social solidarity.... We have to redefine the words... [and write a new] social contract."
"We should stop bemoaning the growth of cities," added Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Vice President of The World Bank. "It's going to happen and it's a good thing, because cities are the vectors of social change and transformation. Let's just make sure that social change and transformation are going in the right direction." Later he added, "The media must act as part of the education process that counters individualism."
Individualism is out. Collective thinking, strategic leadership and facilitated learning is in! And no group of transformational leaders are more effectively pioneering the process and pushing the transformation "in the right direction" than Saddleback Community Church.
Consider an article posted on Rick Warren's website, pastors.com, titled "Seven Principles of Transformational Leadership." The author, Erik Rees, is one of Saddleback's influential pastors. And in his 2001 article, he bases his vision of social change on joint efforts by the world's cutting-edge leaders -- secular, pagan and Christian -- all linked by the common vision of "transformation:"
"This is a time, which calls for a critical mass of transformational leaders who will commit to creating a synergy of energy within their circle of influence so new level of social, economic, organizational and spiritual success can be reached. We have not, however, developed the leaders we need for this noble task. To reach such heights, we will need to un-tap the leadership potential of skillful leaders who are successfully directing various organizations and systems. Some of these men and women, knowledgeable and committed, to there profession, will be the transformational leaders we need to create the needed synergy of energy."
Notice that Pastor Rees calls, not for Christian leaders, but for cutting-edge leaders who share the skills (systems thinking and transformational methodology) and vision needed for transformation. He continues:
"This new paradigm of transformational leadership is not just for the marketplace but also for the local and global movement of Christ. One of the most influential movements, for the advancement of the church, is the Purpose-Driven model developed by Rick Warren, Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church. Leaders of Purpose-Driven churches not only are called to authentically model the five Biblical purposes... they depend on the seven principles of transformational leadership to create a synergy of energy within their flock." [emphasis added]
As you read those seven principles, remember that these summarize some of the transformational strategies used by UN leaders, corporate executives and "progressive educators" as well as pastors around the world. Each principle is followed by self-assessment, which helps steer the transformation and its change agents along the "right" course:
"1. Principle of Simplification Successful leadership begins with a vision, which reflects the shared purpose. The ability to articulate a clear, practical, transformational vision which answers the question, 'Where are we headed?'"
"2. Principle of Motivation The ability to gain the agreement and commitment of other people to the vision. ... A common way to motivate others is to challenge them, provide ample opportunity to join the creative process, and give them the credit." [Not God?]
"3. Principle of Facilitation The ability to effectively facilitate the learning of individuals, teams.... Peter Senge in Fifth Discipline says the primary job of leadership now is to facilitate the learning of others."
"4. Principle of Innovation The ability to boldly initiate prayerful change when needed. ... Team members successfully influence one another to assimilate change because the transformational leaders have build trust and fostered teamwork."
"5. Principle of Mobilization The ability to enlist, equip and empower others to fulfill the vision. Transformational leaders... desire leadership at all levels, so they find ways to invite and ignite leadership all levels. They introduce simple baby steps to enlist larger participants." [That's what 40 Days of Purpose is: "baby steps" toward the new solidarity. 40 Days of Community is simply the next, higher level in this process]
"6. Principle of Preparation - The ability to never stop learning about themselves.... Rick Warren says, 'Leaders are learners.' ... This is such a rigorous path of learning that transformational leaders must be in thriving relationships with others pursuing transformation. It is within these vital relationships, life opportunities and obstacles get saturated in love and support." [The rule of loving small groups applies whether the group forms under the Christian banner or a secular banner. Facilitated togetherness is the glue that creates success.]
"7. Principle of Determination The ability to finish the race. ... Transformational leaders have to develop spiritual, emotional, and physical disciplines to sustain their high level of commitment to their cause."
Erik Rees's bio statement at the end of his 2001 article tells us that "Erik starts his doctorate next year in Strategic Leadership at Regent University," which was founded in Virginia by Pat Robertson. "Erik's life purpose is to help organizations focus their resources by creating a synergy of energy within their circle of influence."
Mr. Rees may be studying under
Other members of the WFS include occult
author
"A new civilization is emerging in our lives, and blind men everywhere are trying to suppress it. This new civilization brings with it new family styles, changed ways of working, loving, and living, a new economy, new political conflicts, and beyond all this an altered consciousness as well."[1]
Might you and I be counted among those "blind men?"
One of the assigned papers for Regent's doctoral program in Strategic Leadership is by Peter Senge. In Part 2, I will compare Dr. Senge's outline for strategic and transformational leadership with Rick Warren's new book, Better Together, the workbook for "40 Days of Community." While Warren freely expresses faith in our Lord and His truths, the imbalanced use of Scriptures and the misleading paraphrased interpretations follow the same pattern that was outlined in Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven, Part 1. And behind the Biblical words you will find a system and a process designed to move every participant away from any firm position on the Rock of Biblical absolutes to the shifting sands of systems thinking, transformational learning, and "continual change" within the enticing new "learning organization."
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." Colossians 2:6-9
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For background information, see: Reinventing the World Part 2: The Mind-Changing Process
Endnotes:
1. Alvin and Heidi Toffler, Creating a New Civilization (Atlanta: Turner Publishing, 1994), page 19.