What lies beneath?

What lies beneath?

What comes first in public ministry, consecration or charisma, asks Malcolm Duncan

After a run of stories about public figures and church pastors leaving their roles under clouds of suspicion, accusation or acknowledged failures, it’s time that we returned to some tried and tested non-negotiables when it comes to appointing people who lead us.

An Ipsos survey on behalf of the Institute for Government found that 65 per cent of the public did not believe that the UK government behaved according to high ethical standards and 45 per cent believed that standards had fallen in public life since the 2019 General Election¹. A survey at the end of 2023 showed that just nine per cent of people questioned trusted politicians in the UK².

In a survey that has run since 1983, Ipsos also found that 55 per cent of people did not trust religious leaders to tell the truth. Pastors find themselves sitting in the middle of the graph in the poll – they are more trusted than politicians, advertising executives, government ministers, estate agents and journalists (who are the bottom six); but less trusted than nurses, engineers, doctors, scientists, teachers and… museum curators!³

It would be depressing and demoralising to list the ‘well-known’ Christian leaders who have been sacked, forced out or resigned across churches, movements and charities over the last few years because of dubious dealings or secret lives.

Whilst it is important to remember that there are an awful lot of women and men in leadership who are seeking to be faithful, we shouldn’t simply ignore the challenge of continual crises in leadership in our nations or in the church – or brush over it as if it is inconsequential. Instead, we need to take a good look at ourselves, including our theology, our cultures and our structures.

Seven principles

We need to do everything we can to develop healthy and whole environments in our churches, in our leadership and in our public spaces. We cannot leave this to another generation, and we cannot pass it off as not applicable to us. There is too much riding on what we understand leadership to be for us to brush this under the carpet. It’s time for a spring clean of our understanding of the duties and character traits of leadership.

In May 1995, Lord Michael Nolan published ‘The Seven Principles of Public Life’4 in response to the ‘Cash for Questions’ controversy of John Major’s government. In his report, Nolan set out traits that any person holding public office should commit to – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. Nolan was himself a devout Roman Catholic, so it is no surprise to see the deep connectedness between biblical virtue and his seven principles.

Christ’s own ministry perfectly sets out the very values that Nolan espoused. Was anyone more selfless than Jesus, (Mark 10:45)? Has anyone shown more integrity (Luke 4:1-13)? Our Saviour remained objective and resolute until the end, did he not (Luke 9:51-56)? Was Christ not unwaveringly accountable (John 14:31) yet always open (Luke 22:42-44)? And was he not always truthful (John 14:6; 18:37)? Did Jesus not set us the perfect example of godly leadership (Philippians 2:5ff)? But what have Nolan’s principles to do with pastoral ministry?

Fruit that lasts

Our leadership and our lives a republic documents, read by all. As a public theologian and a pastor, I have consistently returned to these qualities as I have examined my own life and conduct. Am I bearing fruit that will last, or fruit that will w ither? To be a pastor is a public role. Those of us who have this privilege are called to be ambassadors of Christ and his kingdom. We are ministers of reconciliation, who seek to model the truth of who Christ is in the way we live, the way we speak and the values we hold (2 Corinthians 5:18ff).

To be a Christian is a public calling. We are living epistles, read by all (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Our faith may be personal, but it is never private5. Our congregations are spires of hope in the world, a very public witness6, but so are our leaders as individuals and so are we as individual believers.

We do well to remember that our behaviours and priorities affect the witness of the church. A little leaven affects the whole loaf (Galatians 5:9). John Stott was right when he pointed out that meat goes bad and becomes inedible in its natural state, it is not the meat’s fault. Rather, the issue is that the salt is missing.7

I am convinced that the Lord is calling us to be more intentional about what we promote, more honest where we fail, and more accountable for how we live.

Charisma or character?

We have prized charisma over character for too long. We have given platforms to exciting personalities without making sure that their lives are rooted in Christ and their hearts are humble. Of course, we can throw up our hands in self-defence and say it is everyone else’s problem – but the fact remains that too many of us buy books, attend conferences and listen to podcasts of ‘big names’ and we pursue the celebrity culture of success.

Such fruit does not have to be bad, many ministries are rooted in godly and Christlike behaviour and virtues. But if we want to be healthy Christians, if we want to be healthy leaders, and if we want to be part of a healthy society, then integrity matters more than inspiration. Character matters m ore than charisma. Consecration matters more than entertainment.

Whatever spotlights we stand in, however big our platform, and no matter how many followers we have on social media, the most pervasive light that we will face is the light of Christ as it shines into our hearts. The fruits of the Spirit are as important now as they have ever been. I want to be part of a healthy, hopeful and effective movement. That begins not with snappy sermons and brilliant buzzwords, but on bended knees with empty hands and open hearts.

By the time you read this, we will either be in the throes of a General Election or anticipating one in the next six months. Whichever it is, remember that public leadership that is not rooted in character and integrity is smoke and mirrors. And what is true for parliament, is also true for the pulpit.

Malcolm Duncan leads Dundonald Elim and serves on the leadership team of Elim in Ireland. He has authored 17 books and is an international conference speaker, broadcaster and leadership consultant. He advises a number of governments and intergovernmental agencies around the world on the role of faith in society.

1 instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/rebuilding-trust-public-life. Accessed 29 March 2024.
2 ipsos.com/en-uk/ipsos-trust-in-professionsveracity-index-2023. Accessed 29 March 2024
3 affinity.org.uk/news/do-not-trust-a-pastor. Accessed 29 March 2024. See also ipsos.com/ en-uk/ipsos-veracity-index-2022, accessed 29 March 2024.
4 Available at gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. Accessed 29 March 2024.
5 Wallis, J., 2005. God’s politics: Why the right gets it wrong and the left doesn’t get it. Zondervan
6 Newbigin, L., 1989. The gospel in a pluralist society. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
7 Stott, J.R. and Wyatt, J., 2006. Issues facing Christians today. Zondervan.