Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School
New Haven, CT
October 13, 2022, 7:00 PM
Leading in Love, Gentleness and Joy (Philippians 4:4-9)
Charge
Being the “Director of Community Development and Spiritual Formation” is counter-cultural. Because we live in a world that is alienated, we want community; a world that is often faithless, we need spiritual formation.
The context of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians is that there was the problem of dissension between two of the leaders in the church. What else is new? The dispute was not inconsequential because it drew Paul’s attention and he brought it out to the attention of the whole church. We don’t know the subject of the quarrel but Paul is saying that just because these two were leaders did not exempt them from the rest of the membership to have one soul, one mind, one body.
All the people who make up Andover Newton Seminary are church leaders. If they were not, they would not be here! Like Paul, you have the responsibility to “curate space for belonging, healing and re-imagination” in a setting that often fuels leaders to quarrel. Sometimes, you too need to admonish them.
Leading in love today is revolutionary because it’s not where the world is. People of color are still being killed. We neglect and put people out of sight who are homeless and poor. We are comfortable with our own tribe and fear the stranger. We lobby with those who side with us politically and dismiss those on the other side of the aisle.
But when we lead in love, we envision the truth that the Lord is at hand. We will not be victimized by problems inside as well as outside the church. For everything we do at Andover Newton Seminary is to prepare people to do ministry in the world in need of peace and love. We need you to reach across the aisle. You will need to be like Paul who reminds the church to have full confidence in their trust in God so that they can devote time to prayer, praise and thanksgiving such as at the Emmaus Gatherings.
I love the word, “gentleness” because it is so counter-cultural. It means “forbearance,” refraining from force or having patience. When you lead with gentleness, you’ll be in tune with the pulse of what is happening in the Sterling Quadrangle. You will have the patience to notice the seeds sprouting and plants blooming. You will sense the call for social justice and being interconnected with the world. In the Emmaus Encounter, you will gently enable seminarians to develop community across cultures preparing them to become effective servants as global citizens. Church leaders today need the skills to build bridges to become the beloved community.
Being gentle will lead seminarians to grow in their roles as pastors, ministers and missionaries. Being gentle nurses flowers to blossom. Being gentle means to follow a recipe turning out delectable dishes. Being gentle gives you the time necessary to color the world with art and music. You will wait for the Lord rather than to get in the way because as Paul said, “The peace of God will keep your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.”
In the end of this passage, Paul used himself as a model of virtues. My beloved brother, JaQuan, you must use yourself as a model too. Because,
whatever is true, you will speak forthright;
whatever is honorable, your integrity will be known;
whatever is just, you will stand up for justice and reconciliation;
whatever is pure, you will shine light on righteousness;
whatever is pleasing, you will welcome everyone with a smile; and because,
whatever is commendable, these are the things that are worth celebrating.
When you do these things in excellence, these will be worthy of praise. When you keep on doing these things, God’s peace will be with you. Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
Therefore, I charge you to keep on doing these things, it’s counter-cultural, it’s revolutionary! Lead in love, with gentleness and in joy! It’s the Rev. JaQuan Beachem, the Director of Community Development and Spiritual Formation!
Amen!