The year 2025 means we are now officially a quarter of the way through the 21st century. Our current world is very different to the dizzy heights of the new millennium – in some ways it couldn’t be more different. From the relative global peace, optimism, and the “Things can only get better” Labour Party line, we’ve now had a decade or more of ‘The Age of the Crisis’ – the financial crash through austerity, Brexit, the pandemic, energy costs, war in Europe, environmental catastrophe, youth mental health epidemic and a certain US disruptor who has been voted into office not once but twice. For those born since 2000 the only certainties are challenge and uncertainty. For those who can remember that far back it doesn’t just feel like a different era. It feels like a different world.
It is into this challenging and complex moment that Evangelical Alliance invests into Christian leaders across society through our Public Leadership work. We recognise that our world is in desperate need for leaders and that as Christians we are uniquely placed to offer hopeful, humble and secure leadership through anxious and challenging times and we are encouraged to see that despite the churn of the cultural storm there is a greater openness to Christian thinking both culturally and spiritually than there has been for quite some time. The idea of an authentic leader with values and integrity that are based on something beyond making money or getting ahead is valued as a strength (which it is) and not a weakness.
The vision of Public Leadership is a simple one; to see the UK transformed by Christians leading in every walk of life. It is a vision of transformation based on prayer, superb leadership development, mentoring relationships and peer group support – all helping to build a growing geographical, cross-sector, intergenerational, network of Christian leaders across the UK.
It is a vision to equip Christian leaders to understand culture and context, to have the competencies they need to be effective, and crucially to have the depth of Christian character that will help them be effective – for the gospel and for the long haul. We are encouraged about how we are effectively doing this through our Public Leader programme.
Iain, is a lawyer and former participant of the Public Leader programme, he said:
“The Public Leader programme for me has been a refreshing and eye-opening experience as I’ve realised God has many of His people in significant positions serving Him in all areas of public life. The teaching, mentoring, guidance and fellowship I have enjoyed throughout the process has been a real blessing and privilege to me and has helped me see how God is working across the nation. Public Leader continues to serve as a testimony and constant reminder to me of how important and influential a role Christians can play in their workplaces and how essential it is that we support, pray for and encourage one another.”
Public Leadership supports emerging leaders in three simple ways: through the programme, network and resources. We’ve now seen over 200 emerging leaders participating in our annual Public Leader programme, aimed at those in their 20s and 30s. Which is why we are so excited to be rolling out the programme again this year (applications now open). Participants have come from a range of sectors including the arts, business, education, healthcare, law, media, politics and third sector.
In total we have run over 100 events with input from around 100 senior leaders and mentors.
Ian Marchant, former CEO of SSE and chair of Thames Water, and a speaker on Public Leader shared:
“My career in business has shown the importance of leadership in all areas of public life. I am delighted to be involved in the Public Leader programme as it blends aspects of both leadership and faith to equip future leaders. I hope that by passing on some hard learned lessons I can help our emerging leaders think through what these two key aspects mean for them where they lead.”
We’ve used the alumni network to bring together leaders from different spheres to create a community across age, sector and location.
Peter an engineer and small business owner highlights how the programme has positively impacted him:
“I found Public Leader to be a really useful combination of practical training in leadership, meeting and building relationships with peers from across Scotland, and across a range of sectors and enjoyed being challenged, encouraged and inspired by a range of speakers. I’m still in regular contact with people I met, both personal friendships and professional connections. I’ve been able to apply some of the principles learned to good effect in the real world, environment and having the network of my Public Leader cohort has been great, as we can share our experiences in living out faith in the public square.”
We are also beginning to produce resources to serve the wider church including an upcoming podcast bringing together the voices of senior Christian public leaders to share leadership wisdom that can benefit us all.
So, what has been the impact of all this work?
- In government and law there are a number of alumni now in parliament and significant political, civil service and legal roles.
- In education there are several headteachers.
- In business there are numerous entrepreneurs and alumni working in senior corporate environments.
- In media and the creative industries there are journalists, social media influencers and authors.
- In healthcare there are senior professionals across disciplines who have been pioneering new forms of treatment and were at the forefront of dealing with the recent Covid pandemic.
But perhaps more important are the stories of those impacted – those who are stepping up to lead – and the transformative impact Public Leader has had on those that have sought to lead with Jesus at the heart of what they do.
As we look around and see Christians leading across all areas and growing in their passion to use their influence for good – to take the opportunities of this moment and step into their God-given calling – it’s hard not to be hopeful. The gospel works, the values of the kingdom work and as these are lived out then that transformation will surely follow – by Christians leading in every walk of life.
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