Incubator Sessions: Mark Sayers on Self Actualization as Idolatry, Spiritual Authority, the Priestly Call to Sacrifice, and Stewarding Soft Power
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Mark Sayers joined an online session with our Church Leaders Incubator back in the Fall where he explored a variety of topics on pastoral leadership and prophetically spoke into where he believes the Spirit is moving the church in the coming years.
He began by unpacking the way models of authority have been shifting, especially in Canada’s context, where a significant amount of influence on the church comes from America. Mark highlights how, traditionally, power was often institutional or positional and these influenced how pastors led. There was a presumed respect and honour in pastors simply because of the trust in the Church or a senior role a leader held. More recently, we have seen an increasing reality of celebrity power, where followers and clout can open doors and bring trust or power – which again has influenced how pastors are trying to lead. Mark, however, sees a more biblical model of authority pastors should be pursuing, spiritual authority, where power doesn’t come from our organization or titles or fame, but from an anointing of the Spirit, birthed in the hidden place.
Something Mark believes has been lost is the idea of priestly sacrifice. Many of us have embraced the idea that we can have all the comforts of a normal life, and then serve God alongside that. Mark wonders, however, if this has lost the call for us as leaders to sacrificially live out generosity and compassion in a way that carries real costs. An idol that he believes is working against this is self actualization. As Maslow explained, it “is the complete realization of one's potential, and the full development of one's abilities and appreciation for life.” Is that the vision we have for pastoral ministry?
Finally, Mark dives into trends he is seeing with Millenials shifting job roles, where they are now needing to learn how to lead Gen Zs, and the challenges to more relational leadership models. Baby Boomers, Mark explains, were seen as more cold and corporate, so Millenials in many ways have reacted to be highly relational in the staff teams. The risk is how that creates relational obligations that can eventually land leaders in places of tension between where God is calling them and what they feel is fair for relationships. Mark encourages the Incubator pastors to be careful as they navigate this and to ensure God is who they ultimately desire to please.
This conversation was full of wisdom! We hope it serves you well as you pastor your community.
Thanks to Compassion Canada for sponsoring today’s episode. You can learn more about partnering with them as a church here.
Mark Sayers
Mark Sayers is the senior leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia. He is passionate about spiritual renewal and the future of the church. Mark is the author of a number of books including Strange Days and Reappearing Church and the newly released A Non-anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders. Mark lives in Melbourne with his wife, Trudi, his daughter, Grace, and twin boys, Hudson and Billy.
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About the Church Leaders Incubator
A two-year program for young pastors to strengthen their character and ministry for long-term, effective senior leadership.
We are experiencing two profound shifts: a shift in leadership, and a shift in culture. As a generation of senior leaders retire, and as the culture becomes increasingly secular, there is a leadership gap in local churches that must be filled. There is a great need to raise up young leaders today so that the church of tomorrow will have high-character and highly competent, Kingdom-minded, lead pastors. In order to do this, we need to identify young, high-potential, male and female pastors and to strengthen their character and ministry to lead the future of the church in Canada.
Learn more about the program here.