Leadership Levels: The Problem of Illegitimate Leadership
What is perhaps worse is that the illegitimacy that masquerades as competence or piety at the top washes downward. The illegitimate leader gains the (unwarranted) trust of others, and that trust extends to his lieutenants. “If the leader trusts him, I should trust him, too.” Trusted lieutenants extend their perception of trustworthiness to others in the same way, establishing a web of compromise and privilege. It can work in reverse, too, with illegitimate leaders in the lower ranks transferring their ill-gotten trust to leaders in positions of greater authority, supporting them and, too often, manipulating them for their own ends. Illegitimate leadership is thus corrosive to the whole, and such rot is quite difficult to eradicate.
I think we’re still battling this in various forms within the Orthodox Church in America, even with the scandals described in the SIC and SC reports fading from memory, and in at least a couple of other jurisdictions in North America. The real questions for us are:
- How do we spot illegitimate leadership? From a spiritual standpoint, how do we remain vigilant without becoming cynical or excessively suspicious?
- How do we stamp out illegitimate leadership when it occurs and halt its corrosive spread?
- How do we end, or prevent, a system a privilege that fosters illegitimacy?
What do you think?
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Matushka Elizabeth:
July 22nd, 2011 at 10:54 am
Again, very well done, Father. Amen!
Archpriest Mark Koczak:
August 18th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
I would like to add my voice in agreement watching for the illigit leader. Could we include the cult of personality leader so successful in the world and so often warned about in the Scriptures. Kondratick was one of the best of this type. I am glad you brought up the use of secrecy and influence. These are al most always tools and signs of illicit leader, the Gnostics were the very best at this, as are their direct spiritual decsendents that lead many denominations today. Anyone that uses another human being with power, money, influence, or other tools of the world is the illicit leader. Do they mention Christ? Do they mention service? Or do they continue to limit themselves and others, trapping them in the sins the cares of the world that will give them nothing in the end. For those of us who have spent our lives working in the world, myself 20 years in the US Navy as an Orthodox Chaplain, we have worked with and for the illicit leader.