Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Leading Differently: 12 Faith Leaders Shaping the Future

Leading Differently: 12 Faith Leaders Shaping the Future

Last updated on: January 25, 2017 at 7:18 pm by Stephen Lewis

Leading Differently: 12 Faith Leaders Shaping the Future 2017-01-25T19:18:39+00:00 Stephen Lewis

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

By Stephen Lewis
President, Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE)

Over the next 12 months, we will spotlight 12 leaders, their stories, and how their passion and call to shape a more hopeful future through Christian ministry guides the impact they are making in their communities, institutions and universities. You can find the complete series, here.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This statement captures the conviction of the late cultural anthropologist, Margaret Mead.

Major change initiatives throughout the world began with a small, committed group of people who had the audacity to imagine new possibilities and the courage to lead differently.

Sixty years ago, the Forum for Theological Exploration’s founders believed that the church and her academy could be an important resource for change and human flourishing. And that in every era, a new generation must be inspired to shape the future of the church, academy and communities around the world.

Why? Because the world doesn’t change because passionate people simply think differently. It changes because they lead differently.

During a pivotal time in our nation’s history, FTE was born and these convictions were tested. Days before the United States Supreme Court ruled segregation unconstitutional in public schools and universities and the civil unrest that would ensue throughout the country as a result, FTE’s mission—to incubate diverse, faithful, wise, and courageous leaders for the church and academy —took flight.

As a new generation of leaders emerged, the future they sought to shape demanded that they lead and relate differently to the world they inherited. There is no doubt in my mind that communities of faith, their leaders, and the next generation are important catalysts for shaping a more hopeful future.

FTE Alumnus Rev. Tyler Sit, like many young people of faith, was unsure of the kind of ministry he was called to pursue. After traveling abroad and then attending seminary, he planted the New City Church, which is dedicated to environmental justice. Rev. Sit is leading differently by advancing environmental activism in his Minneapolis community.

With a passion to change a world that allows people to be bought and sold, Rev. Becca Stevens’ faith compelled her to create Thistle Farms, a sanctuary for healing women survivors of abuse, addiction, trafficking and prostitution. Rev. Stevens is leading differently by supporting more than 700 women annually through Magdalene and Thistle Farms in the Nashville community.

One Minute With Becca Stevens from FTE on Vimeo.

As a scholar-activist and artist committed to making a lasting impact, FTE Alumnus Rev. Dr. Gregory Ellison, II, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Candler School of Theology, developed Fearless Dialogues, a grassroots initiative that fosters space for hard and heartfelt conversations between community thought leaders, educators, elected officials, clergy, parents, students, and gang leaders. Communities across the country and abroad have found healing as a result. Dr. Ellison is leading differently by redefining the 21st century theological classroom and where pastoral care takes place.

Fueled by Christ’s passion, Christians—like Tyler, Becca and Gregory—have picked up their crosses, sacrificed and even suffered on behalf of the greater good and hope for a better world. As a result, they have enriched the world by creating actionable solutions and centers of care—hospitals, schools, social services, civic organizations, global health and development works, and churches.

We all have much to learn from leaders who lead differently. For me, one of these leaders is my childhood pastor, Rev. Dr. Clifford A Jones, Sr. of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, in Charlotte, N.C.

While Rev. Jones leads a large, traditional African American church deeply shaped by its Baptist identity and southern sensibilities, he exemplifies innovation. Whether it is finding better contextual ways of engaging in mission and ministry locally and globally, raising awareness about health and wellness in underserved populations, or leveraging business and organizational management to strengthen the church’s operations and ministry in the broader Charlotte community, Rev. Jones has demonstrated repeatedly what is possible with a little imagination and the will to lead differently.

Over the course of the next 12 months in partnership with Patheos, we will spotlight 12 leaders, their stories, and how their passion and call to shape a more hopeful future through Christian ministry help guide the important and lasting impact they are making in their communities, institutions and universities.

They are the new faithful designers and civil engineers of emerging 21st century models of faith communities and theological education, put in practice. The kind of leaders the world is in desperate need of now. We hope, by sharing their stories, their inspiring leadership will help cultivate a new generation of faithful, wise and courageous leaders, freedom fighters and activists working on behalf of God’s peace and healing in the world.

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours,” wrote the 14th century Carmelite nun, Teresa of Avila. “No hands but yours, no feet but yours; Yours are the eyes through which His compassion will look upon the world; Yours are the feet with which He will go about doing good.”

Never doubt that a transformative gospel can change the world for the better. The call to lead differently is an invitation to be a co-conspirator of God’s justice, hope and love for all people. We look forward to sharing the wisdom, courage and inspiration of those who do.

Stephen Lewis is the President of the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE), whose commitment is to cultivate a new generation of Christian leaders. He is an ordained minister with more than fifteen years of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, program development and group facilitation. Stephen’s interest lies at the intersection between leadership development, social entrepreneurship and leading change, and he is passionate about inspiring the next generation of leaders to make a difference in the world through Christian communities.

Photo Credit: Allison Shirreffs

Leading Differently

Previous Post

February 2, 2016

Throwing Jesus Off a Cliff

Next Post

February 4, 2016 The 10 Truths of Modern Youth Ministry

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Author Interviews Battle Over the Body and Blood of Christ Bearing Beauty Book Reviews Christian Education christian spirituallity christianity Christmas Church Church Leadership Contemplation Creation Care Death and Dying Death Penalty Disruptive Change Disruptors Series Easter Education Evolution and Faith Future of Progressive Christianity Gun Violence Health & Wellness Holy Week Interfaith Israel-Palestine Leading Differently Lent LGBTQ Living with Cancer Meditations on the Cross Mental Illness millennials Mimetic Mondays Monday Meditations Movie Reviews New Monasticism Pando Populus Parenting Patheos 10+1 Q&A Series PC(USA) Politics Pop Culture Practical Theology Series Prayer progressive christian Race Relations Reformation religion Religion and Politics Religion in America Rethink Church Social Justice Spirituality Spirituality of the Body Stump a Scholar Technology and Faith Thanksgiving Theodicy Trust Me Church Uncategorized Why I'm Still Christian Youth Ministry

Select a Month December 2025 April 2025 January 2025 September 2023 September 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What structure did people build to try to reach heaven?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Tower of Babel Altar of Baal Ark Temple of Solomon