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Leaders are movers and shakers, original, inventive, unpredictable, imaginative, full of surprises that discomfit the enemy in war and the main office in peace. For the managers are safe, conservative, predictable, conforming organization men and team players, dedicated to the establishment.

The leader, for example, has a passion for equality. We think of great generals from David and Alexander on down, sharing their beans or maza with their men, calling them by their first names, marching along with them in the heat, sleeping on the ground, and being first over the wall. A famous ode by a long-suffering Greek soldier, Archilochus, reminds us that the men in the ranks are not fooled for an instant by the executive type who thinks he is a leader.7

For the manager, on the other hand, the idea of equality is repugnant and even counterproductive. Where promotion, perks, privilege, and power are the name of the game, awe and reverence for rank is everything, the inspiration and motivation of all good men. Where would management be without the inflexible paper processing, dress standards, attention to proper social, political, and religious affiliation, vigilant watch over habits and attitudes, that gratify the stockholders and satisfy security?

I think we can all see this applying in real life situations (perhaps Bc and Droopy might argue with this). It seems to me that Nibley had this pegged. Good for him. It saddens me however, when we find that some leaders both in politics and religion are actually managers.

mercyngrace wrote:I've always thought this particular article was a painfully astute critique of the the way some view callings in the institutional church - as evidence of worthiness or proof of spirituality, as rites of passage for the truly elect.

We construct an ecclesiastical tower of Babel. Jump through the right hoops, hold the right positions, wear the right color shirt and tie, and give utterance to the acceptable ethos and you ascend. Zone leader, assistant to the Mission President, elder's quorum president, counselor in the bishopric, stake young men's president, high councilor... and on it goes.

The foolish man races to the top and finds his language of faith confounded and his expectations dashed for God is not perched high atop the structure waiting to be discovered. He then sees what all wise men already know. God is in the masses at the bottom of the tower, waiting to be served.

We have a very young bishop at the moment and he's running full speed up the tower. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt but when his young daughter prefaces all her statements in primary with "My dad is the bishop and he says...", I wonder where she got the idea that those 8 words meant anything other than "How can I be of service?"

Tchild wrote: If known, religious "authority" would be seen to be empty and useless in performing what is truly worthwhile and important.

Great post.

moksha wrote:How do you think the various leaders of the LDS Church stand in Nibley's analysis of leaders versus managers?

bcspace wrote:
Quack quack Animal Farm and the benefits of being a party man or political officer in the Soviet Union Quack quack quack Democrats are bad quack quack quack quack...

Tchild wrote:There is more wisdom in your few paragraphs than some people are able to find in a lifetime of religious services.