Stanley J. Meyer serves as bishop assistant for leadership in the
Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod and is a licensed
professional counselor. He has served as congregational pastor,
campus pastor, college dean of community life, and on two synod
staffs. A 1974 graduate of Christ Seminary-Seminex, he received his
doctor of ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological
Seminary. He and his wife, Connie, live in Arlington, Texas, and are
the parents of three grown sons.
Author's Introduction
No longer can membership on a congregation council or committee imply
merely an obligation to attend a monthly meeting-if ever it meant just
that. Congregational leadership is one of the fundamental building blocks
of the Church in mission. It is more crucial than ever before in this
church, which is dying to have excellence in leadership.
Leadership must grow out of a profound sense of personal discipleship.
Beginning in prayer and humility, it grows in trust and community. It
flourishes in vision and urgency, and it is manifest in courage and
transformation.
As the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seeks to plan for its
mission into the 21st century, it has called for leadership that is
faithful, wise, and courageous. Such leadership will fulfill this church's
vision that we be a people who are
- faithful as we gather by God's grace around Word and Sacrament,
- wise as we live as a new creation empowered by the Holy Spirit, and
- courageous as we proclaim, serve, and strive for justice and peace.
My hope is that the 2004 Devotional Guide for Congregation Councils and
Committees will move people to be faithful, wise, and courageous. It is
written with the prayer that we will grow by God's grace in discipleship
and leadership for the sake of the world that God loves.
Lead with faithfulness, wisdom, and courage,
Stanley J. Meyer
