The Leadership Theme

First Quarter 1999

Editor's Watch

by James W. Skillen

Talking about leadership can be just another way for "followers" to complain. When those of us who hold no public office don't like what we see we complain about the failure of leaders. If we don't get what we want, we blame it on those in power. Complaint, however, is not what we intend with this issue of the Public Justice Report.

Instead, we examine many dimensions and locations of political leadership to ask what Christians should be contributing. Naturally the impeachment process raises questions about the quality of our national leaders. But there is more to our concern about leadership than this.

Michelle Voll and Stephen Lazarus attended and comment on the Christian Coalition's Road to Victory conference last fall and what that event conveyed about the Coalition's idea of leadership. Paul Feston writes about the extremely weak basis that exists for developing Christian political leadership in the Third World. James Skillen contends for a more adequate approach to Christian leadership in pursing racial justice in America today. Quentin Quade argues for a clearer vision and better cooperation among those who are trying to give leadership in education reform. Keith Pavlischek finds hope in the growing dialogue between Evangelicals and Catholics on social and political thought. And Stanley Carlson-Thies continues, through a book review, to give leadership in charting the way toward responsible welfare reform.

We want leaders we can look up to, and leaders who look up to a high calling in public office. This will be one the chief preoccupations of the Center for Public Justice this year, especially through the new Civitas Program in Faith and Public Affairs that nurtures future civic and educational leaders who are now in graduate school.