Notable mentors prepare for the future
The last month has been one where the passing of the generations has been notable. The deaths of Gerald Vandezande and John Stott passed the torch to the next generation of Christian leaders. Then Jack Layton died August 22, leaving a significant political gap in Canada.
Jerry Vandezande was a huge influence on my generation of Christian activists. I came onto the scene in 1990 and Vandezande was the senior leader. In his role with Citizens for Public Justice, he campaigned against poverty, and for a rich understanding of the role of religion in public life. He saw the role of Christians as promoting justice in the world around them.
Vandezande was adamant that Christians always affirm what they could about any public policy initiative. That we encourage whenever and wherever we could. This message made a huge impact on me and formed the way I have always addressed public policy. This was constructive criticism at its finest.
Vandezande built his reputation with policy-makers by being relational. He always remembered people, had a kind word, and took a huge interest in young people, shaping generations of Christians.
John Stott, who died at age 90, had a global influence. I only met him once but it was deeply memorable. Brian Stiller was interviewing Stott for a video on marriage for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Stott was speaking to the issue from a pastor's point of view. While Stiller's questions were focused on same-sex marriage, Stott referred to the purpose for marriage in Genesis 2:23-24.
That stuck with me. When you are looking to the Bible for advice, start with the purpose. If Christians are concerned about changing the definition of marriage, we had better also be concerned with everything the Bible has to say on the subject of marriage.
Stott's books were deeply influential, and he wrote many. Being an advocate, I appreciated Issues Facing Christians Today, now in its fourth edition. Despite the fact he was in London, England, his issues were the same ones facing Christians in Canada.
But like Vandezande, it was Stott's personal manner that touched so many. He was humble and gracious and reached out to so many around him.
With Vandezande and Stott's deaths, it is truly the end of a generation. And that means that it is time for the next generation to take up the mantle of leadership and mentorship. There are seasons of life. When your mentors die, it is likely time for you to become a mentor.
It is often not until the person at the helm is gone that an organization finds out whether it has a good transition plan; most do not.
The NDP is experiencing that right now. While Jack Layton had health problems in the past 18 months, he clearly was not anticipating an early departure from politics. After all, he was only 61.
Layton became leader of the NDP in 2003 and took the party farther than it has gone before, to opposition status. This should have been his moment of glory. But it was not to be. Who will now take over leadership of the party? With so many rookie MPs from Quebec, the interim NDP leader must be bilingual and a team builder. The NDP is in a precarious position and needs a firm hand.
It has been almost 100 years since the leader of a political party died in office. The last was Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1919. He was leader of the opposition at the time. Clearly, it is not something that political parties plan for.
Vandezande and Stott mentored so many that there are Christians who have already taken up those leadership roles. But will the NDP survive now that Layton is gone? Are you mentoring those who will fill your place when you are gone?
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