Let Justice Flow Down Like Water and Righteousness Like a Flood - Amos 5:24
In August 2025, I attended the IMA council meeting as a member of the RMC Personnel Committee and as a member of Bountiful Community Church. The primary focus of the meeting turned out to be initial planning stages for hosting the 2026 Annual Celebration to be held in Provo. As we engaged in conversation about a theme, I heard the phrase ‘Oasis in the Desert’ pop into my mind; we were sharing stories of just how vital each and every church in our wide geographical area is to the people in those communities. People who live outside of acceptance, outside of access, look to our churches as sanctuaries, as oases in the desert, as places of acceptance, hope and refuge. And we as believers in the example of radical hospitality and extravagant welcome that Jesus models for us, can also experience dryness, burnout, hopelessness and need the waters of restoration that come from experiencing community in covenant.
The year before, the theme of the Annual Celebration was centered on the church as Refugia, a place of refuge. It felt natural to continue that theme and so the idea was put forward and the theme was adopted by the planning committee for Annual Celebration 2026. And planning began in earnest as the committee delegated tasks; I was honored to be invited to lead the worship planning along with other members of the committee. We had a vision and we also knew that more insight is always helpful to ensure inclusive language and music that held to tradition but also invited joy and renewal. From Wade in the Water to I’ve Got a River of Life to This Little Light of Mine, the music reflected our deep hunger and thirst for connection and joy.
It was a privilege to invite my band to play for this event and we started up the River of Life band. They are not members and would not call themselves religious but each commented to me how impressed they were with the inclusivity and radical welcome that the UCC prioritizes and advocates for. My dear friend had played her original composition based on Amos 5:24, Let Justice Flow; she originally played it at one of our evening services at BCC and l felt it should be shared with a much wider audience.
Rev. Carmarian Anderson’s deep insight and joyous call to courage and action throughout the celebration and especially on Saturday morning only added to the sense of purpose and connection that made the entire event feel as though it flowed effortlessly. Rev. Erin Gilmore’s opening reflection on Thursday night brought unity, clarity and singularity of focus and was received with gratitude by everyone there. It was a deep honor to share in planning, collaborating and working alongside so many visionary leaders as well as those in my MID cohort who are hearing and preparing for their own call to ministry within this covenant of the UCC.
Did this event go perfectly? Absolutely not. There were a few moments when things I had not planned for cropped up but I experienced both the Grace of the Holy Spirit to remain calm and listen for a solution and the grace of those around me to help find a way to make it happen.
So many more beautiful and inspiring moments happened and relationships built during this time of fellowship and collaboration, far too many to put into one place. This experience affirmed that transformational leadership is fundamentally an act of covenant. It invites rather than controls, listens before speaking, and trusts that God often works most powerfully through the shared gifts of the community. That understanding continues to shape my leadership in healthcare, worship, and every place I am called to serve.
Mark III: Building Transformational Leadership Skills
"You are the light of the world... No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house."
— Matthew 5:14–15"Empowering the Church to be faithful to God's call, reflective of Christ's mission, and open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit." The Manual on Ministry
For much of my life, I believed leadership meant standing in front of others, possessing answers, casting vision, and moving people toward a destination.
Ministry has transformed that understanding.
Leadership is not primarily about being seen.
It is about helping others see.
It is not about directing every step.
It is about creating spaces where people are free to discover God's presence together.
This understanding has shaped every area of my ministry, from hospital hallways and hospice homes to conference worship and congregational music.
I have come to believe that transformational leadership begins with attentive presence.
Before anyone follows a vision, they must first know they have been seen.
Before a congregation can sing with one voice, someone must first create space for many voices to be heard.
Before a family can make difficult decisions together, someone must help them slow down long enough to hear one another.
Leadership begins with listening.
That conviction came alive in a new way when I was invited to help plan and lead worship for the Rocky Mountain Conference Annual Celebration.
The theme, Oasis in the Desert: Rivers of Life, invited us to imagine the Church as a place of renewal in a weary world. Rather than creating a worship service that revolved around one preacher or one musician, our team sought to create an experience of shared leadership.
Pastors, musicians, lay leaders, readers, volunteers, and conference staff each brought unique gifts.
Every planning meeting reminded me that the Holy Spirit delights in collaboration.
No single person held the complete vision.
Instead, the vision emerged through conversation, prayer, creativity, and mutual trust.
I found deep joy in helping weave those many gifts into a worship experience that invited the gathered church into praise, contemplation, communion, and hope.
Music has long been one of the primary ways I exercise leadership.
Whether directing a church music program, leading evening worship, accompanying congregational singing, or jamming with the River of Life Band, I have discovered that music creates community before a single word is spoken.
People who may disagree theologically often discover that they can still breathe together, listen together, and sing together.
Music reminds us that leadership is not always verbal.
Sometimes it is rhythmic.
Sometimes it is emotional.
Sometimes it is simply creating beauty spacious enough for others to encounter God.
That same understanding has shaped my leadership within healthcare.
As a palliative care chaplain, I participate daily in interdisciplinary rounds alongside physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and social workers. Each discipline offers a distinct perspective on patient care. Leadership in this environment does not come from asserting expertise over others. Rather, it comes through collaboration, curiosity, and helping ensure that the patient's story remains at the center of every conversation.
The same has been true throughout my hospice ministry.
Leading goals-of-care conversations, supporting grieving families, coordinating memorial services, educating staff, and mentoring volunteers have all taught me that effective leadership is rarely dramatic. It is often quiet, relational, and rooted in trust.
The United Church of Christ speaks of leadership that empowers the Church to be faithful to God's call and open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit.
I have come to treasure that phrase.
The Holy Spirit rarely follows my carefully prepared agenda.
Again and again, I have witnessed the Spirit emerging through unexpected conversations, spontaneous acts of compassion, collaborative planning, and the wisdom of people whose voices might otherwise have been overlooked.
Transformational leadership requires enough humility to believe that God may speak through anyone gathered around the table.
That conviction has also shaped my own commitment to lifelong learning.
Clinical Pastoral Education taught me to receive feedback not as criticism but as invitation.
The Rocky Mountain Conference has expanded my understanding of worship, collaboration, and covenant.
Continuing education, theological study, supervision, and collegial relationships continue to challenge me to grow beyond my assumptions and become a more faithful servant of Christ.
I no longer understand leadership as standing at the center of the circle.
I understand it as tending the fire at the center so that everyone gathered around it may receive warmth, light, and courage for the journey ahead.
If ministry has taught me anything, it is this:
People are not transformed because someone possesses extraordinary authority.
People are transformed when they encounter extraordinary Love.
Leadership simply helps make that encounter possible.
Like a lantern carried through the darkness, our calling is not to become the light itself.
Our calling is to carry it faithfully until others begin to see.
New!