On Thursday, 20th June, the Ven Dr Rachel Mann shared this Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4.
"Good morning. Watching the pictures of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang I’ve been struck by the model of leadership being projected –
strong, adult, almost God-like, perhaps. The flag-waving school children were choreographed there among the cheering crowds, walk-on parts in the bigger piece of political theatre.
"At Manchester Cathedral this week I’ve been witnessing a different style of leadership as primary school children prepare to go to high school this autumn. Here the young people are centre stage.
"These services are led as much by the children as the grown-ups. For me, the key moment comes when two Year Sevens get up to speak to the hundreds of Year Sixers, to share their advice on what they’ve learned from the past year.
"Watching them get up to speak is a heart in mouth moment. They look so tiny amidst the huge crowd. Frankly, I expect them to bottle it. Then they speak, clearly and warmly. Their advice is not fancy: they tell the Year Sixers to acknowledge their fears for the future, but not be afraid. They say you can find a home in your new school by sticking with those going through the same stuff as you. As they speak, adult and child alike are hushed with attention. These are leaders worth listening to.
"The bible is full of examples of children who use their voice to make adults listen. The boy Samuel will not be silenced by the old and corrupt priest, Eli, when Samuel insists rightly that God is speaking to him. Jesus, himself, as a child silences the elders in the temple with his wisdom. It’s moving to read about how children with so little obvious power use their voice.
"The theologian Graham Adams argues that children always offer a powerful and subversive model of leadership: because children are small and relatively weak, they have to use different strategies to adults to thrive. Solidarity, friendship and kindness become primary virtues. Children, he says, show us what God is really like.
"I am not so naïve as to pretend that children aren’t capable of cruelty, selfishness or lying. However, in being unable to appear god-like, children’s leadership reveals to me more about God and his priorities. I know national leaders cannot simply cast off the responsibilities of adulthood. However, every time I witness the likes of Putin or Kim Jong Un wanting to appear like gods, surrounded by adoring crowds of children, I will return to the image of leadership shown by those two young people in the Cathedral. For me, it’s more powerful than that of any tyrant."
