The Catholic Church in India is going through a critical period under the BJP rule, as it is part of the minorities targeted by the Sangh Parivar. In my article, "Reinventing our Mission", in the February 26, 2024, issue of the Indian Currents, I proposed a paradigm shift in understanding the mission and approaches to mission to face the current challenges effectively. In this article, I suggest another paradigm shift for the Church personnel, priests and nuns, from service providers to leaders.

According to the Catholic India website, there are about 1,30,000 full-time committed personnel in the Catholic Church in India, including priests and nuns. They are not married, and they don't have the responsibility of looking after a family. They are available 24 hours a day to serve God and the people of God. According to Wikipedia, the RSS has only 25,000 full-time pracharaks who are unmarried and fully dedicated to promoting the ideals of their organisation. The Catholic Church is placed in a far better position, with 1.3 lakh fully dedicated personnel ready for service 24/7.

Jesus is invariably presented in catechesis, theology, and liturgy as God and Saviour; hence, the relationship between Jesus and the members of the Church is mainly oriented to worship and devotion. Although the Church teaches that Jesus is fully human and God, the human dimension is often eclipsed. As a result, instead of becoming followers and disciples of Jesus, most Christians remain devotees and worshipers of Jesus.

In John's Gospel 10:11-18, Jesus presents himself as a good shepherd. In fact, Jesus presents himself as a genuine leader compared to the hypocritical religious leaders of his time, one committed to the care, protection, well-being and growth of his people and is ready to lay down his life for them.

In the movie Jesus of Nazareth, directed and produced by Franco Zeffirelli, one can clearly notice certain remarkable leadership qualities in the person of Jesus. To face the challenges of today, the Church personnel, priests and nuns have to undergo a paradigm shift from service providers to authentic leaders. Priests and nuns are often perceived by people as service providers in pastoral care, education, health and social welfare. With the entry of the corporate sector in education, health and social welfare, the role of Church institutions in these fields has diminished.

When Church personnel are perceived as service providers, people look at the service quality, not their personal capacity to influence people. Hence, the focus is often on infrastructure, equipment, efficient staff, etc. Jesus was able to influence people chiefly because of his personality. He had no institutions. His personal services, like healing, were only a means to attract people. People often admired Jesus because he spoke with authority (Mark 1:27). Church personnel could be in any profession suited to their call, but profession is only a means. What is important is their personal capacity to influence people. In other words, they have to become authentic leaders like Jesus.

While watching the movie Jesus of Nazareth several times, I noticed ten leadership qualities or traits and skills in Jesus. The Church personnel must inculcate these qualities and skills to become leaders who can influence people, as Jesus did.

1. Jesus was clear about his vision and mission. His vision was the "Reign of God" or "Kingdom of God", and his mission was bringing about individual and social transformation. Jesus started his mission with a clarion call: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mattew 3:2).

As one can understand from the Gospels, the 'Kingdom of God' is not a place but a situation in which God is accepted as a loving father or mother and all human beings as brothers and sisters with equal rights and opportunities without discrimination. The disciples of Jesus can create the 'Kingdom of God' situation wherever they are: schools, hostels, hospitals, parishes, social work centres, etc., by following an inclusive approach. In the context of India, an inclusive approach demands acceptance, appreciation, and celebration of diversity in terms of religion, culture, and language.

Individuals and societal structures must undergo a radical or metamorphic transformation to realise the 'Kingdom of God' situation. Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, the Samaritan woman, St. Paul, and St. Francis Assisi are examples of radical transformation. Jesus' cleansing of the Temple is an example of social change. To do away with discrimination based on caste, class, and gender requires structural changes. Jesus' disciples must prod governments and authorities to initiate policies leading to structural changes.

2. Jesus articulated his core values like forgiveness and reconciliation, compassion and sensitivity, availability, justice, and respecting every human person. The core values of Jesus are found in the Sermon on the Mount. That is why Mahatma Gandhi said that the New Testament, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, "went straight to my heart" and "I tried to unify the teaching of the Gita, the 'Light of Asia' and the Sermon on the Mount. To become a disciple of Jesus, one has to practice the core values of Jesus and become a spiritual person rather than a religious person. Jesus often condemned the hypocritical religiosity of the Scribes and Pharisees.

3. Jesus had deep knowledge. That is why he could quote profusely from the scriptures and give befitting answers to the tricky questions put to him by the Scribes and Pharisees. The Gospels are silent about Jesus' life between 12 and 30 years of age. Some writers believe that Jesus travelled widely to different parts of the world, especially Asia, including India and enhanced his knowledge. Some authors point out many similarities between the teachings of Buddha and Jesus as reflected in the Sermon on the Mount.

To be potent leaders, Jesus' disciples must enhance their knowledge by becoming continuous learners through reading, exposure visits, and participation in seminars and workshops. It is said that knowledge multiplies every two years. If one does not learn continuously, one becomes outdated and unable to influence others.

4. Jesus had excellent communication skills. He delivered his message to people in a language they could easily understand. A leader should have a relevant message and an attractive delivery method to be effective and influential. Writing and speaking skills are essential to becoming an effective leader. These skills are to be developed during the formation of priests, brothers, and nuns.

In India, fluency/mastery in the local language and English are essential to an effective leader. Even when Hindi is not the local language, a working knowledge of it would prove valuable. The language skills of the Church personnel during the formative period should not be compromised.

5. Jesus was confident in interacting with all sections of society, from the learned to the illiterate, from the poor to the rich. In the Gospel of Luke 7:36-50, we read about Jesus taking part in a dinner arranged by Simon, a Pharisee, and the conversation Jesus had with Simon regarding the act of Mary Magdalene, who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Jesus also freely mingled with the tax collectors, people suffering from deadly diseases and children.

In today's context, priests and nuns should have excellent public relations skills. They should take advantage of all opportunities to interact with the people of the locality or town. For example, the wedding functions of school alumni, teachers, and school staff, the occasions of death of persons closely related to their institutions or public figures, and any other public function are opportunities for building public relations. Often, priests and nuns shy away from such occasions.

6. Jesus always placed people above rituals, dogmas and laws. Jesus violated laws and customs that did not promote life. Often, Jesus was accused of violating the law of the Sabbath and not following many rituals and traditions. According to Jesus, God is to be seen and experienced primarily in humans, not idols and rituals. Remember what the Son of Man will say to those on his right side, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

The followers of Jesus who fight among themselves on the issue of rituals and ways of worship, leading to divisions and scandals, need to be made aware of Jesus and his teachings. The availability of priests and nuns to people is critical today. Sometimes, the non-availability of heads of institutions creates aversion in people towards Church personnel.

7. Jesus led from the front as he practised "Good Shepherd" leadership, which cares for people's well-being, safety, and security, is ready to take risks, and walks the talk. Leading from the front means taking risks and becoming a role model for others by following Jesus' example.

The gravest criticism of Jesus of the Jewish leadership was that they did not practice what they preached, and they put heavy burdens on the people. Gospel of Mathew 23: 13-39 is an outright condemnation of Jewish leadership because of their bad example, hypocrisy and exploitation of people. One of the most significant challenges for Church personnel today is to live a life of witness to Jesus' core values and teachings.

8. Jesus is a role model of servant leadership. By washing his disciples' feet, he proved that service is the most essential function of leadership and not the exercise of power. Sometimes, church leaders are accused of abusing power and competing with each other for power and position. Becoming role models of service is challenging for Church personnel today.

9. Jesus built an excellent team and empowered the team members through training, guidance, and delegation. Delegating tasks and authority to team members creates a sense of belonging, passion, and enthusiasm in them. Participation, transparency, and accountability make a team professional, efficient, and effective.

10. Jesus had deep communion with God through contemplative prayer, which was the foundation of his leadership. As per the Gospels, Jesus did not go to the Temple or synagogues to pray but to teach people. On the contrary, he went to lonely places and mountains to pray, and his prayer was contemplation or dialogue with his Father and himself. Jesus resorted to contemplative prayer before making important decisions in his life and mission, such as starting his public life, selecting disciples, and deciding on passion and death.

Jesus strongly believed that power comes from within, and contemplation is the means to draw out unlimited power from within. Like pearls are found deep in the ocean, immense power is hidden in the depths of human beings. Jesus' disciples must spend considerable time contemplating daily to draw inspiration, creativity, and energy. In the words of the late Fr. Varghese Alengaden, "one has to realise God, actualise God, and maximise God within."

The disciples are expected to inculcate in themselves the qualities, traits, and skills of Jesus' leadership to become confident and competent enough to continue His mission today. The training of priests and nuns needs a complete overhaul to transform them into leaders like Jesus. The approach to nuns in the Catholic Church has to change radically. They are to be seen as empowered women leaders capable of bringing about substantial change in Indian society and not as mere service providers.