The Veracity of Servant Leadership as Narrated in Mark 10: 42-45

Abstract

Servant leadership can be found in many religious texts, though the philosophy itself transcends several religious traditions. In the Christian tradition, the passage from the gospel of Mark (10: 42-45) is often quoted in discussions relating to servant leadership. In this passage, Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Islam and other world religions have long embraced the philosophy of servant leadership. In Islam, leadership is a trust (amanah). It represents a psychological contract between a leader and his followers that he will try his best to guide them, to protect them and to treat them fairly and with justice. Hence, the focus of leadership in Islam is on doing good and enhancing justice to all. In Africa, the concept of servant leadership is often challenged by political leadership deficiencies. In this regard, Ake and Onoge, (1995) point out that;…political leadership is parochial rather than national; and corruptly converts national resources into its project of primitive accumulation of wealth. This scenario has led many in the continent to suffer untold injustices in various spheres of life. This paper explores the values of servant leadership and its relevance within the African context. It uses relevant available literature on the subject and is also influenced by Greenleaf’s (1997) theory of servant leadership. In this theory, Greenleaf touches on various aspects related to power, manipulation, hope, responsibility, strength among others. Eventually these aspects are coalesced into a theory of servant leadership consisting of other attributes, namely: listening, empathy healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building a responsive community. It is hoped that the insights generated by this paper will help enhance servant leadership in Africa.