Dave Earley

Becoming a small group leader brings with it many temptations. Active ascetic discipline, prayer, charitable habits, and participation in the Holy Mysteries are essential so as not to fall into temptation and create a disastrous scandal, schism, cause for offense, and bring hurt or trigger despair in the vulnerable. In addition to the focus points mentioned by Dave Earley, the Orthodox Christian will need to be vulnerable and honesty with a fellow Orthodox Christian and attend to the Sacrament of Confession when need arises. Leadership, even on a small group level, is not an easy endeavor. Temptations to pride, lust for power, gossip, misdirected desire, and manipulation can lead a small group leader to affect great harm to himself and others and even the whole parish. Apart from the Grace of the Holy Spirit received through prayer, obedience, and participation in the Holy Mysteries, the small group leader is bound to fail. For this reason, it is best to remain in a place of humility and not knowing, and the fear that arises in the recognition of one's utter dependence upon God.… (mehr)