The most interesting article I read this morning was a feature speculated about why Scottish football managers are so successful, you can read it here. Other than forgetting to mention the second most successful Scottish manager of recent years, Walter Smith, the article was actually very perceptive. As I read it I began to compare these managers 'careers' to my own 'vocation' and it actually helped me make sense of a few things.Read the below quote first with an eye for the anomaly that is the success of Scottish football managers. On your second read try substituting 'club' for 'church' and 'manager' for 'pastor'.
"Alex Smith, chairman of the Scottish Managers and Coaches Association, is a highly respected figure in the game, having been in charge at St Mirren, Aberdeen, Dundee United and various Scotland teams.
For him, culture, appetite for self-improvement and loyalty are major factors in the production of successful managers.
"There is something in our culture that encourages us to want to manage, to want to lead, to be willing to take on that responsibility. You see this in politics and industry too," said the 69-year-old, who is expected to be named director of football when Eddie May is unveiled as Falkirk manager on Tuesday.
"These managers are people who want to go up front, football fanatics who start well in the game and who use it to get on. They want to achieve as individuals.
"Crucially, they have a willingness to learn from others and, once in position, they are very loyal to their clubs.""
I agree with Smith's observations, particularly that there is something in the Scottish culture that 'encourages us to want to manage, to want to lead, to be willing to take on that responsibility.' I see this in my own ministry and I see this in other young Scots called into the pastorate.Now, of course this drive can be abused and used for self-promotion and egotism; I'm sure I have been guilty of this at times. But I am not willing to write off this cultural influence as all bad. I have met very few young Canadian men with such drive. My experience growing up in Scottish culture, particularly the educational system, forced me to take on more responsibility at a young age than many of the young adults I have come across here.
So how does this drive manifest itself in ministry? Truthfully, I find it hard at times not to lead. Around the staff or elders table I literally have to consciously commit to keeping my mouth shut every few minutes. I do not assume to be the most qualified to lead these groups, far from it, but I cannot deny that there is a deep desire to grab the reigns.
One of the primary restraints for not sinfully attempting a leadership coup is that I actually respect the leadership I am under. I am committed to learning from Alex Ferguson, I mean, Brian Buhler. Sir Ferguson and Rev Buhler do share many things in common. They both are idealists, knowing where they want to take their respective club/church and working slowly but intentionally toward that goal. They have both experienced success and challenge throughout their careers. They have both taken command of smaller clubs/churches and lead them to growth. They are both strong man managers, giving just enough responsibility to young players, like myself, whilst keeping us grounded. Brian Buhler is a man that I respect, and a pastor that I can learn much from; just like the coaches at Largs.
This drive also manifests itself in a confidence I've rarely seen among the young men here. Now, whenever you talk about confidence there is a danger, and it's the same danger that this whole article faces. By confidence do you mean pride, Dave? As a Christian our confidence is not to be in ourselves, the flesh, but in Christ. After a few years of smashing I cannot deny that Christ is one that deserves my trust in Him. Also, after fighting for 6 years to arrive where I am now I am confident in what God has called me to and His ability to sustain me. If you want to call this pride, then fine, call it pride. I, however, am conviced that this is not pride.
This confidence is not just in God, or in myself, but in certain 'philosophies of ministry'. Tony Mowbray last week inherited the managers chair at Celtic. He joins them after years managing Hibernian and West Bromwich Albion, lesser clubs. Mowbray, throughout his career, has been dedicated to an attacking form of free-flowing football. This football has been his trademark. At times it has worked, being successful at Hibs and winning promotion at West Brom; other times it has failed, West Brom being relegated the year after promotion. Mowbray came in the door at Celtic and immediately asserted his desire to play the same free-flowing, attacking football. Relegation with West Brom did not cause him to doubt his philosophy.
Now, of course, 'ministry philosophies' have more undergirding them than idealism and a desire to entertain. I find myself holding to a 'missional' approach much like Mowbray holds to his form of football. It does not matter the size or position of the team, this is where I will lead them. I will lead with a desire to see the people entrusted to me confidently strutting into their culture with confidence in our Sovereign God as missionaries. If it's the kids at youth, my young Hibernian team, they will be lead by a pastor with an intense commitment to a missional philosophy. If it's the young men and women at Vintage young adults, with similar ups and downs to West Brom, they also will be lead by a pastor with that same intense commitment to the missional philospophy. And when the tap comes on the shoulder to 'big church', the call up to a club of Celtic's stature, they will be lead by a pastor with the exact same intense commitment to the missional philosophy.
Much of this 'stick-ability', as Sir Alex would call it, is driven into us from a young age. When you grow up in the West of Scotland you quikly work out what you'll fight for and what you'll just drop. You're going to get mocked for everything, in fact this might be where you find a lot of your identity, but there are some things you won't let slide. The bigger kid might get made fun of for his glasses one day, and let it slide, he's not fighting over that one, but mention his weight and he's likely to lop your head off - he'll fight for that one. I recently took a few hits for my desire to integrate parents into our youth ministry more, it would have been a major shift in our philosophy. It wasn't received quite as well as I'd hoped and eventually I had to let it slide, like the hits the fat kid takes for his glasses. But if someone were to take a shot at the missional approach of the ministries I'm called to lead they'd better be ready for a fight with the fat kid; that's something I'll fight for.
One of the traits heralded by the author of the BBC article is Scottish manager's loyalty. I'd agree that this is an asset that has helped many a Scottish manager and one that us pastors should learn from, particularly us young ones. In an age where the average tenure of a youth pastor in North America is 6 months I have resolutely committed to 4 or 5 years at Pacific Community Church. This is another area in which I have learned from those above me, most notably Pastor Jim Heuving. Pastor Jim has stuck it out here at PCC, through the equivilent of us losing our manager, having some of our better players leave to bigger clubs, having a small budget to bring in new players, all whilst struggling to pay for a new stadium. This loyalty is commendable and something I really respect.
So, maybe there is something about the Scottish culture that lends itself to succesful football management. If I was to pick one thing in the article that helps Scottish men become such good managers I would point to the word 'fanatic'. It is a culture of 'football fanatics' that has helped create some of the greatest managers ever. Wouldn't it be incredible if a culture of 'God fanatics' spawned a new generation of pastors, with a loyalty, drive, sacrifice and determination that makes Scottish football managers look like little boys playing fantasy football? Football managers are given the responsibility of guiding a football team; pastors are given the responsibility of guiding the local church, the hope of the world.
