44 Ducere Est Servire: THE LEADERSHIP JOURNAL OF DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY quick to reunite with the German Protestant Church. He passionately pushed for the rebuilding of the German Protestant Church and influenced its acknowledgement of some responsibility for the horrors of the Nazis. In his post-war years, Niemöller developed a more ecumenical and global vision for his leadership, intentionally pursuing international ministry relationships after the war and emphasizing the need for unity among denominations. He stood out among his German peers for his fearless pursuit of what he believed was right as well as his ability to cause conflict, scandal, and strife. Principles for Endurance in Christian Leadership What conclusion should be made about the leadership of Martin Niemöller? Scholarly opinions are quite varied. Modern scholars agree that Niemöller is far too imperfect and complex to allow hero worship. However, Matthew Hockenos concludes that “it is the imperfections of Niemöller’s moral compass that make him all the more relevant today. This middle-class, conservative Protestant, who harbored ingrained prejudices against those not like him, did something excruciatingly difficult for someone of his background: he changed his mind.”44 Similarly, J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom emphasize that, despite continued shortcomings, Christian leaders are forgiven sinners who are given the great opportunity to participate in God’s work.45 However, it is common for society to hold leaders to ridiculously unfair expectations, expectations that no human leader could ever fully achieve or maintain. Instead, Dan Allender challenges that “we can expect nothing more or less from ourselves and our leaders than to know Jesus better through their brokenness as well as our own.”46 The mature, humble leader views studying imperfect leaders who attempted to improve their world as an opportunity for self-reflection. What would the modern Christian leader do in Niemöller’s shoes? Would they have recognized Hitler as a depraved individual masquerading as a pious Christian? Would they have pushed against their upbringing and environment to follow God? Would they have stood apart from the common prejudices of the day and opposed injustice? In addition to thoughtful self-reflection, what wisdom can be gained from Niemöller’s story to help leaders pursue Christlike maturity and faithful endurance? Adversity literature correlates with Niemöller’s story, affirming factors that supported his ability to endure adversity while also warning of areas of weakness. Drawing on the literature, the current article proposes eight principles that support a Christian leader’s ability to persevere through life’s challenges.
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