Faith Matters: Dispensing With Indispensability

“Faith Matters” features pieces written by local religious figures. “You are indispensable!” On the one hand, these words point to a truth. No one should be treated like they are dispensable or disposable. For individuals, “You are indispensable” reminds us of the value of each and every child of God. But I have come to believe that, for leaders, “You are indispensable” is a badge of failure. Working at Yale Divinity School, I have the honor of journeying alongside current and future spiritual leaders, and I frequently find myself reflecting on what healthy and sustainable leadership looks like. When we think of our heroes, we so often think of individuals who have singularly risen to some kind of renown due to their unique charisma, skill, hard work, or courage. That is admirable. But when someone dares to call themselves a leader of people, being singular becomes a liability. I am thinking about Jensen Huang this week, the celebrated and extremely powerful CEO of Nvidia.

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