Governor Rowland and the Wellspring School of Leadership
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The Wellspring School of Leadership is just about to complete its first--and very successful--year of operation. We have had ten students make their way through the first five courses of the Year One curriculum. In fact, just last night I wrapped up teaching the course offering assigned to me--"Dynamics of the Kingdom." I found the interaction with the students fun and stimulating and encouraging. We had students from their twenties to their sixties--and every decade in between.
The Advisory Board for WSL has completed plans for the Year Two curriculum and are in the process of planning for the long-range growth and development of the school. Those meetings are very exciting--I am expecting big things down the road for this school. I can honestly say that in all my years of ministry working with this board has been the most interesting, stimulating and productive committee experience I have ever had.
Right now I want to tell you about an upcoming event related to the school. On May 12 we will host our inaugural Seminar on Christian Leadership. Doors will open at 6:30 for hors d'oevres and music and conversation in the Wellspring cafe. At 7:30 former Governor John Rowland will speak on the topic "Leading by Faith in a World that Doesn't Believe." We will also hear some brief testimonies from some of our current students. The presentations will be followed by a dessert reception in the cafe. You can register and get tickets for this event by going online:http://www.wellspringschoolofleadership.org/ The early bird price of $30 for the event is good through April 30.
Some have asked, "Why John Rowland?" "Why a disgraced former governor who spent time in prison for his corruption while in office?"
These are good questions.
When the controversy surrounding Governor Rowland was coming to a head his pastor, Will Marotti, called for a public show of support for the governor on the steps of the capitol. Mr. Rowland, in the process of facing his actions that ultimately led to his imprisonment, had been be-friended by Pastor Will. The governor had turned to Christ for forgiveness and for a renewal of purpose and restoration of his moral compass. Pastor Will called and asked me to join him and other pastors in a show of support for the governor. I refused--in fact, I urged Pastor Will not to go through with his plans.
Why? And why would I now endorse the Governor as a speaker at our Seminar on Christian Leadership?
I refused to go to the capitol when the governor was in trouble, because I believed he needed to answer for his offenses. I did not doubt his faith nor his intentions to turn his life toward a more righteous course--I had no way of guaging his heart or his intentions. But I did not think it right or appropriate for the church to endorse publicly someone who had betrayed the public's trust.
Now, however, Mr. Rowland has owned his failure in office by his resignation and by serving his sentence handed down by the courts. Now, he has gained some valuable perspective of how he got to where he sabotaged his own career and betrayed the trust of the electorate. Now, he has begun to mature in his faith and to reclaim a sense of purpose for this season of his life.
The Bible is full of stories of leaders who stumbled and failed along the way in their journey of faith and service to the Kingdom of God. The Bible is full of stories of redemption and restoration. We preach this almost every single week and believe it every single day.
So, we welcome former Governor Rowland to the WSL Seminar on Christian Leadership May 12. And I heartily encourage you to come. It will be a full and enriching evening. Mr. Rowland is not being invited to speak on politics, per se, but about leadership in the public square. I am personally looking forward to meeting the Governor and hearing what he has to share.
We have invited several other leaders and prospective students from the area to come and hear more about the Wellspring School of Leadership. I hope you will be there to greet them!
Pastor Rick
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