Chiaroscuro in Re-Creation and Transformation: The Artistry of Prophetic Leadership

Abstract

The title of my thesis—Chiaroscuro in Re-Creation and Transformation: The Artistry of Prophetic Leadership—reflects God calling us to serve as prophets with courageous tenacity, in and through the light, shadows, and dynamism of ministry and vocation. A subtitle of my thesis is My Voice, My Story—Strengthened in the Crucible of Ministry: Reflections of an Asian American, Immigrant, Woman Pastor Serving as a Prophet, which reflects the lens of a lived faith experience. Knowing who we are impacts how we lead. Our spiritual autobiography and narrative of how God leads us in life, work, vocation, and ministry strengthen understanding of the prophetic call of God in our individual stories in connection to the ongoing transformative story of the world through God in Jesus Christ. I explore the intersectionality of identities and culture, power and access, voice and decision-making, and restoration of and through communities. Reflections in this thesis involve our considering whose voices we are not hearing and why; and who is not represented in the biblical and modern narrative, space, and context and why. The thesis reflects on our voices, agency, identities, and action in prophetic service on behalf of God in truth, compassion, and love. Engaging with Asian American women leadership resources, along with leadership expertise of various people groups, in the church, ministry, theology, and business, I explore the commonalities and differences within Asian and Asian American experiences in relation with dominant leadership, cultural, and social experiences in the United States.With a selection of biblical scriptures, scholarship by theologians, wisdom from thought leaders, and interdisciplinary resources, I examine the voice, identity, and authority of biblical prophets: namely, Deborah (voice and action), Elijah (exercising power and resting), Jeremiah (perseverance through trials), Esther (quiet strength and courage), and Jesus (a prophet and more than a prophet). I discuss prophetic leadership styles, strategies, and methods in relation to change and context. I provide narratives of identifying with the biblical prophets, explore pain and trauma, and reflect on ways of traveling through dissonance, conflict, and forgiveness while reclaiming our voice and agency, and experiencing renewal through God and community. The last chapter of the thesis focuses on the relationships of God, pastor, and local church through the imagery of the Vine and the Branches from the Gospel of John, chapter 15 and the theological doctrine of Imago Dei, image of God. The appendices include study materials on justice, spiritual genealogy, covenant, formation through conflict, encounters as holy moments, and rooted fluidity of prophetic leadership. The appendices reference the Old Testament books of Genesis and Ruth and New Testament books of Matthew and Luke.In conclusion, the thesis affirms our stories and our lives: we are who we are as God has created, restored, and re-created. God has made us unique and diverse in the imago Dei. We embrace our identities to engage in collaborative social action and evangelical witness with respect and wonder. We join God to work toward transformative equity, love, and peace with our neighbors and creation in the world.