Friday, April 4, 2014

A Voice from the Past - Polycarp

And let the presbyters be compassionate and merciful to all, bringing back those that wander, visiting all the sick, and not neglecting the widow, the orphan, or the poor, but always “providing for that which is becoming in the sight of God and man;” abstaining from all wrath, respect of persons, and unjust judgment; keeping far off from all covetousness, not quickly crediting [an evil report] against any one, not severe in judgment, as knowing that we are all under a debt of sin.

Polycarp, 69-115 AD,  Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Chapter IV, (The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, Philip Schaff, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2001, p. 53)

What kind of qualities should we look for in a leader? How should we go about producing them?

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