1. Need a better title!!
Power

2. Power and privilege is assigned to different groups
Power and privilege is assigned to different groups. Because of this, power will be used. The question is, is it going to be used for good or for evil? Our role, as Christians, is to bring Jesus’ redemptive influence into these structures of power and privilege, re-working and redefining them for kingdom purposes.

3. On Power
God created men and women to have authority, and we are meant to exercise it
Genesis 1
God’s intention was for us to steward and nurture the earth

4. On Power However, we chose to exercise power wrongly… Against God
In the Garden (Gen 1:4-7)
The Tower of Babel (Gen 11:4)
Against other men and women
Social Injustice (Amos 1)

5. Positive Examples of Power
Mark 5: Jesus cast out demons, healing the woman  uses power to restore people in society
John 4: The woman at the well  she was the outcast and then is given power by interacting with Jesus and being transformed into a witness for her community. She becomes a missionary.

6. More Positive Examples of Power
Daniel: given power by oppressive dictatorship  uses it for God’s purpose and for witness
Esther: given power by a sexist  uses it to influence the society and saves her people, even helps the king understand his own power
Paul: uses his power as both Pharisee and Roman citizen to advance the gospel and advocate for the inclusion of the Gentiles

7. Types of Power There are different types of Power including Hard Power
Social Power

8. Power: Hard Power Overt forms of power
Governmental power
Military force
Privilege gained in explicit ways

9. Power: Social Power Soft power is more subtle Expert Character Role
Culture
Expert Power – someone who has special knowledge, skills, training, or experience; can be earned or gained.
i.e. college students pursuing higher education degrees, quality musician that starts off on myspace, York Moore as an evangelist, etc.
Character Power – special status because of quality of character; give to a person by a group
i.e. (little girl who raised $50,000 for AIDS orphans who appeared on Oprah), Corrie Ten Boom
Role Power – someone who has positional authority, particular role in an organization. They may also have the power to reward or punish, promote or demote, etc.
i.e. The Redefine Reality track program director, President Barack Obama,
Culture Power – Power depends on what the culture values; those who have those values have influential power
i.e. In the West, strong eye contact is a sign of respect v. Asian cultural value of looking down
In the U.S., we give status to athletes and actors – value entertainment/sports
In the West, individualism and being pro-active (low authority) v. collectivism and high authority in other cultures
In the U.S., Standard American English is a value (??)

10. Our Power
Before we can know how to use our power redemptively, we need to be able to ID the power we have, own up to it, confess it, and then offer it back to Christ for his redefining work.

11. Power Exercise

12. Exercising Social Power
Positive Effects
Negative Effects
Expert
Sharing knowledge; mentoring
Control; judgment
Character
Caring for others; justice
Manipulation; personal advancement
Role
Encouragement; networking
Punishment; exclusion
Culture
Open to growth and change
Closed to growth and change
MaryKate Morse, Making Room for Leadership p. 47

13. Example of Hard and Social Power: Luke 7:36-50
Jesus and the Sinner Woman
Simon the Pharisee
Uses his power to judge and preserve status
Jesus
Uses his power to dignify woman and raise her status

14. Power: Social Space
Those who have more social power have more social presence
Privilege gained through access of social presence
Unfinished

15. Power: Social Space More Presence Less Presence Male Female
Dominant Culture
Nondominant Culture
Extroversion
Introversion
Middle age (for men); youth (for women)
Old age
Good looks; attractiveness
Ordinary physical features
Wealth; fame
Poor or middle class; unknown
Well-dressed
Unexceptionally dressed
Higher education
Little education
Married
Single
Role authority; corner office
Under authority; cubicle
Forms of power exercised in social space
-Gender
-Culture
-Extroversion/Introversion
-Age
-Physical Features
-Economic and Social Status
-Style of Dress
-Education
-Marital Status
-Role Authority
MaryKate Morse, Making Room for Leadership p. 94

16. “Power is God’s gift. Powerlessness is not a virtue; rather, using power to help the powerless is. This is the true meaning of servant leadership. Jesus modeled this use of power over and over. If each member of his body is bold enough to use his or her power for good, then the negative use of power will become less frequent in the church and the world.”
MaryKate Morse