Youth as a valuable resource for sustainable leadership

Abstract

Leadership, fundamentally, is about people. It is especially during times of uncertainty, as created by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic when resources become scarce or inaccessible that people remain vital for continued and sustainable leadership. Yet, sustainable leadership is more than the longevity of an organisation. Sustainable leadership is also about community and developing people. The aims of sustainable leadership are most suitable within the church where the community is accessible. However, this article will not simply address the community in the church but the youth as part of the community as vital elements for sustainable leadership. Furthermore, the responsibility of nurturing and supporting the youth for leadership needs to be intentional. The article will address sustainable leadership through practical theology and social capital to achieve its aim.

Contribution: The article recognises that the dilemma of sustainable leadership cannot only be approached from a theological perspective but must engage with and pursue an interdisciplinary discussion. In this case, theoretical perspectives and approaches from leadership and social sciences were dialogue partners with theology to address sustainable leadership.