Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Underrated Questions on Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application You Need to Know About
Underrated Questions on Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application You Need to Know About Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application Fundamentals Explained Many faculty members truly believe in building a shift. It's perfectly feasible for applicants to become in with only these items and a great deal of applicants before you've gotten in without any supplementation or additional materials whatsoever. Well, I believe I contribute plenty. The Fundamentals of Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application Revealed I truly think there isn't a more a rewarding career than one which allows you to help others. Because of the ARD role I've been afforded, I have had the chance to observe how this prospective career may play out. How cowardly, and of course foolish! The Unexpected Truth About Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application You ought to take a more strategic strategy. Understanding my former responsibilities when it comes to theory and learn to turn new theories into practice is a process I cannot wait to start. It can address the way the candidate incorporates diversity in their teaching materials and methods. Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application for Dummies Carrie takes a risk within her essay. Also, students might need to incorporate an addendum. Childhood traumas were also shown to be associated with substance addiction together with behavioral addictions like gambling. Professor XXXX has numerous articles regarding the trauma of kids and adolescents. For instance, if a school focuses a whole lot on community service and you've got similar experiences, mention that. Since I obtained a broader comprehension of the various facets that lead to health, I find myself asking new questions and wanting to find out more. Despite the fact that you don't need to cater to people's biases, you likewise don't wish to diminish your o dds of getting into college. Minimum rates which are simple to afford You may have heard how your other peers pay for essay writing, but of course, as it's your very first time, you may be feeling anxious and a little worried. Think about parts of your character or elements of your background that force you to stick out from other applicants. Accentuate any character traits which you feel you've built via the adversity and use examples of skills that you currently possess as a consequence of these trials. Learn more on the subject of UCSFConnect here! Want to Know More About Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application? Even if you're a male, Caucasian, third-generation American, you can nonetheless illustrate your diversity in different areas. However, I do want you to be realistic don't compose a diversity statement only to write one. Diversity statements are a somewhat new addition to the work application packet. They are not mandatory. A diversity statement sometimes takes a selection of forms. Be aware the marked differences between these two sorts of statements. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application Meaning, you'll need to talk about your private background and the way this has affected you. And it may go without saying, but ensure that you obey the directions! Generally, logging creates economic benefits at the neighborhood level. Obviously, we cannot make you trust us, but we can guarantee that we won't disappoint you. Graduate programs are always searching for students with distinct backgrounds to help diversify their classes, so being a minority, immigrant, or a different underrepresented demographic could be precisely what you have to set yourself aside from the remainder of the applicant pool. Obviously, it's true that lots of faculty members overtly reject campus efforts to boost diversity and equity. Faculty jobs can be challenging. There's a science to teaching. Big businesses and Universities are always watching out for young and talented folks. While earning my advanced level, I mean to learn the details and structure that's required to successfully run arts organizations. The Hidden Truth About Diversity Statement Essay Samples Psycholgoy Graduate Application Moreover, medical schools already know about every one of the programs and resources they provide, which means you wouldn't be providing much value via your writing. You must have invested yourself in the area of diversity to have lived and breathed uniqueness to be able to write successfully about how you are going to lead to your school's diverse population. Though we are an agency based in america of America, our services extend so far as in Australia. In the past few years, scientists have suggested that Internet addiction could be comorbid with psychological symptoms like mood, depressive and anxiety symptoms. Inside my research, I also have found a connection between Internet addiction and impulsivity which is often seen among people that have Borderline Personality Disorder. Using Internet is quite common all over the planet, especially among teenagers and has increased exponentially over the last decade. Video games and societal media overuse in adolescence has come to be an increasingly studied area over the previous decade. As far as I am aware, there are only two or three studies that directly assess the association between Internet addiction and Borderline Personality Disorder. This field enables me to help others each day at one time in their lives when many students need it most. And for a number of those individuals, like lots of the villagers in Thailand, working extra hours isn't momentary. It wasn't your standard study abroad experience. It's your responsibility to determine what your diverse experience is. The clinical knowledge in the area is particularly important to me. You feel you've gotten to kno w her. It's in your very best interest to provide supplemental information when given an opportunity. More information about those fellowships is on the fellowship site.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Confucian and legalist Essay Example For Students
Confucian and legalist Essay n the history of Imperial China the issue of the authority of rulers has been worked out in relation to the prevailing philosophies of their times. The longest, most influential and enduring of these is Confucianism.The philosophy and the w in which it demands virtue and duty from a ruler has nt always gone down well with rulers of a more autocratic nature and has at times been displaced by the school of thought known as Legalism. Notably the Legalist believed that the people existed for the sake of the state and its ruler while the Confucians believed that the state and its ruler existed for the sake of the people. (Dawson 1978, 15). I will make comparison and contrast of the ideas of the two schools n how to govern. Confucius was apart from contemporary and later philosophers, the original and chief contributor to the school of thought known as Confucianism.Confucius put forth an ethical system in which harmony was founded upon the right functioning of five key relationships:? Brot her-brother brotherliness? Husband-wife love and obedience ? Friend-friend faithfulness The Mandate of Heaven was a concept that had its basis in the relationship ruler-subject. It was used by many historians as a wa of explaining the fall and rise of Dynasties as being subject to the will of Heaven, based n the conduct of the ruler, who was the son of Heaven.The idea was as follows: ruler can not rely upon military and political power alone to maintain his rule. If he neglects the right relationship to Heaven and to his people he may lose the Mandate of Heaven and be overthrown r meet defeat in battle. One very important feature of Confucian ideas n how to govern was the less active, more spiritual and ritual role of the emperr, which was expressed in perhaps its most radical form by the Confucian philosophers of the an Dynasty: He who is the ruler of men takes non-action as his Way and makes impartiality his treasure.He sits upon the throne of non-action and rides upon the perfection of his fficials. His feet do not move but his ministers lead him forward; his mouth utters no word but his chamberlains give him words of support; his mind does not concern itself with problems but his ministers put in effect the appropriate action. Thus nobody sees him act and yet he achieves success. This is how the ruler imitates the ways of Heaven. (Dawson 1987, PP 7)China in ancient times was split into smaller states and it was nly under the Chin that a unity was achieved. Under the an a lot of the harshness of Chin rule was ameliorated and the an permitted the rise of an inteIlectual Confucian scholarly class who quickly achieved prominence in administrative roles and became prominent in plitical roles as counselors to the emperor. Confucian thought found its way into the highest circles and the rya children were drilled in the Confucian classics. Emperors then were encouraged by sculars to live to the ideals of Confucianism. This affected their government, and the role of ministers in relation to the power of the ruler, a f which were refered to in Confucian philosophy. The aristocrats n longer had a monopoly of government and the Confucian tradition strongly emphasized the importance of family ties and the hereditary principle. Even after the decline of Confucianism, its philosophy continued influencing the period. The Legalist school had as major idea the obedience t the law. This approach, as applied by the Chin, can be viewed as too extreme and was not accepted by the people that is why the Chin Dynasty and Legalist rule was short-lived. The Legalists believed that officials must be obedient instruments of the rulers will. Following the thought of the early Legalist thinkers, the later Chin legalists took their theories into practical application of government. They also believed that peoples names and actions should match, in the sense that people should follow their designated occupational roles to the letter.When names and actualities are in accord with each other, there is good government. When they are not in accord with each other there is disorder. (Dawson 1978 113). Having looked at the approaches of an and Chin government in regard to their application of Confucianism and Legalism, it is possible to highlight some areas of similarity comparisons and contrasts::? Confucians idealized past antiquity but Legalists did not; they were concerned nly with the problems of present rule. .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca , .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .postImageUrl , .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca , .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca:hover , .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca:visited , .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca:active { border:0!important; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca:active , .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue1336f66d7df8a644803086c8b405eca:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Textual Analysis Is Not Enough When Researching Media Essay? Confucians believed that law should be flexible and take account of circumstances. Legalists believed that law should be applied without discretion. ? Confucians were pro-education. Legalist disliked scholars, favoring soldiers and manual workers. ? Legalisi didnt like the merchants since they were seen as profiteering rather than working the state. The Confucians agreed that the activities of merchants had a bad effect, they weakened the state. ? The Chin Dynasty had a harsh philosophy of reward and punishment and encouraged a mutual surveillance of the ulace to ensure social control. The rule of law in the an was relatively gentle in comparison and took individual circumstances into account in cases of transgressions. ? Confucians had ideals for the role of the ruler and conception of people as needing worthy emperor ho fulfilled the mandate of Heaven.,? Legalist had the view of a ruler, who was regarded as a son of Heaven, as the Confucians want, and was also to be obeyed as an autocrat whose officials were expected to fulfil their duties and be obedient to the letter of the aw. ? The Confucians had a belief that human nature was essentially good and that the people would respond well to a kind ruler. The Legalists in contrast had a pessimistic view of human nature, which resulted in their philosophy of legalist rewards, and harsh punishments. n conclusion, the two schools of thought when applied to governmental administration resulted in different approaches.lt might apear that Legalist rule in the Chin Dynasty achieved a kind of social control; but in fact among people and in a nation of such a size as China their approach proved impossible to maintain in the long term. After the fall of the Chin Dynasty, the an did not rule by pure Confucian principles either. The most positive and enduring contribution of th Chin Dynasty was inherited and perpetuated by the an along with any practical policies which seemed to work. Philosophically, the an permitted Confucianism to rise during the an Dynasty.The an rulers wanted to avoid the harshness of the former regime and made the contentment of the people a matter of greater concern whch enabled that Dynasty to achive greater public co-operation and success. Bibliography:Dawson, Raymont (1978) The Chinese Experience. Hucker, Charles (1975) Chinas Imperial Past
Friday, April 3, 2020
The Bay Of Pigs Invasion Essays - CubaUnited States Relations
The Bay of Pigs Invasion The story of the failed invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs is one of mismanagement, overconfidence, and lack of security. The blame for the failure of the operation falls directly in the lap of the Central Intelligence Agency and a young president and his advisors. The fall out from the invasion caused a rise in tension between the two great superpowers and ironically 34 years after the event, the person that the invasion meant to topple, Fidel Castro, is still in power. To underezd the origins of the invasion and its ramifications for the future it is first necessary to look at the invasion and its origins. Part I: The Invasion and its Origins. The Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961, started a few days before on April 15th with the bombing of Cuba by what appeared to be defecting Cuban air force pilots. At 6 a.m. in the morning of that Saturday, three Cuban military bases were bombed by B-26 bombers. The airfields at Camp Libertad, San Antonio de los Ba?os and Antonio Maceo airport at Santiago de Cuba were fired upon. Seven people were killed at Libertad and forty-seven people were killed at other sites on the island. Two of the B-26s left Cuba and flew to Miami, apparently to defect to the United States. The Cuban Revolutionary Council, the government in exile, in New York City released a statement saying that the bombings in Cuba were ". . . carried out by 'Cubans inside Cuba' who were 'in contact with' the top command of the Revolutionary Council . . . ." The New York Times reporter covering the story alluded to something being wrong with the whole situation when he wondered how the council knew the pilots were coming if the pilots had only decided to leave Cuba on Thursday after " . . . a suspected betrayal by a fellow pilot had precipitated a plot to strike . . . ." Whatever the case, the planes came down in Miami later that morning, one landed at Key West Naval Air Station at 7:00 a.m. and the other at Miami International Airport at 8:20 a.m. Both planes were badly damaged and their tanks were nearly empty. On the front page of The New York Times the next day, a picture of one of the B-26s was shown along with a picture of one of the pilots cloaked in a baseball hat and hiding behind dark sunglasses, his name was withheld. A sense of conspiracy was even at this early stage beginning to envelope the events of that week. In the early hours of April 17th the assault on the Bay of Pigs began. In the true cloak and dagger spirit of a movie, the assault began at 2 a.m. with a team of frogmen going ashore with orders to set up landing lights to indicate to the main assault force the precise location of their objectives, as well as to clear the area of anything that may impede the main landing teams to be added when they arrived. At 2:30 a.m. and at 3:00 a.m. two battalions came ashore at Playa Gir?n and one battalion at Playa Larga beaches. The troops at Playa Gir?n had orders to move west, northwest, up the coast and meet with the troops at Playa Larga in the middle of the bay. A small group of men were then to be sent north to the town of Jaguey Grande to secure it as well. When looking at a modern map of Cuba it is obvious that the troops would have problems in the area that was chosen for them to land at. The area around the Bay of Pigs is a swampy marsh land area which would be hard on the troops. The Cuban forces were quick to react and Castro ordered his T-33 trainer jets, two Sea Furies, and two B-26s into the air to stop the invading forces. Off the coast was the command and control ship and another vessel carrying supplies for the invading forces. The Cuban air force made quick work of the supply ships, sinking the command vessel the Marsopa and the supply ship the Houston, blasting them to pieces with five- inch rockets. In the end the 5th battalion was lost, which was on the Houston, as well as the supplies for the landing teams and eight other smaller vessels. With some of the invading forces' ships destroyed, and no command and
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Exploring The Novel Sula By Toni Morrison Essays - Sula, Free Essays
Exploring The Novel Sula By Toni Morrison Essays - Sula, Free Essays Exploring The Novel Sula By Toni Morrison A Strong Woman is Outcast Melody Carter Women in 20th Cen. Lit. Prof. Fiona Paton Paper 2- Nov 10, 2000 In the novel Sula, by Toni Morrison we follow the life of Sula Peace through out her childhood in the twenties until her death in 1941. The novel surrounds the black community in Medallion, specifically the bottom. By reading the story of Sulas life, and the life of the community in the bottom, Morrison shows us the important ways in which families and communities can shape a childs identity. Sula not only portrays the way children are shaped, but also the way that a community receives an adult who challenges the very environment that molded them. Sulas actions and much of her personality is a direct result of her childhood in the bottom. Sulas identity contains many elements of a strong, independent feminist character. However, the people in Medallion do not see Sula in a positive light. When she returns to Medallion as an adult Sula is seen as evil and regarded with much fear. The reason Sula outcast from the community is specifically due to the fact that she is a woman who refuses to contain herself in the social norms set up for the town. She refuses to marry and frequently sleeps around. The characters that exist around Sula serve as a point to compare the different ways the community treats those who are different. Specifically the way the characters, Shadrack and Hannah are treated by the community can be compared to the way the community treats Sula. In one way or another, Sula, Shadrack, and Hannah are outcast from the community in the bottom. Shadrack and Hannah however are not regarded with near as much fear or resentment the town feels towards Sula. The difference between the way the town treats Hannah and Sula is particularly alarming. After the death of Sulas father, Hannah has no real relationships with men. She sleeps only with the husbands of her friends and neighbors husbands. Although Hannah sleeps with married men the people in Medallion have a certain respect for her. The men, surprisingly, never gossiped about her. She was unquestionably a kind and generous woman...(p 2013). Hannah has affairs with the same men over and over again. Because of this most often the wives of those men take it as a compliment when Hannah sleeps with them. Hannah is Sulas mother and has indirectly taught a young Sula to view sex as a source of pleasure. Seeing her step so easily into the pantry and emerge looking precisely as she did when she entered, only happier... (p2013). This affects directly the relationships Sula has with men in her adult life. She too sleeps with only the husbands of other women. Sula has never witnessed a healthy relationship between a man and a woman. This is regarded by the community as terrible. Sula uses the men she sleeps with for pleasure, taking no consideration as to how the men feel. She refuses to have such patriarchal relationships as Hannah did. Hannah may indeed have received pleasure from the men she slept with but she remained the submissive participant in her relations. Hannah rubbed no edges, made no demands, made the man feel as though he were complete and wonderful just as he was- he didnt need fixing... (p 2012). Sula, on the other hand, has a need to feel in control right down to the mechanics of her affairs. And there was the utmost irony and outrage in lying under someone, in a position of surrender, feeling her own abiding strength and limitless power. (p2048). She not only took sex from men as pleasure, but sought out to claim power over them. Sula was trying them out and discarding them without any excuse the men could swallow. (p2044). This made the women upset and furthered their hatred for Sula. Sula had power by sleeping with these very same men who held power over submissive wives. The town regards all of Sulas actions as evil. They called her a roach and a bitch, but above that spread a nasty rumor that she slept with white men. There was nothing lower she could do, nothing filthier.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Corporate Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Corporate Financial Management - Essay Example The company uses its five hundred and eight thousand employees to serve more than four billion meals every year in the fifty thousand locations around the world. Some of the brands include All Leisure Hospitality, Canteen Vending, DeltaFM, Best Vendors Management, and Morrison Management Specialists among others. Compass Group aspires to provide excellent contract food and support services that include cleaning desks, running office and reception services, and other company routine maintenance services in its vision (Cardinal Environment ltd, 200, p. 13). The management and employees of Compass group is passionate about serving foods with great quality. Service centres include factories, universities, colleges, schools, people in offices, hospitals, sports and cultural venues, offshore platforms, and homes for senior community people. The company offers services with high quality as such; it is the leading provider of meals to university students in Australia. The company invented th e steamplicity a system of steam cooking in hospitals. Message from the management Richard Cousins, The chief Executive Officer, Compass Group PLC delivered a compelling speech during the last company annual general meeting that included the tabling of the financial report. In his speech, Cousins explained that the companyââ¬â¢s performance in a challenging environment was excellent. Over that period of trade, Compass established consistent high levels of new business that saw it make positive change in operational efficiency that generated one hundred and sixty-one million pounds in terms of savings. According to him, the prevailing short-term economic conditions will continue to affect the companyââ¬â¢s unprocessed revenue growth. The chair, Sir Roy Gardner, reiterated that the groupââ¬â¢s overall core strategy remains unchanged as it remains centred on foodservice and support service business with a very high rate of growth rate. Services Compass Group serves the needs o f people by offering high quality, well balanced, and nutritious food. This refreshes peoplesââ¬â¢ tired minds, reenergises peoplesââ¬â¢ productivity, enhances the concentration of students at school, and offers the right diet for invalids and convalescents in hospitals. The company focuses on consumers by being constantly innovative in providing food services and brands to retain its customer base while at the same time venturing into new markets. Compass Groupââ¬â¢s service structure allows it to serve clients in any format and location irrespective of the geographical location and size (Schiller, 1998, p. 29). This includes formal dining, twenty-four hour service, self-service, vending, and free-flow restaurants. Despite the large customer base, that averages four billion customers every year, the company makes sure that it meets individual customer tastes. Companies that focus on running their operations and choose to use Compass group in undertaking food and support se rvices benefit in many ways. Benefits include reducing costs of maintenance and food. They also improve the quality of providing the same services because Compass group is professional in service provision. Due to its professionalism, Compass guarantees the highest health, environmental, and safety standards (Schweikart, 1990, p. 43). The companies will also take advantage of innovativeness by employees of Compass group to enjoy newest services and best practices around the world. Customers from as far as Asia will
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
The invention of the Ipod and it's impact on society Research Paper
The invention of the Ipod and it's impact on society - Research Paper Example This study explores the social context in which Appleââ¬â¢s iPod has gained significance in the lives of millions of users. The iPod as a technological and commercial success In October 2001, computer manufacturer Apple launched the iPod, a pocket-sized gadget that plays music that may be listened to by its wearer even while the latter is mobile. The iPodââ¬â¢s introductory price at $399 was considered by its critics to be a major problem since it was priced higher than many of the other music players it was competing with at the time. More importantly, the iPod was released into the market just after 9/11 and at the height of the technology slump (Economist, 2004). Instead, the iPod had instead proven to be the most popular, best-selling, and concededly the most fashionable music-player in the market. In nearly all public places, people could be seen with the characteristic white earphone leads leading to the device. The earliest models were built with a 5 gigabyte hard disk t hat could store up to 1,000 songs; the later models had upwards of 40 gigabytes and a storage capacity of 10,000 songs, when other MP3 players could only store dozens of selections at the most. Coupled with the iPodââ¬â¢s capacious memory is Applesââ¬â¢ iTunes that allows music to be downloaded at less than a dollar per track. Techno buffs point out that while the iPod is essentially a fad that may be replaced by other devises and models, it is the first music-playing device to make use of hard disk technology. In the next few years after the iPod was introduced in the market, its immediate converts belonged to the twenty- and thirty-something status-conscious young adults (Bulik, 2008), and eventually to the teen-agers whose parents could spend the nearly four hundred dollars for one device per child. These meant not only the students in college, but also their professors who used their units not only to record music, but also digital lectures and talks that they would listen to in their free time (Levy, et al, 2004). More recently, and particularly since less costly models such as the iPod Nano ($149) had been marketed, there had been growing applications for the very young. Today, nearly one-third of digital media users are ten years old and below, and more than half of them prefer the iPod (Bulik, 2008). They usually benefit from hand-me-down video iPod units when their parents switch to newer models, but which still work well. At the same time, content directed at this age group have been developed by Disney, such as customized selections from Hannah Montana, High School Muscial and Pirates of the Carribean. Other media companies are following suit. The early success stature of the iPod culture was further enhanced when celebrities began enthusing over their own units, such as songwriter Denise Rich, Will Smith who called it ââ¬Å"the gadget of the century,â⬠and Gwyneth Paltrow who praised iPod in Vogue and coincidentally (or not) named her b aby Apple. The device and its signature white earplug leads were seen in many movies and TV shows of the early 2000s as a common feature of daily life (Levy, et al., 2004). During the early years, the iPod had been most conspicuous in big cities and college campuses, and were patronized by students and professionals such as judges (Levy, et al., 2004). More recently, its use had spread even to unconventional locations (for a digital music player) and for reasons other than
Monday, January 27, 2020
Leadership Skills of Paul of Tarsus
Leadership Skills of Paul of Tarsus Carmel Gittens In the light of Romans, 1 Corinthians and Galatians, what sources of authority does Paul draw on to reinforce his case and what can be learned from the apostle in this respect for contemporary church leadership? Following his conversion on the road to Damascus, where Paul of Tarsus, one time persecutor of the followers of Jesus met with the risen Lord, he became the greatest defender of the newly forming Christian faith. His zeal and fervour once so attuned to ridding the world of this perceived threat to Judaism now turned to promoting the same. However, such was his dramatic and life changing meeting with Jesus, that Paul not only devoted his life to growing and nurturing early Christian churches, and spreading the gospel across the Mediterranean and beyond, but was willing to endure persecution and indeed martyrdom himself in the pursuit of his divine mission. It is widely held that Paul was uniquely equipped for this mission as he had many of the qualities needed for such an enormous task. In this essay, I will look at Pauls journey from persecutor to proselyte, a journey that took him many thousands of miles and one that required him to assert his message with conviction and authority. Paul would have to defend his teachings and the gospel he proclaimed in many varied and often difficult situations. To do this he used a variety of sources, for example, when Paul defends his apostolic status or challenges lax moral behaviour or advocates his gospel message he draws on his conversion experience, the Hebrew Scriptures, his finely honed and excellent rhetorical skill, and subsequent force of argument, to strengthen his case. Finally, I will look at how his leadership skills and methods may give us an insight into contemporary church leadership today. Let us first look at Pauls apostolic authority. There is no doubt that Paul claimed to be an apostle, and he certainly exercised authority, but when he did would he have claimed this to be as an apostle? He would not particularly have claimed that his authority came from his appointment as an apostle, but there are times when in defending his status he does assert his apostolic position. In the first two chapters of Galatians and in the letters to Corinth Paul hotly defends the position of being an apostle. In Galatians, some had argued that because he was not one of the original apostles appointed by Jesus he is somehow inferior to them, but more importantly as inferior to Peter. Of course, this is at the heart of the debate over apostleship. Pauls response to this was furious, he was furious with the old teachers who questioned his authority and tried to tie up the Christians with the old laws. But he was even more furious with the Christians for succumbing to their intimidation. Paul begins his letter with a strong and clear account of how his commission is not by vote of man, but God given. He continues to state how once James, Peter and John have recognised this they shake hands with him and Barnabus and assign them to a ministry with the non-Jews, while they continue with the Jews. He is stating here also that even as he rebukes Peter for certain practices that he thinks are out of line, Peter recognises his authority and equality with himself. In 1 Corinthians 9.1; 15.8-11 Paul asserts his right to be included as an apostle. He had after all seen the risen Christ, and the mission work he was doing with the Corinthians attested to his position (1 Cor.9.1-2) Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. But this claim is not one that Paul constantly refers to. He actually only claims to be an apostle in Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians. In both Corinth and Galatia some denied that he was an apostle so it is here in his letters to them that he launches his defence. But in Romans he speaks from the outset as being an apostle perhaps because having never personally visited these churches he wants them to be clear from the outset that the gospel he proclaims is on the same standing and has the same authority behind it as that proclaimed by Peter and the twelve. He does not however have to defend his position as much in Rome as he does in Corinth and Galatia. But rather he gently reminds in Rom 11.13: 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. In as much as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry. It is clear from this that Paul only therefore claims his apostleship when this has been called into question by others, and not on the basis that he needs this authority in order to be a witness to the gospel. Pauls self-professed authority comes from God himself via Jesus the Son. Paul claims this has come from his road to Damascus vision of Christ, and as such he believes that he speaks authoritatively as one the Lord trusts. For example, when speaking to the Corinthians on the subject of marriage (1 Cor 7.25) 25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lords mercy is trustworthy. Although he does at times directly speak of the Lords teachings; as when instructing about the proper way for the Lords supper to be celebrated (1Cor 9.14), 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, he does not regularly use the words of Jesus but claims that his authority comes directly from the Lord e.g.,for building up not tearing down (13.10). Scuhz1 argues that Authority is the interpretation of power and for Paul that power would be the gospel He claims that the thing that makes Paul so authoritative is his ability to interpret the gospel. This act of interpretation unlocks the source of power in the gospel and thereby makes that power accessible to those who respond in trust and obedience to it. Pauls ability to be a vessel of this power to people is what establishes his apostolic authority. Because the gospel has both an initial and ongoing task to accomplish in the community, Pauls authority extends past the initial acceptance of the gospel and well into the intricacies of the communities everyday forms, patterns and practices. His right to speak to the communities he founded arises out of the foundational power which they both have experienced, the gospel that he both mirrors in his life experience and which he preaches. The restraint on apostolic authority has its anchor in the nature and meaning of that same gospel. Power through weakness. No egotistical or authoritarian style for Paul. His authority and leadership are informed, shaped and regulated by the paradoxical content of the gospel he preaches. see I Cor 1:18ff Bibliography Dunn, James D G (ed), The Cambridge Companion to St Paul (Cambridge: CUP, 2003), especially the essays in Part 3. Furnish, Victor Paul, Theology and Ethics in Paul (Nashville: Abingdon, 1968). Longenecker, Richard (ed), The Road from Damascus: The Impact of Pauls Conversion on His Life, Thought, and Ministry (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1997). Malherbe, Abraham J, Paul and the Popular Philosophers (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2006). Sampley, J Paul, Walking between the Times: Pauls Moral Reasoning (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991). Kim, Sayoon, Paul and the New Perspective: Second Thoughts on the Origin of Pauls Gospel (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002). 1Schà ¼tz, John Howard, Paul and the Anatomy of Apostolic Authority (Cambridge: CUP, 1975).
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