John F. Kennedy had authorized the Bay of Pigs invasion into Cuba by Cuban exiles attempting to overthrow Fidel Castro, which was a complete military failure. Kennedy, adopting a CIA plan, had hoped to make it look like there was no US involvement. The entire episode was a failure and heightened the already tense Cold War relationship with the Soviet Union.
Reeling from his failure, Kennedy met with the former President, Dwight Eisenhower at Camp David. In the interchange, Ike asked JFK about his making of the decision. He simply had just taken the CIA’s advice, without fully hearing the debate and allowing opposing views. Eisenhower “always emphasized the need, as he once put it, to ‘get them [the people responsible] with their different viewpoints in front of you, and listen to them debate. I don’t believe in bringing them in one at a time, and therefore being impressed by the most recent one . . .” (Baier, p. 263).
Ike offers some valuable leadership advice for not just Presidents dealing with military missions, but to all of us who find ourselves in leadership. This counsel of getting everyone at the table is so powerful. Consider its application in these church contexts.
- A youth minister who is trying to plan a date and theme for VBS. The more buy-in and involvement he can gain in planning the date and theme with all participants who make VBS happen present the better.
- An eldership who is dealing with conflict between two families. Getting them together to facilitate discussion, allowing healthy communication, and being sure everyone knows what is said is generally better than separate multiple meetings, miscommunication between groups, and distrust developing.
- A family with three children at home trying to make a big family decision; like buying a home, taking a new job, or changing schools. Have a meeting with all your children present. Discuss with them the options and get feedback and allow healthy debate.
- An education deacon who is dealing with conflict between teachers over classroom space and resource usage. Have a meeting with all present and discuss the common goals and shared desires. Allow everyone to share their opinions and views on solving the problem.
Ike’s leadership advice is Biblical too. Paul believed in getting everyone in the room that had an issue in the problem. He withstood Peter “before them all” in Gal. 2:14. In matters of church discipline he taught the whole church to be involved (1 Cor. 5). He entreated his “true companion” to help Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord (Phil. 4:2). Surely this involves this brother facilitating a meeting between these ladies.
Though leaders often fear the perceived explosive tension that develops in a meeting, often the issue and problems can be resolved much sooner and better in a meeting with everyone at the table. The leader is then able to hear the debate, see the attitudes, and understand the problem better. Communication is clearer, the sin and problem of gossip is lessened, and the goals; be it peace or a solution to a problem can be clearly sought.
To avoid your Bay of Pigs messes as a leader get all those involved in the decision or issue together at the same table!
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Baier, Bret. Three Days in January: Dwight Eisenhower’s Final Mission. 2017. p. 263.
