Very grateful to be reminded that the skill of being vulnerable is necessary in being courageous. And that is what good leadership looks like. @BreneBrown 1/

As part of a Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) household during the COVID19 pandemic, it has been necessary to be emotionally vulnerable because of this too. 2/

I have tried to reflect on what that brings to leadership in a church context at this time, but in honesty that has been hard. 3/

Hard because of my own reluctance to be vulnerable, but also because in reality the CofE is still resistant to the idea of vulnerability as a strength. That leaders who are vulnerable might be an asset. 4/

I suspect its because we don't really know what vulnerability means. We buy into the first of the 'myths', ie that vulnerability is weakness. 5/

I reject this myth. I have for a long time. However, the added status of being in a CEV household has reminded me that I am part of a system that is privileged and established and doesn't like chinks in the armour by nature of the institution. 6/

It is an institution that I have committed to, which shapes me, but in which I have hope that I have some power to shape it. One small, vulnerable, pretty insignificant, priest. 7/

And when it comes to this particular moment in our global history, I may have a certain kind of vulnerability. Part of the shielded minority. As a leader I can't show up in the way I would naturally be inclined to... 8/

... however, I do think that those of us in CEV households have something particular to bring to the people and places we lead and to the institution which has authorised us to lead. 9/

Naturally the risk takers, we will be those who are handling a new level of risk. Who are being taught bravery in a new way, whose already honed skills in courage will be growing exponentially in the fertiliser of vulnerability. Well done good and faithful servants. 10/10