- Characteristics of Popular Leaders
The main characteristics of the leaders working with GECs are the
following :
a) Popular social origin.The leadership originates from less favoured
social classes including workers, labourers, and home-makers who
have become politically active through political parties, labour
unions, or in organised social movements.
b) Commitment to progressive social causes.Within their parties, the
leadership defend social change and lead movements to support
social causes within political parties.
c) Formation in action.In general, these leaders are not well educated
in the formal sense. Their education comes from action, through
meetings, popular courses, seminars, and exchanging experiences.
d) Spirituality.These leaders have created a strong link between
action and spirituality. They read the Bible and pray together in
community gatherings, linking these with the practice of social
justice. This feeds their faith and gives sense to their actions.
e) Organic links with popular and community sectors.These leaders
maintain their link with the faith community and with popular
sectors from which they originate. They seek to share experiences
of action and take decisions on their collective actions with com-
panheirosor companions from their community, and with popular
sectors to which they are linked.
f) Respect for autonomy of the socio-political reality.Although these
leaders are Christians and understand that their social or political
commitments come about as a result of their faith, the underlying
drive for their work is a desire to promote justice and fundamen-
tal ethical values – they do not impose their religions on others.
These are the characteristics that mark the emergence of a new
political and ecclesiastical movement, capable of transforming society
through actions that are at once ethical and effective.
330 Responsible Leadership : Global Perspectives