nurturing servant leaders in religious education - Scholarly ...

Participants also indicated that they felt good when they were giving service to others.
The good feelings created through time spent in the CES may help to justify
prolonged participation of some participants in the organisation. Most significant to
this thesis, however, findings also contend that not only did participation in the CES
offer connection to an organisation they admired, but served to increase participant
feelings of connection to numerous important areas in their lives. For a high level of
return, the individual effort put into the CES then seemed to pale.
Renewal
Renewal in the CES appeared to come through various forms: the renewal of
friendships, the renewal of fundamental knowledge, and the renewal of determination
to continue to serve. By coming together as perceived whole people who needed
renewal and not fixing, these aspects helped to contribute to positive participant
experiences in the CES.
The consistency in participant responses of those who seemingly have very different
stakes in the organisation may point to the generalisability of findings. Three of the
participants (the directors who participated in interviews) work for the CES on a full-
time basis. All participating teachers were volunteers in the CES teaching one or more
classes per school semester. Leaving monetary compensation out of the formula, the
work participants did in the CES served the purpose of each putting in honest work, of
being an active contributor to the organisation, and of working in the greater context
of a particular mission. The nature/nurture debate seems to hold particular importance
here, as external opportunities feed internal desires to contribute, to be involved in
something worthy of service. Participants consistently communicated their high
regard for the work in which they were involved.
Participants indicated that their time in the CES helped them to consistently renew
their beliefs. Members of the Church often “bear testimony” of the things they hold to
be true. The consistent sharing of testimony with others is one way in which to help
keep present understanding fresh, as well as to increase connection and understanding
with others through sharing. Similar practices seem to be encouraged in the CES. For
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