‘Leadership is stewardship, not ownership’

The finest schools are led by those who understand that leadership is stewardship, not ownership; vocation, not privilege; and service, not status. That was the message from Bishop Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, leader of the Anglican Diocese of Natal, to the new Rector of Michaelhouse, Bart Wielenga, who was installed as the Balgowan school’s 18th leader during a special service in the Chapel last Friday. He was appointed to the post following the retirement of Antony Clark last year.

“Every new Rector inherits a rich tradition while facing new challenges,” said Ndwandwe. “Schools today navigate rapidly changing cultural landscapes, technological revolutions, mental health concerns, questions of identity and increasing pressure upon young people. Leadership requires wisdom, resilience and courage …” Ndwandwe added that the greatest lessons learned by pupils are not those delivered from classrooms, but rather taught through people’s actions in everyday life.

“Teach not only through policies, assemblies or speeches, but through example,” he said. “Bart, you assume a responsibility that will shape countless lives in ways only known by God. “You inherit a school with a rich history and distinguished reputation, yet your greatest task is not in preserving buildings or traditions, valuable though they might be.

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You will be nurturing young people whose lives are rooted in Christ, whose minds are disciplined in truth, whose hearts are formed in compassion and whose leadership reflects the servant heart of Jesus. Speaking after his installation as Rector and a lay minister of the church, Wielenga said he was conscious of the honour bestowed upon him and pledged to be worthy of his calling to lead the school. He also thanked the boys of Michaelhouse for the warm welcome that he and his wife, Lara, had received, and the staff who had “gone out of their way” to ensure they were settled in properly. Wielenga, who grew up in a missionary family in Richmond, was educated at Alexandra High School in Pietermaritzburg.

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