Leadership, Development and Regional Stability

Regional stability depends on the model of development the region adopts; leadership intellectual and moral capacity; and, strategic thinking and skills needed to negotiate and implement these models. Foundational to all these is indigenous and local knowledge and values, as well as, faith-based frameworks. Mentoring into leadership and models of development appears to focus less on quality and visionary leadership, and more about how to be technocrats and managerial leaders. That is, how to achieve maximum returns with the least investment. In other words, leadership today is about sustaining or investing an extractive development model that does not prioritize the wellbeing and the quality of life of Pacific people. This strategic focus emphasizes prophetic leadership which is about the ability to read the ‘signs of the times’ of the present and to have the foresight to project plausible future trends and needs. Regional stability (or instability) and the development of the Pacific islands and their peoples is predicated on the kind of leadership that is nurtured today.

PTC aims to produce quality prophetic leaders who will promote and implement faith approaches that go beyond a narrow understanding of spirituality. It will develop and deliver programmes and activities which assist grassroots vulnerable communities to better understand and develop the skills to deal with the challenges they are facing and to work towards effective sustainable solutions.

In the area of regional stability, PTC programmes will need to be responsive to the needs of future leaders and the importance of spirituality in shaping any local or regional development agenda. Moreover, PTC will deliver a range of leadership programmes, and will strengthen its values-based education offerings to grassroots communities. This community education and justice dimension of the gospel of Jesus Christ is critical as the framework in training future leaders who can and will become agents of change in their communities.