Using and Sharing Power to Create a More Just and Equitable Community

How can leaders use the power they have on behalf of others and share their power with others in order to create a more just and more equitable community?

We are joined by Dr. D. Z. Cofield and Deborah Pulis for this conversation.

In this series, we are exploring the inherent connection between leadership and power. We hope to help leaders better understand the dynamics of power in their organizations and in themselves and develop some principles and practices that help them use their own power wisely. 

Conversation overview

• Dr. D.Z. Cofield, Pastor of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church 
• Deborah Pulis, Executive Director of Body Oak Cliff 
• Sometimes, our intentions may not be as good as we think they are
• Learning to recognize your power
• “True power is given to you, it’s not taken from them.” – Dr. D.Z. Cofield
• “Live boldly and clean up your messes as you go along.” – Deborah Pulis
• Being stingy with power
• “I wonder what would happen if everyone in this country that had a spare bedroom used it to house someone” – Deborah Pulis
• Learning to be sensitive to how I apply power in different contexts
• The story of  The Well  
• Using power FOR vs. WITH others
• Stories about sharing power
• Entrusting others with power prematurely 
• The role of mentoring in sharing power
• “Trust that something bigger can come out of divergent voices.” – Deborah Pulis

About our guests: 

Dr. D.Z. Cofield is Senior Pastor of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church  in Houston’s Third Ward. He has a Master’s Degree in Theology at the Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry Degree at Faith Evangelical Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. You can read his full bio here . 

Deborah Pulis is the Executive Director of Body Oak Cliff  where they work to see the Body of Christ united and working together. She and her husband Joel live in community with a very diverse group of people and have been key leaders at The Well in Dallas, a community for adults who struggle with severe and chronic mental illness.

Links: 

• Faithwalking 
• The Well  
• Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church 
• Body Oak Cliff