The Guiding Light of Madison Park | In Defense of Institutions: CT Books

[Also: In Defense of Institutions] Also: In Defense of Institutions | [View online]( [ChristianityToday.org]( [CT Books newsletter]( Tuesday, February 13, 2018 The Guiding Light of Madison Park Fifteen years after the passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States, a group of 14 former slaves founded a small Alabama community called Madison Park. Tight-knit and God-fearing, the community—populated mainly by descendants of that original founding group—has endured down to the present day. Eric Motley, executive vice president at the Aspen Institute and a former special assistant to President George W. Bush, is profoundly thankful for having grown up in Madison Park. His memoir, [Madison Park: A Place of Hope](, recalls the townsfolk who taught and inspired him and the lifelong lessons he learned. According to Motley, in an [interview]( with CT, "I don't think anyone in Madison Park, at church on Sundays or walking its streets during the week, can fail to be reminded of those who came before us, who made a promise to God that they would try to live out their lives in fulfillment of his will. Worshiping every Sunday with neighbors and seeing these shared values manifested in their thoughts, words, and deeds was very important to me at an early age. And this example has remained a guiding light throughout my life." In Defense of Institutions Some people think of institutions as fundamentally opposed to human freedom and potential. For them, the word "institution" conjures up rules and regulations, budgets and spreadsheets, bosses and subordinates—in other words, a rigid structure that stifles individual personality and creativity. Gordon Smith, president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Canada, understands this attitude, and he acknowledges the many ways that institutions can behave appallingly and mistreat those in their care. But he also recognizes the indispensability of institutions to just about any meaningful human undertaking, very much including the mission of the church. CT recently [interviewed]( Smith on the subject of his book, [Institutional Intelligence: How to Build an Effective Organization](. "Institutional life," says Smith, "is where we recognize the limits of our individual skills and capacities. Somewhere along the way, if we are committed to being both faithful and fruitful to our callings, we have to admit that if I'm going to flourish, I need others. Artists need someone who can run a gallery. Teachers need administration to provide the structure for their teaching. Doctors and other healers need hospitals and offices. None of us are sufficient in and of ourselves. We need others for our vocations, and effective institutions help us leverage our strengths with others." [Matt Reynolds](mailto:ctbooks@ChristianityToday.com), Associate Editor, Books Christianity Today To reply to this newsletter: ctbooks@christianitytoday.com Add newsletter@lists.christianitytoday.com to your address book. [Featured Articles]( [The Place the Freed Slaves Made]( A think-tank leader and former presidential aide shares his debt of gratitude to the people of Madison Park, Alabama. Interview by John Van Sloten [The Deep Satisfaction of Accomplishing Something Together]( A Christian college president defends institutional life—even the meetings!—as a high calling. Interview by Tod Bolsinger More from Christianity Today [What to Give Up for Lent 2018? Consider Twitter's Top 100 Ideas]( Last year, Trump ranked between Facebook and hope. [The Unexpected: A Ministry to Widows in the Ukraine]( The Kiev Symphony Orchestra cares for widows and orphans. [250 Child Soldiers in South Sudan Begin Recovery with World Vision]( The world's newest nation remains its most fragile state. Follow Us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [RSS]( [Subscribe to this newsletter]( IN THE MAGAZINE [Current Issue]( [Cover Story: Lord of the Night]( [The Radical Christian Faith of Frederick Douglass]( [Is Filling That 'God-Shaped Hole' God's Plan for Our Lives?]( [View Full Issue]( [Subscribe Now]( Related CT Newsletters [CT Entertainment]( Reviews and perspectives on movies, TV, and music. [Sign Up Now]( [CT Connection]( The official newsletter of the global media ministry. [Sign Up Now]( [CT Books]( Delivered via email to subscribers weekly. [Subscribe]( | [Email Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Advertise]( | [Subscribe to CT]( You are currently subscribed as: {EMAIL} Copyright ©2018 [ChristianityToday.org]( Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.