Date: June 10, 2025
Transformational leadership requires not only facing the big challenges but also setting the right tone in numerous personal encounters from individual meetings to critical discussions at Board of Trustees meetings. During Ian Markham’s tenure, he faced the big challenges of major financial upheavals in 2008, the chapel fire and reconstruction and capital campaign for the new chapel, institutional reparations to address historical racial injustices, the Bicentennial Campaign and celebrations, the Affiliation with GTS to mention a few highlights. Throughout his tenure the gift of his leadership has been building a shared vision with his two boards and multiple stakeholders which combined strategic accomplishment with the art of good governance. It is a delicate balance.
But for me as a participant and observer of good governance, the spirit that Ian demonstrated during Board discussions set the tone of leadership which allowed crucial issues to be considered in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. Ian’s consistent response during Board discussions was “Thank you that was helpful.” I often wondered how can any leader so consistently respond in such a soulful way? I believe that the response comes from a deep belief in the words of the Baptismal Covenant prayer: “to respect the dignity of every human being” which is a hallmark of Ian’s leadership.
I learned a great deal working with Ian Markham. My own formation was strengthened during my tenure on the Board. The accomplishments of Ian’s leadership are many and the example of his leadership created the culture where collective leadership could flourish and the result was the benefit to the common good in an atmosphere where spiritual formation for all was strengthened.
The Rev. Canon Thomas G. Clarke ’70