William Wilberforce: a Biography
Running head: Discover On Your Own 1
Discover on Your Own
William Wilberforce, Biography
Concordia University
EDGR 506 Character and Ethics of Leadership
Instructor
July 1, 2013
Discover On Your Own 2
Week 3 - Discover on Your Own
1. The 4 – 5 qualities in my leader I most admired were….
Prior to taking this class I had heard the name Wilberforce in the saying, “Don’t be a Wilberforce!”. The saying did not have a good connotation. I had no real information on the man or his importance to his times. After reading this biography I would be pleased if someone called me a “Wilberforce”. I found him to be someone worth emulating and identified five qualities I most admire in him.
First is his integrity. When Wilberforce made a commitment to Christ he counted the cost and knew that he would have to break away from the wealthy English society with whom he had been associated. He resigned from the various clubs he belonged to, and stopped gambling, dancing, drinking, and going to the theatre. Also, he and forty other members of Parliament made a pact to not use their position as members of Parliament to gain monetarily, gain in social rank, or to take a pension. Only Wilberforce and one other member followed through on this promise.
Second is his empathy. After his conversion Wilberforce regretted he had wasted so much of his life. He felt deeply for those in need and determined to help. He provided financial support to many programs, churches, and people. He worked to better education. His fight for the elimination of slavery began after seeing and hearing about the plight of slaves being taken from Africa. It was his Christian commitment and reading Scripture that brought him to understand slavery was wrong.
Third is his faithfulness. Wilberforce continually sought God’s plan through Scripture and prayer. After his conversion, when
Discover on Your Own
William Wilberforce, Biography
Concordia University
EDGR 506 Character and Ethics of Leadership
Instructor
July 1, 2013
Discover On Your Own 2
Week 3 - Discover on Your Own
1. The 4 – 5 qualities in my leader I most admired were….
Prior to taking this class I had heard the name Wilberforce in the saying, “Don’t be a Wilberforce!”. The saying did not have a good connotation. I had no real information on the man or his importance to his times. After reading this biography I would be pleased if someone called me a “Wilberforce”. I found him to be someone worth emulating and identified five qualities I most admire in him.
First is his integrity. When Wilberforce made a commitment to Christ he counted the cost and knew that he would have to break away from the wealthy English society with whom he had been associated. He resigned from the various clubs he belonged to, and stopped gambling, dancing, drinking, and going to the theatre. Also, he and forty other members of Parliament made a pact to not use their position as members of Parliament to gain monetarily, gain in social rank, or to take a pension. Only Wilberforce and one other member followed through on this promise.
Second is his empathy. After his conversion Wilberforce regretted he had wasted so much of his life. He felt deeply for those in need and determined to help. He provided financial support to many programs, churches, and people. He worked to better education. His fight for the elimination of slavery began after seeing and hearing about the plight of slaves being taken from Africa. It was his Christian commitment and reading Scripture that brought him to understand slavery was wrong.
Third is his faithfulness. Wilberforce continually sought God’s plan through Scripture and prayer. After his conversion, when
References: Tomkins, S., William Wilberforce: A Biography. (Kindle for PC Version). Available from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EHDYYC/ref=oh_d__o00_details_o00__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1