Church Leaders Bring Christ-Centered Leadership to Public Service
As he took the bench, Jerry Crosby II told the court that he was serving as the circuit court judge.
Crosby intentionally used the word “serving” because of his faith.
“I never say I am the judge,” Crosby said. “I understand the only person that’s the true judge of all things and of all of us is God. I want to make sure each and every day … I express that humility. I purposefully try not to assume that I have more authority than I really do. Because I don’t.”
Crosby has served as the vice chief regional circuit judge in Oldham County, Ky., since December 2020. But he did not plan to become a judge — or even have a career in law. Crosby didn’t apply for law school until a friend suggested it.
“You ought to go … because you like to play devil’s advocate and split hairs in every conversation,” Crosby recalled his friend saying.
Crosby, who attended Furman University to play basketball, studied economics before attending the University of Kentucky’s law school. After graduation, he worked as a circuit judge’s staff attorney, then opened his own law firm. Crosby began his judgeship in November 2000 as a district court judge. Twenty years later, he was appointed and elected as a circuit court judge.
He was also installed as an elder at the Westport Road Church of Christ in Louisville, Ky., in December 2020. Crosby and his wife have attended the Westport church since 1998.
Crosby said his faith specifically affects how he treats people in court. He has never used a gavel and rarely raises his voice in court. Crosby also presides over a drug court program that helps individuals find stability and community during recovery.
“Obviously there are statues and laws that must be applied, but I purposefully do things because of faith,” Crosby said. “My faith is in everything I do, whether I’m on the bench or not.”
‘Homegrown and ready to serve my hometown’
Like Crosby, Jan Dockery did not plan to have a career in her local government.
“Basically, I wanted to know how a city was run — (that’s) what really sparked my interest,” Dockery said.
She entered her third term this year as mayor of LaGrange, Texas, and is the city’s first Black mayor. Born and raised in LaGrange, Dockery is active in her community and at the LaGrange Church of Christ, where she volunteers with a variety of ministries.
Her campaign slogan? “Homegrown and ready to serve my hometown.”
Before working for the city, Dockery was a school registrar for 28 years. That’s where she met her predecessor, former Mayor Janet Moerbe. The possibility of running for mayor was a recurring conversation between the two.
Dockery, a self-described people pleaser, said she prayed a lot before deciding to enter politics because she knew she wouldn’t be able to make everybody happy. She continues to bring her faith into her job as mayor — contrary to advice she received to not mix politics and religion.
“I openly disclose that if you ask to see me … and come to my office, don’t say you’re going to leave without getting a piece of the Word with you,” Dockery said.
“I want to lead people in a positive direction,” she added. “I want them to realize they need to be a leader for someone else, a Christ-like leader, not to be a leader as being a mayor or council member.”
A leader in the community and the church
For county commissioner Roy Johnson, training young Christians to lead in the church is closely tied to them leading in their community.
Johnson, one of the original students in the Lads to Leaders training program, was taught by the program’s founder — and his mentor and brother-in-law — Jack Zorn. Johnson recalled that Zorn believed strongly in America and trained his students to serve their country.
“Do your part in city service,” Johnson said. “That was always embedded into our training — being patriotic, serving others, being Good Samaritans.”
Johnson started working at the local election polls in Clay County, Ala., when he was 18 years old and became the District 2 county commissioner in 2008.
“It gives me an opportunity to help my neighbors … and fellow Christians and just make life better for a rural Alabama county,” Johnson said.
Simultaneously, Johnson has been the executive director of Lads to Leaders for 22 years. Before taking charge of the program, he was an executive for the Boy Scouts of America, now Scouting America.
Johnson said his Lads to Leaders training prepared him for his job of establishing scout councils across the nation.
“The BSA training and a good bit of running around the country also prepared me for Lads to Leaders,” Johnson said.
Johnson is an elder at the Sylacauga Church of Christ in Alabama. He also serves on eight boards for local organizations and universities associated with Churches of Christ.
“I probably say yes to too many things,” Johnson said. “It goes back to that whole concept of being a servant leader. … It’s very fulfilling getting out there and helping other people.”
This article was originally published at The Christian Chronicle.
Kenzie James, a senior multimedia journalism major at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., is a recent Christian Chronicle intern. James grew up in Tallahassee, Fla., where she attended the Timberlane Church of Christ.