When one hears the name “Disney,” the image that usually comes to mind is a creative genius sketching Mickey Mouse, dreaming up castles, and envisioning entire worlds of imagination. Walt Disney, the dreamer, has rightly become a cultural icon.
My personal favorite image of Walt is him wearing a plaid shirt, jeans and a cowboy hat pacing out where his vision for Disneyland will come to life in an orange grove in Anaheim. There’s just something about seeing a man who could envision something no one else could see, and risk everything to make it a reality. I sometimes aspire to be that kind of visionary leader.
But what’s often forgotten is that behind Walt stood his older brother Roy, a man who never sought the spotlight but without whom none of Walt’s dreams could have become reality. The truth is, I’m at least as much a “Roy” as I’ve ever hoped to be a “Walt.”
The partnership between Walt and Roy Disney is one of the most remarkable in American business history. It is a story not just of family but of the powerful synergy between vision and execution, imagination and administration, dreamer and steward. In many ways, it mirrors the best version of a relationship between a lead pastor and an executive pastor. One casts vision and inspires faith; the other builds systems and ensures stability. Together, they enable the church to flourish.
“It’s time to dispel the myth of the singular visionary who goes up the mountain to hear from God.”
Granted, I believe God gives specific direction to the primary leader that he doesn’t give to others. I believe the lead pastor has a better view of the entire organization than any one else. So I don’t want to take anything away from the lead pastor having the ultimate authority. But even Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms. Or perhaps a more appropriate example would be Jethro providing systems and structure to support the direction God gave Moses.
The visionary leader needs a “Roy Disney” who can provide the structure and systems to support the vision of the “Walt Disney.”
The series to follow explores the unique dynamic between Walt and Roy Disney, examines why it worked, and draws lessons for how pastors can model their leadership in the same way.
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Loved the insight, David. A church is usually identified by the lead pastor singularly, but in addition to a lead pastor with a vision, there needs to be individuals who catch the vision and implement it in so many ways. Albeit, holding up the lead pastors arms in times when necessary. We never see Walt Disney at the parks, but many individuals who have caught his vision and are implementing it on a daily basis!
I’m grateful to work for a “Walt”-type visionary. Also grateful that he has built an organization with people that support the vision and help us get there. And Randy makes a pretty great “Roy!”