Harriet Jones, Public Servant

I know it’s been a while since I updated this blog, but I’ve been in the middle of a cross-country move, so I’ve had an excuse. However, I’m now (more or less) settled in my new apartment and have officially become a seminary student! On top of that, I have an internship with a (more or less) local church in their high school ministry. Thus, my life is rapidly and thoroughly becoming infused with all aspects of theology. And this is good news for you, dear nerdy reader, because it means I’ll have plenty to write about.

Today’s topic goes along with some thoughts I’ve been having regarding my own ministry position: how to be a good leader. As Christians, we’re set apart from the rest of the world as an example to others (1 Peter 2:4-10), but as Christian leaders in any context, be it ministry or secular vocation, we have a particular duty to reflect Christlike attitudes and cultivate servant lifestyles for the benefit and example of those under us. (Titus 2:7, 1 Peter 5:3) In the Who world, no one better depicts leadership par excellence than Harriet Jones, Prime Minister. SPOILERS:

Harriet Jones, Devoted Servant

From the moment we meet her in Aliens of London, Harriet presents herself as a woman who lives to serve her constituents. Then an MP for Flydale North (translation: she’s no one terribly important in the government), Harriet does everything in her power to meet with the Prime Minister in order to pass a resolution that would benefit the people back home. In the beginning of the episode, we don’t know what that bill is, but we know it is obviously the only thing she cares about accomplishing. Ironically, it’s terribly unimportant in the scheme of things (I mean, aliens have invaded earth, killed the Prime Minister and are about to start World War III…and she wants something like paved potholes), but the zest and dogged determination she exhibits in pursuing it shows that she takes the needs and desires of her constituents seriously, and throws everything she has into serving them. She isn’t caught up in trying to ingratiate herself with the top bananas in Downing Street so that she can further her career; instead, she is focused on doing her utmost for the people she represents, and she doesn’t care how insignificant that job may seem to other people.

Not only does she take her specific duties to Flydale North seriously, but she also has a keen understanding of and respect for the responsibilities of an elected official. In World War Three, the Doctor has figured out a way to save the earth, but he’s hesitant to employ it because it would necessitate sacrificing Rose and everyone in Downing Street. Rose is willing to die for the greater good, but Nine can’t bring himself to do it. Harriet steps in, citing her authority as the only elected official in the room, and orders the Doctor on behalf of her representatives to take action – just what he wants and needs to hear. Not once does she stop to consider her own safety, but she steps up when leadership is needed and strides forward with confidence, respect and love for the public. Then, she recedes into the background until she is needed again.

Harriet Jones, Humble Servant

The running gag with her character was her habit of introducing herself to everyone she met with her name, her position, and her ID card. In series 1, it made some sense (but was still funny), since she was an unknown in politics. But in series 2, she does the same thing, with the same casual humility, when she’s Prime Minister. I just love that about her. No matter how important she is, she never loses her down-to-earth nature and never allows her power to inflate her ego. She doesn’t think of herself as an important person – rather, she thinks she holds an important job, and that instills in her a deep sense of personal obligation. She became Prime Minister not to satisfy her own aspirations, but because the Doctor suggested she’d be a good candidate in the aftermath of the Slitheen invasion, and she saw a need she could fill.

The best example of Harriet’s humility is in The Christmas Invasion, when Peter Llewellyn is taken to Downing Street to make sense of the Sycorax broadcast. Harriet introduces herself to him (“Well, yes, I know who you are…”) and immediately asks if he’d like a coffee, since it’s late. She then proceeds to pour him a cup herself. How many government leaders do you think would be unassuming enough to pour a visitor a cup of coffee? You’d expect her to have sent an intern or a flunkie, instead. But no, she isn’t above a small act of service like that. It speaks volumes to her character.

A few minutes later, she takes Llewellyn downstairs to mission control where she starts speaking to the people on the floor about the spaceship crisis. After introducing herself, (“Yes, I know who you are…”) she asks for their names and then thanks them for their help. I love that about Harriet, too. She genuinely cares about others, respects them enough to ask for their names, commits the information to memory and expresses her gratitude for their work. A good leader like Harriet recognizes the efforts of those under him/her and doesn’t depersonalize the support staff. (Perhaps my favorite peek into Harriet’s character is in Aliens of London, when she realizes she never asked the name of the receptionist who was killed. The look of intense regret and consternation on her face is priceless. Like the Doctor, she clearly doesn’t believe in collateral damage, and finds every person’s life precious. I think that lapse in Aliens of London affected her actions in The Christmas Invasion, motivating her to learn the name of everyone around her.) There is something very powerful, respectful and special about using someone’s name when you speak to him. You let the person know that they matter, that you view them with regard and that you care about them. It’s great when someone in authority over you knows your name and uses it, but how much cooler is it that God himself has “called you by name.” (Isaiah 43:1) Names are important, folks. Use them and be amazed.

Harriet Jones, Wise Servant

Harriet’s character arc is a bit of a tragic one because she falls out of the Doctor’s graces (though the moment Ten learns about her actions in Journey’s End is simply beautiful, in my opinion). But whether or not you agree with her decision in The Christmas Invasion to send a message to the universe, you have to respect her for sticking to her guns and doing what she thought was right.

From beginning to end, Harriet made tough decisions with the aid of as much advice, thought and sobriety as she could muster, and she took action out of a pervasive desire to protect and serve the public. I love the pained expression on her face when she tells Torchwood to fire at the Sycorax, because it shows the struggle she had in shooting down a retreating alien ship. I love even more her statement, many episodes later, that she stands by her decision despite the Doctor’s obvious disapproval. That illustrates her clarity of thought and her resolute principles. (And, frankly, the circumstances in The Stolen Earth give weight and credence to her actions in series 2 and show her to possess some foresight.) Best of all, however, is that she never blames the Doctor for what he did to her career, and she helps him defend the earth in spite of their rocky past. Her maturity, wisdom, grace and fearless devotion to serving others make her a stellar example of leadership and a real heroine in the Doctor Who ranks.


Jesus Christ, The Model Servant

As I've demonstrated, Harriet is a beautiful picture of someone who leads with humility, but she's only a pale shadow of the perfect servant-leader, Jesus. One of my favorite stories about the Son of Man is the one in John 13:1-17, where he washes the disciples' feet. He came to teach, touch, heal, forgive and save, but he did so in the most humble, loving and gentle way.

"When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. 'Do you understand what I have done for you?' he asked them. 'You call me "Teacher" and "Lord," and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.'" (verses 12-17, NIV)

If the King of Kings lowered himself from the divine to an ordinary human life and spent his time here serving those he reigns over, what right have we to think ourselves better than those under us? Instead, we should cultivate a servant's heart and strive to imitate the one extended grace to us and saved us from ourselves. It's not easy and it's not a natural impulse, but when it happens, it's a sterling portrait of Christ and makes the world stop and stare. Then, like Harriet, we'll be known wherever we go, and for the right reasons.

Until next time! May you finally enjoy that tea you were promised.
Katya