Description
Book SynopsisUnderstanding Christian Leadership offers an examination of a distinctly Christian understanding of leadership offering a critical appraisal of insights from secular theories of leadership, exploring biblical and other theological insights into the nature and practice of leadership. Whilst arguing for a form of leadership which is widely dispersed and collaborative, the book seeks to explain the distinctive role of leaders within such a leadership economy. It also seeks to establish a proper relationship between sacred and secular leadership thinking, tackling some of the common philosophical and theological reservations to do with leadership discourse, whilst offering a critical framework for discerning the suitability for the Church of different sources of leadership thinking. Designed as core reading for leadership modules currently taught by the author across a large number of training contexts in the UK, this book is an indispensable text for those taking undergraduate or postg
Trade Review“This is a significant and very spiritual contribution to our thinking about leadership: distinctively Christian, deeply rooted in the reality of local churches, and definitely life-giving!”
-- Paul Harcourt, National Leader, New Wine England
"Comprehensive, Biblically rooted, and grounded in practical experience, this is a book that all Christian leaders will want to have on their shelves. It faces the leadership task with wisdom, honesty and reflection on the whole-life character of Christian leadership in a way that will inspire and challenge, whether you are just setting out as a leader or have been leading for many years."
-- Emma Ineson, Bishop of Penrith
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ix Foreword by the Most Reverend Justin Welby xi Introduction: Not Another Book on Leadership?! xiii Part 1 Understanding Leadership 1 Desiring Leadership: Why Leadership Matters 3 2 Defining Leadership 24 3 Leadership in the Christian Tradition I: Leadership in the Old Testament 58 4 Leadership in the Christian Tradition II: Leadership in the New Testament 77 5 Distrusting Leadership: Critical Reflection on the Practice of Leadership 111 Part 2 The Work of Leadership 6 Leadership and Organizational Culture 141 7 Animating the Body: Growing and Developing Others 164 8 Fostering Collaboration 192 9 Discerning Direction: Leadership and Vision 219 10 The Spirituality of Christian Leadership 251 References and Further Reading 262 Index of Biblical References 269 Index of Names and Subjects 272
