Description: In his First Letter to the Corinthians Paul cites "administrators" as one of God's gifts to the Christian community (1 Cor 12:28). But many who serve in administrative service today have difficulty seeing how their everyday work is an expression of discipleship. This book, written by an experienced administrator and noted biblical scholar, shows how the various functions of institutional administration are deeply rooted in the Scriptures and are a genuine expression of our call to discipleship. Leadership, mission statements and planning, finances and fund raising, personnel issues, communications, and public relations--all of these seemingly "secular" activities serve to build up the Body of Christ and deserve to be recognized as authentic Christian ministry. To see administrative service as a biblically rooted gift can help those involved in this way of life to find deeper and more satisfying spiritual meaning in what they do.
Brief description: Donald Senior, CP, (1940-2022), was a professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He served for twenty-three years as president of CTU and was its chancellor. He was a frequent lecturer and speaker throughout the United States and abroad and served on a variety of boards and commissions, including the Pontifical Biblical Commission. He published extensively on biblical topics, with numerous books and articles for both scholarly and popular audiences.
Review Quotes: Fr. Donald Senior has given us a great gift in this easy-to-read overview of ecclesial administration. Guiding or steering a ship-kubernetes in Greek-is the word St. Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 12 to speak of administration. In this book, Fr. Senior provides a firm biblical foundation for the charism of `steering' the barque of Christ-flowing from the call of Jesus who laid out the vision of the servant leader. The Church on mission needs servants good at planning, coordination, and communication. With this book, Fr. Senior contributes to a ministry easily taken for granted.
Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, DD, Archbishop of Louisville, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops