Description:
At its most basic level, politics is simply the everyday activity of getting things done with other people. Filled with real-life stories, this book from Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald Guthrie combines their long ministry experiencewith sociological research, setting out wise principles and practices that help us see more clearly the political dynamics at play in our churches and parachurch ministries.
Brief description:
Bob Burns (PhD, University of Georgia) is the pastor of spiritual formation at Church of the Good Shepherd in Durham, North Carolina. He was previously dean of lifelong learning and associate professor of education ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America. He is coauthor of Resilient Ministry with Tasha D. Chapman and Donald C. Guthrie.
Review Quotes:
"Politics? Ministry? The two words on the surface appear incongruous, even disconcerting. Yet more often than we may know, the derail-er of a pastor or ministry leader is not their own moral failing or lack of competence, but rather the invisible yet powerful systems at work in the context they have entered. These systems are emotional and relational in nature, and unless the leader has been equipped to look for them and engage them appropriately, they may never be effective in their role regardless of intelligence or theological prowess. The resources and tools provided in this important book will help a ministry leader (or any leader) navigate contextual waters that may seem calm on the surface but often have a powerful undertow. An integration of systems thinking, interpersonal relational health, and complexity science, The Politics of Ministry is a practical handbook for any ministry leader seeking to build dynamic, healthy organizational cultures and not lose their own sanity in the process."
--Lisa Pratt Slayton, CEO, Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation