Understanding 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 postgraduate-level qualifications in Christian leadership as well as those in other less formal leadership training contexts.
Foreword by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Understanding Christian Leadership
Description
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 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
Author Description
Ian Parkinson is a Leadership Specialist at CPAS. A visiting lecturer at a large number of Anglican TEIs across Britain and Ireland he designs and delivers modules at 8 institutions and teaches as part of wider leadership courses at a further 5. He is a former New Wine Regional Director.
Justin Welby is the Archbishop of Canterbury