When Leadership and Spiritual Direction Meet
Stories and Reflections for Congregational Life
By (author) Gil W. Stafford Foreword by Tex Sample
Publication date:
12 June 2014Length of book:
232 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781566997560
Modern church leaders need to cultivate innovative and creative leadership skills, as they navigate today’s post-Christian world, and as their congregations look to them for insight and guidance. Gil Stafford takes a fresh look at this vital need, drawing upon his experience as a college coach, university president, and parish priest, and interweaving them with ancient spiritual practices found within the discipline of spiritual direction. Personal anecdotes help the reader envision their own life-transforming pilgrimage, as they develop into the type of adaptive leader that churches need in today’s rapidly changing world.
This book challenges church leaders to foster sacred safe space, holy listening, silence, and wisdom storytelling, in order to create a discerning church community. These techniques of spiritual direction can be applied to every aspect of the church, from small group studies to conducting parish business. Gradually the leader will be able to delegate some of his responsibilities to the congregation, liberating them to be leaders, and rescuing him from trying to be all things to all people.
This book challenges church leaders to foster sacred safe space, holy listening, silence, and wisdom storytelling, in order to create a discerning church community. These techniques of spiritual direction can be applied to every aspect of the church, from small group studies to conducting parish business. Gradually the leader will be able to delegate some of his responsibilities to the congregation, liberating them to be leaders, and rescuing him from trying to be all things to all people.
At last! A book about church leadership which is not derived from a business model, but which draws on an explicitly religious one: spiritual direction. This book is a gift for pastors and for congregations that will benefit from wise, creative pastoral leadership informed by it.