Review: The Politics of Ministry

IVP Praxis, 2019. 216 pp.

Ministry is a political activity. This is the bold claim set forth by Bob Burns, Tasha D. Chapman, and Donald C. Guthrie in their new book, The Politics of Ministry: Navigating Power Dynamics and Negotiating Interests (IVP Praxis, 2019). In a world where politics is associated with corruption, power moves, and snaky behavior, the authors maintain that ministry involves politics because it meets its most basic definition: working with others to achieve interests. Thus, the question is not whether ministry should be political but how politics can be used in a God-honoring way.

Moving beyond a guide to surviving church politics, this book stands at the intersection of corporate business and leadership theory and pastoral theology. It begins with three real-life stories that illustrate the politics of ministry. Then, the authors describe the dynamics and power of politics, types of interests, negotiation, and the ethics of ministerial politics. With practical insights and a charitable tone, Burns, Chapman, and Guthrie establish a strong case for embracing and redeeming the politics of ministry.

This book was filled with useful, practical insights on political leadership in ministry. The chapters were manageable and substantive. The personal stories made reading this book very interesting and imaginative. However, the design of the book itself could use some improvement. The margins are very narrow, and the pull quotes, while a helpful asset, are visually unappealing, with a cluttered design. These, unfortunately, detract from carrying the book's powerful message.

Rather than ignoring the existence of ministry's political nature, the authors desire that readers, as servants of Christ's Church, learn to navigate these political realities as they take part in God's redemptive work. To them, the issue is not having interests; it is competing for individual interests and agendas when the true pursuit should be for God's interests. This book is an invaluable resource for pastors, elders, lay leaders, seminarians, and anyone who is and will be involved in the politics of ministry.

(A complimentary review copy was given in exchange for an honest review.)

Comments

Product Review: LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle

Overview When adventure strikes, the right bag makes all the difference. Too often, however, luggage bags are either large, ponderous suitcases or small, flimsy duffle bags. I have traveled to Central and South America multiple times with terribly large suitcases. It added extra complication to my trip—especially lugging the bag up the steps! This is the problem which LL Bean seeks to rectify in the LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. With a 137-liter capacity, this duffel is able to hold the items of the biggest pack-rat while being easy to transport. It features a telescoping handle, smooth-gliding wheels, and cinch straps. Specifications Capacity: Approx. 8,350 cu. in., 137 L. Weight: 9 lb. 3 oz. Dimensions: 17"H x 34"W x 15"D. Highlights This bag is sturdy. Not only is it capable of holding many items, but it is incredibly durable. It has a reinforced nylon bottom and a thick plastic frame so that the bag does not sag or become weak.

Review: Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age

The advancements of technology and social media are changing what it means to be human, yet religious studies rarely tend to intersect with technological and neurological sciences. In Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age: The Future is Now (Lexington Books, 2018), Kirk A. Bingaman ventures into how technology informs spiritual care. Himself a professor of pastoral care, Bingaman claims that humans are becoming techno sapiens. Rather than retreating from technology, Bingaman sees the unavoidable development of technology as part of God's ongoing work of "doing a new thing." Consequently, he sees positive means for artificial intelligence that can be embraced in pastoral care. For Bingaman, pastoral and spiritual care in a digital age requires preserving humanity through contemplative spiritual practices, preventing technology from overtaking human identity. Bingaman's book is important for many reasons. First, he asserts that technological change is unav

Review: The Four Pages of the Sermon, Revised and Updated

Paul Scott Wilson's celebrated preaching text, The Four Pages of the Sermon (Abingdon, 2018) is now available in a revised and updated edition, with additions that reflect advancements in homiletical scholarship and cultural dynamics. First published in 1999, Wilson challenged the New Homiletic movement to emphasize God's gracious activity within the text and to let it saturate the entirety of the sermon—not to use the Gospel as a tantalizing treat at the end of a well-crafted plot. Today, this text stands as one of the most respected and accessible works for preachers at all stages in their ministry. Wilson argues that there are four main moves, or "pages," in a sermon: the problem in the text, the problem in the world, the grace in the text, and the grace in the world. Like Eugene Lowry's "homiletical plot," Wilson's sermon upsets the listener by exposing a human need and then moves toward resolution through the power of the Gospel. These page

Leitourgia

Search This Blog