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Title: Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What
ISBN: 1566993288
Author:
Peter L. Steinke
Publicate Date: 2006-11-17
Publish: 2006-11-17
List Price: $18.00
Average Customer Rating: 5.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $14.25
Amazon Merchant Price: $18.00
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times
In his latest book Pete Steinke addresses the growing concern in the church of chronic anxiety. He helps the reader to understand what is happening in this anxious systems and how you should seek to respond to it by remaining calm and self-differentiated. It is difficult, but necessary, to take a stand in the midst of the anxious system while remaining focused and calm. This book is highly recommended for all who are struggling in chronically anxious church systems.
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2: An Introduction to Leadership in Anxious Congregations
Peter Steinke, ELCA pastor, author, scholar, and church consultant is currently the leading researcher in Bowen Family Systems theory. This latest book, "Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times," is written for pastors and other congregational leaders with the hope that the information contained with both enlighten and embolden them (xi). The brief book (175 pages) is divided into three sections: "The Leader's Presence," "The Leader's Functioning," and "The Leader's Challenges."
While this present book provides little new information per se on applying the Bowen Theory to religious leadership, the information is presented in an interesting, enlightening way. Steinke's style of writing is simple without being simplistic. He breaks information down into small, easily-digestible parts...yet never comes across as "talking down" to the reader.
Bowen Theory places a great deal of emphasis on strong, independent-minded-yet-connected leaders. The trick (according to Rev. Rick Foss in the foreword) is to practice excellent leadership consistently. Steinke draws upon his vast experience as a church consultant and researcher to provide examples of a leader's effect on a congregation (positive and negative), pitfalls, and the complex emotional process that can help or hinder leadership.
This book would be ideal for congregational leaders (ordained, contracted, or elected) as both a work of inspiration and a launching point for more research in the leadership genre. Indeed, this book's main contribution is that it provides and easy entry-point into the Family Systems Theory.
While it is recommended for those without much experience in Bowen Theory, those who have digested the works of Ed Friedman may not find much new...even through they might find much to inspire.
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3: Courageous Wisdom
As a veteran pastor I know few books like this one which help a man think through his positions and work through the emotional processes of leading a group. This work aims beyond structural programming at the invisible emotional-spiritual dimensions of leading like Joshua, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." I find this book insightful, challenging and encouraging for this purpose. I am sure that I will reread this one often.
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4: Highly recommended for lay leaders
I used this book with a group of Baptist deacons in a one-day retreat. Steinke communicates clearly basic Bowen theory concepts so that laypersons can apply them to the congregation as an emotional system. This resource gave us fresh ways of looking at problems in our 100 year old church. I only wish every member could read it! I'm trying to find ways to use this material--and a companion DVD now available--with other groups within the church. It helps everyone talk about the elephant in the room with a new vocabulary.
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5: It's about integrity and courage.
Steinke's book saved my life and probably that of the church I pastor. His analysis of leading through crisis was invaluable to me as I found the need to confront a wayward but dynamic staff member and eventually persuade the personnel committee to be the leaders they really want to be. After 3 1/2 years of ignoring others' attempts to hold her accountable, change is finally accomplished. I knew what had to be done, but Steinke's wonderful analysis of such situations made it clearer and more defensible. It's not over yet, but the anxiety has been removed for the most part, and now we have a chance to be the Church of Jesus Christ, a church of honesty and integrity.
Will also be helpful to leaders in all kinds of organizations.
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