Leading God's People: Wisdom from the Early Church for Today

by Christopher A. Beeley

Using the wisdom of the past to address the challenges of the present, Christopher Beeley's Leading God's People presents key principles of church leadership as they were taught by great pastor-theologians of the early church, including Gregory of Nazianzus, Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom, and Gregory the Great.

Genres: Leadership, Theology

161 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2012

Reviews

[Jonathon Henry Rusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an actually useful church leadership book. It's amazing to think that the church fathers might have known a thing or two about leading a church right?

[Hayden Lukas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of great stuff in here. Some chapters don't have the practical application Beeley is looking to give, but the first 3 chapters are dynamite. It's not simply another book on pastoral leadership. It's a reflection on the faith and how to live it out as God's people, especially focusing on the personal holiness of the pastor and his flock. That's the dream.

[Andrew Canavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by how much helpful guidance there was in this book on pastoral leadership drawing from the ancient church. There is much to learn from these sources and any pastor from any tradition will benefit from this helpful introduction. The only drawback was a dodgy comment or two about the inspiration of Scripture. But the benefits more than outweigh the drawbacks!

[Andy Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple premise, that the teaching of the early church fathers, especially Gregory of Nazianzus and Augustine, has much to inform us about church leadership today, is eloquently presented. At times, the expression is in a convoluted academic style that requires some diligence to crack apart.

[Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Beeley's book after being assigned to read two very bad books on Leadership. I was very frustrated because I thought there actually was a place for Christian Leadership discussions but that all I was being given were secular (basically pagan) business texts that were poorly written, unedited, and glorified a self-actualization that is country to the Good News of Jesus Christ. By that, I mean, they present you as your own savior and salvation is found in being CEO of a large firm or some comparable analogue.

Out of this frustration, I reached out to an old professor and he recommended Leading God's People. Compared to those prior texts, I would rate it a five. It was lucidly written and it presented a Unique perspective of how Christians leaders have existed for millennia (he focuses heavily on the Cappadocians).

So in short, I find this book extraordinarily helpful if it is replacing another text. On its own, though, I found in less than satisfying. Beeley is a professor at Yale and an Episcopal Priest, and so the ideal christian leader ended up looking like a theology professor/Episcopal Priest. A lot of that is good and interesting stuff. I was encouraged in some ways, but what I found troubling was Beeley's uncritical appropriation of the secular discourse on leadership. He defines Christian leadership with a tautology of sorts (since there are leaders in church's Christian leadership is important).

All that being said, it is a quick read and it was affirmative of a lot of my current practices, which is nice.

As far as edifying and inspiring works on Christian leadership, the first text I would recommend is George Herbert's A Country Parson. His description is an ideal and very 17th century, but it holds up something to strive towards and breaks down specific practices of that life of faith.

[Sagely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to a great pastor friend for purchasing this book for me! It has been solace in a time of much pastoral uncertainty. Thank you!

Christopher Beeley's Leading God's People isn't quite like any other pastoral leadership book I've encountered. It's not leadership strategies borrowed from management schools. It's not insights on the psychology of leadership. It's not even a "biblical" study of leadership.

Instead, LGP turns to some of the church's early and great pastors. Beeley, whose field is primarily classical Christianity, collects and collates the counsel from some of Christianity's first voices on pastoral leadership: Gregory Nazianzen, Ambrose, Augustine, John Chrysostom, John Cassian, and Gregory the Great. (Amma Syncletica also often makes appearances.) LGP outlines perspectives from the mid-4th to late 6th centuries to guide our practice of pastoral leadership today.

For me personally, LGP challenges me to wrestle with pastoral authority. In a Mennonite culture that often deemphasizes hierarchy and disowns power, what does it mean for me to be entrusted and empowered as shepherd of this congregation? Good questions.

Beeley follows the lead of these early Christian leaders. One by one, LGP takes up topics of authority and call, humility and holiness, sensitivity and contextualization, Scripture reading and preaching and prayer.

If I have one wish for LGP, it would be for Beeley to incorporate a bit more of a narrative structure. Even maintaining a topical ordering, what's the story of how counsel on holiness or humility or contextualization developed from one leader, one century to another? I love a good story.

This is definitely a book I'll reread. I'd love to do a pastor-study group on it. It would offer a lot to group discussion.

Thanks again!