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Thriving in the Second Chair: Ten Practices for Robust Ministry
Second chair leaders play a critical role in churches across the world. They serve in paid and unpaid capacities, and include laity, ordained clergy, bivocational, licensed local pastors and others who lead significant ministries, but who are not the lead or senior pastor.
Mike Bonem, author of Leading from the Second Chair , takes that important work to the next level, with Thriving in the Second Chair . Here, Bonem points readers beyond their external circumstances to the ways they can act and think differently. He highlights ten key factors that will help second chair leaders do more than just survive. These deep “springs” will enable them to thrive, so that their lives and ministries are fulfilling, vital, and sustainable.
The first three springs relate to the single most important professional relationship for any second chair leader – their relationship with the first chair. The next four look at some of the most common and essential aspects of the second
chair’s job. The final three springs are arguably the deepest and most important. They enable second chairs to thrive even if they’re struggling with the first seven. These three springs offer help for staying spiritually anchored, overcoming loneliness, and becoming re-energized.
Mike Bonem, author of Leading from the Second Chair , takes that important work to the next level, with Thriving in the Second Chair . Here, Bonem points readers beyond their external circumstances to the ways they can act and think differently. He highlights ten key factors that will help second chair leaders do more than just survive. These deep “springs” will enable them to thrive, so that their lives and ministries are fulfilling, vital, and sustainable.
The first three springs relate to the single most important professional relationship for any second chair leader – their relationship with the first chair. The next four look at some of the most common and essential aspects of the second
chair’s job. The final three springs are arguably the deepest and most important. They enable second chairs to thrive even if they’re struggling with the first seven. These three springs offer help for staying spiritually anchored, overcoming loneliness, and becoming re-energized.
176 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2016
20 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 15, 2018
If you are in a subordinate role in a church or ministry whose influence with others adds value through the entire organization then you should read this book. It is broken into three sections.
* The first three chapters cover your relationship with your leader; points of tension, trust and partnership.
* The middle four chapters addressed a variety of common responsibilities; planning for the future, managing a staff, developing process and systems, and interacting with governance bodies and committees.
* The final three chapters challenge you as a second chair leader on a personal level; change how you think about success, encouragement to grow in your dependence on God and how to overcome loneliness in your role as a second chair leader.
If you are a second chair leader, this book is a must read. http://amzn.to/2DzGsMu
* The first three chapters cover your relationship with your leader; points of tension, trust and partnership.
* The middle four chapters addressed a variety of common responsibilities; planning for the future, managing a staff, developing process and systems, and interacting with governance bodies and committees.
* The final three chapters challenge you as a second chair leader on a personal level; change how you think about success, encouragement to grow in your dependence on God and how to overcome loneliness in your role as a second chair leader.
If you are a second chair leader, this book is a must read. http://amzn.to/2DzGsMu
January 31, 2020
What a great resource for senior leaders in the role of second chair. I loved the real life examples and the practical insightful practices that can help any leader become more effective in their ministry. Such a helpful and timely book for me as I lead from the second chair.
December 18, 2017
This book is intended for those serving directly under the senior pastor, but it's also encouraging and instructive for those of us who serve directly under someone leading a particular ministry. "Faithful obedience is a much different standard for success than the one found in the world." -pg 118
"You may hear- or even say- 'just' to describe what you do. 'Just' an associate... Stop doing that. If you are being faithful to God's call in your life, then you don't need to add a 'just'... Second chair does not mean second class."-pg 122
"You may hear- or even say- 'just' to describe what you do. 'Just' an associate... Stop doing that. If you are being faithful to God's call in your life, then you don't need to add a 'just'... Second chair does not mean second class."-pg 122
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January 1, 2024Valuable. Appreciate the author’s call to depth of soul.
August 5, 2025
Gold, though, aggressively egalitarian.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews