Everyone Leads: How to Revitalize the Catholic Church

by Chris Lowney

The Catholic Church is suffering its worst decline in five centuries a precipitous slide that will turn catastrophic unless reversed by fundamental changes in strategy, culture, and leadership style. Even the inspiring leadership of Pope Francis will not reverse the slide without a strategy for action, from the grassroots through the hierarchy. Chris Lowney, a former Jesuit seminarian and business executive who now chairs one of the world s largest Catholic ministries, outlines not only the challenges but also maps the path forward in Engage and Serve. After a bracing review of the church s global struggles from clergy shortages to scandals Lowney draws on two decades of change-management experience to propose a strategy of five transformational principles. Engage, transform, and serve with accountability and creativity: these five words can catalyze profound change in every parish, in the way clergy are evaluated, in how bishops think, and in the roles lay men and women play in leading the church. Filled with real life examples, Engage and Serve outlines strategies that anyone can employ from the pews to the pulpit to strengthen the church. As a former business executive who lectures globally about leadership, Lowney speaks credibly about the institution s challenges and potential. And, as chair of one of Catholicism s largest hospital systems, he writes from within as a Catholic who loves his church and is committed to seeing it flourish."

Genres: Catholic, Religion

200 pages, Hardcover

Published April 4, 2017

About the author

Chris Lowney chairs the board of Catholic Health Initiatives, one of the nation’s largest healthcare/hospital systems with some $ 19 billion in assets. He is a one-time Jesuit seminarian who later served as a Managing Director of J.P. Morgan & Co in New York, Tokyo, Singapore and London until leaving the firm in 2001. He is a popular keynote speaker who has lectured in more than two-dozen countries on on leadership, business ethics, decision-making and other topics.

He is the author of four books. Heroic Leadership, a # 1 ranked bestseller of the CBPA, was named a finalist for a 2003 Book of the Year Award from ForeWord magazine, has been translated into eleven languages, and was named to the Commandant of the Marine Corps recommending reading list. He is also author of Heroic Living, and A Vanished World– Chris was featured in the PBS-aired documentary, “Cities of Light,” which echoed many of that book’s key themes. His latest work, Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads, has been called, “an invaluable gift,” and “a book for the ages.”

He served as volunteer founding president of Jesuit Commons, an innovative collaboration which offers online university education in refugee camps in Africa and elsewhere. He conceived and co-founded Contemplative Leaders in Action, an emerging leader formation program now active in a half-dozen cities. He founded Pilgrimage for Our Children’s Future, which funds education and healthcare projects in the developing world: to learn about or support that organization, visit www.pocf.org.

He is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University, where he also received his M.A. He is holder of five honorary Doctoral degrees.

Reviews

[Tony Desantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a good book for understanding the state of the church from a perspective on someone staying in the church.

[Paul Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sound, realistic advice that every Catholic Church should follow, but often does not, because they refuse to modernize and evolve.

[Glenn Hymel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lead from where you stand - an inciteful look at people of faith don't need to be led so much as to lead from wherever they are.