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The Politics of Ministry: Navigating Power Dynamics and Negotiating Interests
We all need help navigating the politics of ministry.
"Politics" is often considered a dirty word. It brings to mind lies and manipulation, accusations and scandals. But at its most basic level, politics is simply the everyday activity of getting things done with other people: understanding their interests, recognizing the power dynamics at play, and learning how to negotiate relationships and institutions to achieve a common goal.
These realities are as true in ministry settings as anywhere else. In The Politics of Ministry, Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald Guthrie combine their long ministry experience with sociological research on the topic. Filled with real-life stories taken from a variety of ministry settings, this book sets out wise principles and practices that help us see more clearly the political dynamics at play in our churches and parachurch ministries.
All ministry is political. As servants of Christ's kingdom, we are called to navigate the politics of ministry with grace, wisdom, and charity. This book shows us how the gospel of Jesus changes the way we work with those around us toward our common goal.
"Politics" is often considered a dirty word. It brings to mind lies and manipulation, accusations and scandals. But at its most basic level, politics is simply the everyday activity of getting things done with other people: understanding their interests, recognizing the power dynamics at play, and learning how to negotiate relationships and institutions to achieve a common goal.
These realities are as true in ministry settings as anywhere else. In The Politics of Ministry, Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald Guthrie combine their long ministry experience with sociological research on the topic. Filled with real-life stories taken from a variety of ministry settings, this book sets out wise principles and practices that help us see more clearly the political dynamics at play in our churches and parachurch ministries.
All ministry is political. As servants of Christ's kingdom, we are called to navigate the politics of ministry with grace, wisdom, and charity. This book shows us how the gospel of Jesus changes the way we work with those around us toward our common goal.
216 pages, Paperback
Published January 8, 2019
34 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Bob Burns
2 books5 followersBob Burns (PhD, University of Georgia) is the dean of lifelong learning and associate professor of education ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He is also ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America and serves as associate pastor at Crossroads Presbyterian Fellowship. He is coauthor of Resilient Ministry with Tasha D. Chapman and Donald C. Guthrie.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 2, 2022
The book offers timeless principles to protect ministry from ruin and bring in gospel health.
June 15, 2020
Took me a while to get through it, and it would probably have been a 3 star but chapter 9 is well worth the price of admission (easily a 5 star chapter), so because of it alone, I’ll give it 4 stars. It’s too bad you can’t read that chapter without the context of the rest of the stories in the book. Definitely worth a read, it’s that each chapter seemed to drag on a little longer than necessary.
February 5, 2019
The word 'politics' has often been used pejoratively. From world leaders to local associations, people see politicians or the way of politics as a necessary evil. We may hate it but we cannot do without it. Even in non-profit organizations, there has been accusations of politics played by those jostling for power and position in the organization. Like a chess game, some individuals scheme their way into plum roles. Others play defensive to protect their place in the hierarchy. Churches are no exception. In some cases, the level of politicizing might even be most discouraging. This book helps us understand, navigate, and negotiate our way in ministry. The authors start off by saying that "politics is the art of getting things done with others." Thus, politics is not exactly a dirty word but a necessarily power dynamic to bring about positive change and progress for the organization. As politics is primarily about people, the authors anticipate four kinds of audiences:
The Employee or Volunteer;
The Hurt;
Leaders;
General Reader.
In setting the context, readers are introduced to three stories. The first story is about Brian, who was surprisingly given a more senior pastoral title. He would soon realize that he was part of an overall strategy to replace the senior pastor. The second story is about Jesus who began his ministry enthusiastically, only to be challenged continuously by religious leaders bent on overthrowing him. The third story is about Mia and Caroline, laypersons eager to serve in the Church. With wholehearted support from the pastor, they were able to start a powerful ministry of connecting with people in the Church as well as the neighbourhood. These form a small illustration of the world of politics. We learn about politics in its broader sense affect us all. They state the four shared activities in the politics of ministry:
Power: Perceptions of power dynamics;
Relationships/Interests: Understanding the different interests;
Negotiations: Explicit Negotiations;
Ethics: Ethical implications of actions, decisions, and resulting consequences.
All of these activities are inter-connected with one another. We get a good overview of the perspective of power; that power is not just limited those at the top of the hierarchy. There are other expressions of power too. There are formal and informal sources of power. A key issue is about the unequal power in ministry. In fact, there are never equal powers in any institution. We need wisdom in managing our own capacities to act. We need to learn how to steward our power resources. We need to be conscious of the impact of power on the people we work with. We need to recognize that for healthy power relationships, we must learn about the interests of others that we may use the power for the good of the body. The authors take a few tips from Andy Crouch's book, "Playing God" which is essentially about seeing power from a godly stewardship perspective.
On the recognition of interests and relationships, we are reminded about learning how to be peacemakers by recognizing the differences and diversity of the people we work with. For people fervent on their interests tend to see the world from their standpoint. If we are able to understand their points of view, we would be better equipped to build bridges of understanding. How people of various interests come together should be something to take note of. An important exercise is to diagnose these different interest areas. There is a chapter dedicated to the "Personal Interests" to show us how such interests could be the primary drive of people. We use four types of filters to discern our self-awareness and how they impact our relationships with others.
Negotiation is the key part of the politics of ministry. In order for organizations to have a fruitful way of working together, we need to streamline and improve our negotiation skills. Here again, the authors show us four unique actions about how people bring their own specific interests; promote their interests among people; using power they have to promote them; and how these affect the larger community. There is an interesting chapter about how people of lesser power and position negotiate with the higher ups.
The final part of the book deals with the ethical implications of the use of power and politics in ministry. The main point is that whatever we do must be to the glory of God. Negotiating from a position of weakness is something that helps us be more dependent on God rather than our own sources of power.
My Thoughts
This is a unique book that covers much more ground in the politics of ministry when compared with Andy Crouch's "Playing God," the latter focusing more on power play. I am glad that the work does not replace but builds upon the concepts and ideas about power. Not only that, we get a better idea of the process from personal to organization; and from the community to the society at large. It is helpful to know that Burns, Chapman, and Guthrie write to a wide variety of audience. This is simply because politics affect all members. No one is immune. After all, policies laid down will affect us one way or another. Rather than to avoid politics altogether, even though we cannot run away from it, we ought to exercise our creativity and wisdom to tackle it in a discerning and ethical way. This starts with understanding what politics is about; why it is necessary; the power players; and how the whole gamut of political negotiations play out in the organization. Instead of presuming that politics only happen in the world outside, we should not be afraid to honestly admit that politics also happen within the four walls of our churches and non-profit Christian agencies.
What I like about this book is that the authors are not afraid to deal with a topic often considered as taboo in many circles. They are spot on when referring to politics as the art of negotiating the settlement of interests. We are all called to do that from time to time, in different capacities. The authors give us a good spectrum of people on how they have been impacted by politics. The four cells of negotiation strategies give us a good overview of the complex relationships involved. Of specific interest is the fourth quadrant called "Cell 4" which is about people having unequal power and conflicting interests. Come to think of it, aren't we all in that cell for the most part? For there are always different sources and kinds of power. There are also multiple interests that conflict. That is because we are all different and we come with varying degrees of experience. That is why I think chapter 9 is the most eye-catching chapter of all as the authors try to help people in this cell 4 to negotiate productively and constructively. With guidelines and tips for people with more and less power, we get a book that helps us discern what strategies are best for any situation.
The trouble with many ministry and lay persons is that they are too shy to even talk about power and politics. As a result, whenever there is conflict, their two main options are to fight or take flight. The authors in this book nuance the approaches even further, giving us not just the passive or active options, but a few other thoughtful approaches like: delegating the decision making to others; direct the discussion in another way; letting others take command; and so on. Not only that, they help us understand how politics can be an opportunity to exercise true spiritual leadership. That is to lead by considering how our decisions, activities, programs, and various changes impact others and how we can serve their interests. This is a powerful resource for leadership and anyone in any form of ministry.
Bob Burns is Adjunct Professor at Covenant Theological Seminary as well as senior associate pastor at Central Presbyterian Church (St. Louis). Tasha D Chapman is Professor of Educational Ministries also at Covenant Theological Seminary. Donald C Guthrie is professor of educational ministries at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
The Employee or Volunteer;
The Hurt;
Leaders;
General Reader.
In setting the context, readers are introduced to three stories. The first story is about Brian, who was surprisingly given a more senior pastoral title. He would soon realize that he was part of an overall strategy to replace the senior pastor. The second story is about Jesus who began his ministry enthusiastically, only to be challenged continuously by religious leaders bent on overthrowing him. The third story is about Mia and Caroline, laypersons eager to serve in the Church. With wholehearted support from the pastor, they were able to start a powerful ministry of connecting with people in the Church as well as the neighbourhood. These form a small illustration of the world of politics. We learn about politics in its broader sense affect us all. They state the four shared activities in the politics of ministry:
Power: Perceptions of power dynamics;
Relationships/Interests: Understanding the different interests;
Negotiations: Explicit Negotiations;
Ethics: Ethical implications of actions, decisions, and resulting consequences.
All of these activities are inter-connected with one another. We get a good overview of the perspective of power; that power is not just limited those at the top of the hierarchy. There are other expressions of power too. There are formal and informal sources of power. A key issue is about the unequal power in ministry. In fact, there are never equal powers in any institution. We need wisdom in managing our own capacities to act. We need to learn how to steward our power resources. We need to be conscious of the impact of power on the people we work with. We need to recognize that for healthy power relationships, we must learn about the interests of others that we may use the power for the good of the body. The authors take a few tips from Andy Crouch's book, "Playing God" which is essentially about seeing power from a godly stewardship perspective.
On the recognition of interests and relationships, we are reminded about learning how to be peacemakers by recognizing the differences and diversity of the people we work with. For people fervent on their interests tend to see the world from their standpoint. If we are able to understand their points of view, we would be better equipped to build bridges of understanding. How people of various interests come together should be something to take note of. An important exercise is to diagnose these different interest areas. There is a chapter dedicated to the "Personal Interests" to show us how such interests could be the primary drive of people. We use four types of filters to discern our self-awareness and how they impact our relationships with others.
Negotiation is the key part of the politics of ministry. In order for organizations to have a fruitful way of working together, we need to streamline and improve our negotiation skills. Here again, the authors show us four unique actions about how people bring their own specific interests; promote their interests among people; using power they have to promote them; and how these affect the larger community. There is an interesting chapter about how people of lesser power and position negotiate with the higher ups.
The final part of the book deals with the ethical implications of the use of power and politics in ministry. The main point is that whatever we do must be to the glory of God. Negotiating from a position of weakness is something that helps us be more dependent on God rather than our own sources of power.
My Thoughts
This is a unique book that covers much more ground in the politics of ministry when compared with Andy Crouch's "Playing God," the latter focusing more on power play. I am glad that the work does not replace but builds upon the concepts and ideas about power. Not only that, we get a better idea of the process from personal to organization; and from the community to the society at large. It is helpful to know that Burns, Chapman, and Guthrie write to a wide variety of audience. This is simply because politics affect all members. No one is immune. After all, policies laid down will affect us one way or another. Rather than to avoid politics altogether, even though we cannot run away from it, we ought to exercise our creativity and wisdom to tackle it in a discerning and ethical way. This starts with understanding what politics is about; why it is necessary; the power players; and how the whole gamut of political negotiations play out in the organization. Instead of presuming that politics only happen in the world outside, we should not be afraid to honestly admit that politics also happen within the four walls of our churches and non-profit Christian agencies.
What I like about this book is that the authors are not afraid to deal with a topic often considered as taboo in many circles. They are spot on when referring to politics as the art of negotiating the settlement of interests. We are all called to do that from time to time, in different capacities. The authors give us a good spectrum of people on how they have been impacted by politics. The four cells of negotiation strategies give us a good overview of the complex relationships involved. Of specific interest is the fourth quadrant called "Cell 4" which is about people having unequal power and conflicting interests. Come to think of it, aren't we all in that cell for the most part? For there are always different sources and kinds of power. There are also multiple interests that conflict. That is because we are all different and we come with varying degrees of experience. That is why I think chapter 9 is the most eye-catching chapter of all as the authors try to help people in this cell 4 to negotiate productively and constructively. With guidelines and tips for people with more and less power, we get a book that helps us discern what strategies are best for any situation.
The trouble with many ministry and lay persons is that they are too shy to even talk about power and politics. As a result, whenever there is conflict, their two main options are to fight or take flight. The authors in this book nuance the approaches even further, giving us not just the passive or active options, but a few other thoughtful approaches like: delegating the decision making to others; direct the discussion in another way; letting others take command; and so on. Not only that, they help us understand how politics can be an opportunity to exercise true spiritual leadership. That is to lead by considering how our decisions, activities, programs, and various changes impact others and how we can serve their interests. This is a powerful resource for leadership and anyone in any form of ministry.
Bob Burns is Adjunct Professor at Covenant Theological Seminary as well as senior associate pastor at Central Presbyterian Church (St. Louis). Tasha D Chapman is Professor of Educational Ministries also at Covenant Theological Seminary. Donald C Guthrie is professor of educational ministries at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
August 9, 2023
This is such an important work. I think theological education, particularly those programs that seek to prepare ministers, needs to seriously consider included a whole course based on these concepts. I love deep theology as much as the next nerd, but in my experience, 99% of the church drama, church splits, and church abuse I've witnessed have been more a result of poor people skills than a lack of knowledge. I'm thankful that I did not go through the normal seminary to ministry model, but I find many that do are blindsided by the challenges of working with people. This book was massively helpful to put vocabulary to many of the nasty church conflict I've seen over the years. And I found the numerous case studies and process immensely informative.
Step 1: Identifying Stakeholders
The authors define a stakeholder as "those with vested interests" (166). In working with people, especially in church ministry, there are diverse people who each have different interests. People don't just act randomly. They function in an organization as a result of their interests, even if they struggle to articulate them.
Step 2: Analyze the Power Dynamics
All people have varying levels of "the capacity to act and to influence others as a result of socially structured relationships” (38). People can have much or little formal power (titles, roles, certifications) or relational power (trust with others in the organization). And most often, the power won't be equal in a given conflict.
Step 3: Expose Probable Interests of Stakeholders
This is difficult to do since many struggle to name their own interests. But it is necessary to get all possible interests on the table. These interests can be personal or even organizational.
Step 4: Negotiate
Once all these factors are in place, church leaders can enter the planning table in a way that is healthy. The authors provide 4 cells (on a 2x2 diagram) to show situations where power is equal or unequal, and interests are shared or conflicting. In each situation, parties have several options in front of them to help them respond. Some are more aggressive and other more passive, but we always have the opportunity to respond in light of our power and interests.
Step 5: Review Ethically
The ends do not justify the means when leading in Christ's church. Therefore, church leaders need to learn to lead as servants, to empower the marginalized, and to seek out the voices of all stakeholders. We must develop the discipline of reflecting while we act and reflecting after we act to grow as negotiators in ministry.
Step 1: Identifying Stakeholders
The authors define a stakeholder as "those with vested interests" (166). In working with people, especially in church ministry, there are diverse people who each have different interests. People don't just act randomly. They function in an organization as a result of their interests, even if they struggle to articulate them.
Step 2: Analyze the Power Dynamics
All people have varying levels of "the capacity to act and to influence others as a result of socially structured relationships” (38). People can have much or little formal power (titles, roles, certifications) or relational power (trust with others in the organization). And most often, the power won't be equal in a given conflict.
Step 3: Expose Probable Interests of Stakeholders
This is difficult to do since many struggle to name their own interests. But it is necessary to get all possible interests on the table. These interests can be personal or even organizational.
Step 4: Negotiate
Once all these factors are in place, church leaders can enter the planning table in a way that is healthy. The authors provide 4 cells (on a 2x2 diagram) to show situations where power is equal or unequal, and interests are shared or conflicting. In each situation, parties have several options in front of them to help them respond. Some are more aggressive and other more passive, but we always have the opportunity to respond in light of our power and interests.
Step 5: Review Ethically
The ends do not justify the means when leading in Christ's church. Therefore, church leaders need to learn to lead as servants, to empower the marginalized, and to seek out the voices of all stakeholders. We must develop the discipline of reflecting while we act and reflecting after we act to grow as negotiators in ministry.
August 21, 2019
A technical, but fruitful, exploration of power dynamics and interests in church ministry.
The authors explore four examples of ministry experiences and analyze the "politics" involved. They explain the use of the term "politics" and its existence in church ministry - the negotiation of various interests as they all attempt to leverage the influence and power they have to accomplish what they deem to be their purposes/the best way forward. The authors address the different kinds of interest which might exist, different forms of power and influence, how negotiation takes place, what kinds of moves various persons will make, and reach the point of establishing a four-square dynamic of levels of power and interaction, from working together without reference to power dynamics to unequal power being leveraged to impose a will from "on high."
The work is a helpful explication of power dynamics in ministry; to this end, anyone entering ministry would do well to read the book, since power dynamics will be far more involved in what you're doing than you would have imagined. Those with a few years in ministry will tend to find their experiences characterized and explained in this work.
Valuable for its purposes.
**--galley received as part of early review program
The authors explore four examples of ministry experiences and analyze the "politics" involved. They explain the use of the term "politics" and its existence in church ministry - the negotiation of various interests as they all attempt to leverage the influence and power they have to accomplish what they deem to be their purposes/the best way forward. The authors address the different kinds of interest which might exist, different forms of power and influence, how negotiation takes place, what kinds of moves various persons will make, and reach the point of establishing a four-square dynamic of levels of power and interaction, from working together without reference to power dynamics to unequal power being leveraged to impose a will from "on high."
The work is a helpful explication of power dynamics in ministry; to this end, anyone entering ministry would do well to read the book, since power dynamics will be far more involved in what you're doing than you would have imagined. Those with a few years in ministry will tend to find their experiences characterized and explained in this work.
Valuable for its purposes.
**--galley received as part of early review program
February 27, 2020
Great book, it should be essential reading for anyone going into ministry! How to negotiate, make decisions, understand power plays, see the importance of relationships and the importance of training up future leaders to enable them to navigate the difficulties of politics in ministry. This book is really helpful and helped me reflect on a number of topics and decisions.
Loved it!
Loved it!
October 8, 2024
Helpful…but the amount of points and sub points and sub sub points was a bit too much for me to handle.
March 16, 2019
Where was this book in my first 5 years of ministry? The title and subtitle say it all. Get it and read it. Due yourself a favor.
October 16, 2021
Having a healthy church organizational culture, and understanding the realities of “getting things done with others”, are crucial components of loving and building up the body of Christ.
Working myself in such a healthy church staff culture has caused me to fall deeply in love with my church and The Church - may it be so for all churches everywhere! This book will help.
Working myself in such a healthy church staff culture has caused me to fall deeply in love with my church and The Church - may it be so for all churches everywhere! This book will help.
July 21, 2021
Wherever people gather and form a community, there will be some sort of politics involved. The authors have taken the painstaking measure to explain what such politics will look like, specifically in the ecclesiological setting. The authors take a look at the matter of church politics through the lens of power, interests, negotiation, and ethics. In organizing the observation of church politics through such a lens, it helps the readers like me to carefully think through the past decisions and negotiations that I was involved in at church. This book can offer and provide a great guide to leaders, pastors, and elders, who wish to think through church politics in a more God-glorifying and God-honoring way.
A few of the chapters can be a bit difficult to get through, especially when the authors try to explain and put terms to concepts and ideas that should come quite commonsensical to a normal person, such as the chapters on power and interests. I thought those chapters didn't have much to offer except to describe and give names to terms and concepts. However, as you go on further, readers will see that the authors seek to build up on these terms.
I think the highlight of the book comes with the authors talking about negotiation and ethics of ministry politics. Recognizing power and interests in church politics may not be so hard, but the most difficult part is negotiating when the differences loom so large. It is always at the negotiations that churches often end up in a conflict and lead to division. Here, the authors carefully lay out different sorts of actions that one can take up in negotiations and how Christians ought to carefully, prayerfully, Scripturally go about doing politics with other fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
The case studies that the authors present help to make a technical book like this to be set on a more practical level. This is a book that can be read at a seminary for practical/pastoral theology to equip the seminarians that are planning to go into ministry, but it is also at an entry level with plenty of practical and real-life case studies, where lay elders and leaders at a church can benefit by reading the book. I would recommend that a church leadership committee, elder board/session, parachurch leadership, etc. get the book together, read through it, answer the questions that each chapters provide, and I am sure that the church/parachurch will ultimately benefit from doing so.
A few of the chapters can be a bit difficult to get through, especially when the authors try to explain and put terms to concepts and ideas that should come quite commonsensical to a normal person, such as the chapters on power and interests. I thought those chapters didn't have much to offer except to describe and give names to terms and concepts. However, as you go on further, readers will see that the authors seek to build up on these terms.
I think the highlight of the book comes with the authors talking about negotiation and ethics of ministry politics. Recognizing power and interests in church politics may not be so hard, but the most difficult part is negotiating when the differences loom so large. It is always at the negotiations that churches often end up in a conflict and lead to division. Here, the authors carefully lay out different sorts of actions that one can take up in negotiations and how Christians ought to carefully, prayerfully, Scripturally go about doing politics with other fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
The case studies that the authors present help to make a technical book like this to be set on a more practical level. This is a book that can be read at a seminary for practical/pastoral theology to equip the seminarians that are planning to go into ministry, but it is also at an entry level with plenty of practical and real-life case studies, where lay elders and leaders at a church can benefit by reading the book. I would recommend that a church leadership committee, elder board/session, parachurch leadership, etc. get the book together, read through it, answer the questions that each chapters provide, and I am sure that the church/parachurch will ultimately benefit from doing so.
March 23, 2020
I was inspired to revisit and finish this book after my pastor said one of the main takeaways he hopes residents get from the program is that they understand that ministry is inescapably political. This is an insightful book that I will likely revisit many times over the course of my ministry. Sidenote - this book is not just helpful for ministry, but also marriage, work, and general relationships. The authors define politics as "the art of getting things done with others." They go into detail about the dynamics between power, interests, negotiation, and ethics in ministry and how it is important to understand all four components to navigate any situation. They also expose how young pastors are often idealistically naive in their approach to ministry and encourage readers to take a more realistic approach. The provided frameworks are helpful for me now both as an observer of ministry and someone active in ministry. It's interesting to think about the contrast in leadership and political skill needed in the different churches I've been a part of. I wonder how much I've subconsciously learned about ministry politics from serving and being invested in a trilingual ethnic church (CGBC). On the other hand, I've had the chance to observe healthy leadership at Hinson. Lots of food for thought here.
March 5, 2020
As a 30 year old seminary graduate seeking his first ministerial position, this book's title caught my eye. Indeed, we have no idea what to expect when we enter into the Lord's service and often have an unrealistic view of what to expect relationally in minstry. I found the book to be a tremendously insightful read, and possibly it saved this relatively naive guy alot of pain and heartache.
The principles inside would allow us to ask questions about the dynamics of prospective chruches that we apply to, so that we can adjusting our expectations and avoid making the mistake of viewing situations only from our (often less powerful or powerless) perspective. The "questions to ponder" after each segment is extremely helpful for introspection, understanding and reflection.
A minor gripe would be that the real-life examples used to illustrate principles appear to be theoretical. This is my first book on this topic, and I will come back to update this review to compare it against others in this genre. But as it stands alone. I think it is deserving of 4 stars.
The principles inside would allow us to ask questions about the dynamics of prospective chruches that we apply to, so that we can adjusting our expectations and avoid making the mistake of viewing situations only from our (often less powerful or powerless) perspective. The "questions to ponder" after each segment is extremely helpful for introspection, understanding and reflection.
A minor gripe would be that the real-life examples used to illustrate principles appear to be theoretical. This is my first book on this topic, and I will come back to update this review to compare it against others in this genre. But as it stands alone. I think it is deserving of 4 stars.
September 13, 2023
I didn't want to read this book. The title just felt dirty, jaded, and manipulative. But the algorithm kept putting it in front of me and so I finally caved.
I'm so glad I did.
The book is dry, but it's a great treatment of how to navigate the challenges raised by differing interests and power structures in ministry and the conflicts that can arise as a result. The authors offer practical tools and conceptual maps for engaging and understanding conflict.
My assumption from the title was that this book would be a utilitarian guidebook to ministry. Something that, perhaps, would encourage the sorts of bad behavior we associate with "politics." On the contrary, however, I think this book offers the kinds of tools that can help pastors (or anyone really) develop greater empathy and, along with that, more effective responses to conflict.
I'm so glad I did.
The book is dry, but it's a great treatment of how to navigate the challenges raised by differing interests and power structures in ministry and the conflicts that can arise as a result. The authors offer practical tools and conceptual maps for engaging and understanding conflict.
My assumption from the title was that this book would be a utilitarian guidebook to ministry. Something that, perhaps, would encourage the sorts of bad behavior we associate with "politics." On the contrary, however, I think this book offers the kinds of tools that can help pastors (or anyone really) develop greater empathy and, along with that, more effective responses to conflict.
December 5, 2019
This is a really simple book over the politics of ministry. I have to be honest it wasn’t my favorite. He often quotes Andy Crouch’s book “Playing God” Which I would highly recommend over this book. I think this book is helpful for giving definitions and categories about how politics happens. Most of the book is hard to get through except for the last two chapters, I feel like those are the most helpful of the entire book.
November 28, 2019
A helpful guide to handling the various power dynamics that arise in a variety of ministry contexts. The leadership of Christ was a helpful reminder as one seeks to bring change: for “he calls us to pursue [a] leadership that is radical in its servant-oriented, grace-based, and kingdom-focused manner.”
June 12, 2021
Excellent. Great to listen to the whole thing in a day making mental notes to go back and give further attention to the hard copy.
One doesn’t read this book and walk away skilled. One must walk away noting which skills need to be enhanced and honed, and what tools better equip you to practice those skills.
One doesn’t read this book and walk away skilled. One must walk away noting which skills need to be enhanced and honed, and what tools better equip you to practice those skills.
May 26, 2024
Navigating all the different interests and power dynamics present in the church can be one of the most difficult and confusing things in ministry. This book provides clear and helpful insight about how to lead well in the midst of that complexity. Can be a bit dry at times, but the case studies and reflection questions help liven it up and connect the concepts to your own life/ministry.
December 31, 2019
Wish this book had been published years earlier than it was. And wish I had read it then, too. A very simple model, yet one that helps to penetrate the deep complexity of relationships in a ministry setting.
February 7, 2020
This is a really excellent and clear description of the nature of power and politics in church ministry. Essential reading for all in church leadership, I reckon.
October 21, 2021
Not a terribly interesting or vibrant read but the content is solid and helpful. Gives a few great tools and frameworks to think through.
August 15, 2022
Listened to for a seminary class. Some good stuff.
August 31, 2023
Practical. Simple. Maybe too simple.
December 20, 2023
Cannot recommend this book more. Very helpful! Every person needs to read it whether you are a CEO of a business, pastor of a church, employee, lay person, etc. every person!
October 4, 2024
5.0 // This isn’t the first or only book people in ministry should pick up, but it is an essential read nonetheless. Practical, eye-opening, and empowering.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews