Pastoral Leadership: For the Care of Souls

by Harold L. Senkbeil, Lucas V. Woodford

Christ's sheep need shepherding. That's where you come in. With more than 60 years of ministry between them, Harold Senkbeil and Lucas Woodford have come to understand that everything in ministry--even administration, leadership, and planning--revolves around the ancient tradition of the care of souls. Pastors are entrusted with the care of a flock by the Good Shepherd and are called to be faithful to this task. But pastoring seems to be getting more and more difficult. Based on a sound theological framework, Senkbeil and Woodford present a set of practical tools for church leadership and strategy. Calling on their vast experience, they encourage pastors to protect, guide, and feed their flock as Jesus would, bridging the eternal wisdom of the word of God with the everyday practicality of hands-on leadership. Originally published as Church Leadership & Strategy, this revision includes a new chapter and litany.

Genres: Leadership, Church, Theology

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2021

About the author

Rev. Dr. Harold L. Senkbeil (b. 1945) served as a parish pastor in the LCMS for 32 years, most recently at Elm Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elm Grove, Wisconsin (1987-2002), and as Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2001 he was recognized by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, in the bestowing of the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. Dr. Senkbeil is a 1988 recipient of the Servus Ecclesiae Christi Award. Since July 2008, he has served as both Adjunct Professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, as well as Executive Director with DOXOLOGY: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel.

Reviews

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not often that reading a book on pastoral leadership feels like being pastored. But then again, Harold L. Senkbeil is not the kind of author one might imagine writing a typical pastoral leadership book. Pastoral Leadership for the Care of Souls is refreshingly different from typical leadership books, in that it keeps the “pastoral” in pastoral leadership, and not merely by way of lip-service. Co-written with one of his younger brothers in the faith, Lucas V. Woodford is remarkably readable and edifying. It includes many sections on very practical leadership best practices and organizational strategies, a robust chapter canvasing various resources, and many practical firsthand stories on leadership done well (and not so well)—but all of these insights (i.e., the ones you’re used to looking for in a pastoral leadership book) are hidden. One must slowly wade through refreshing pastoral waters to get them—it is slow going, and very rewarding.

Pastoral Leadership for the Care of Souls begins with an introductory chapter by Woodford, in which he recounts his own experience of pastoral leadership done poorly, and the redemptive experience of being pastored back into pastoral leadership. He follows this up with a second chapter on “The Many Sides of Leadership,” in which he works carefully to wed the practical with the philosophical. The third chapter is by Senkbeil, and it brings out the careful attention to a shepherd’s heart in leading—what many of us have come to expect and appreciate about Senkbeil. He follows this up with a chapter on “Pastoral Depletion Syndrome,” which canvases the story that far too many of us are familiar with (either firsthand, or as witness)—the unhealthy spiral of confusion, to desperation, to capitulation. It’s painful to experience and painful to read about, and this chapter therefore serves as a potent cautionary tale of sorts. But Senkbeil is a good pastor, which means he doesn’t leave us hopeless. He is an “errand boy for Jesus,” after all, and Jesus never intends to leave us hopeless. Senkbeil shares the encouraging fact that he has been there to see many a pastor who have gone down this dangerous, soul-killing trajectory, restored back to Christ, and in some cases, back to ministry. Here he offers a phrase that might be the most touching and stirring description of pastoral ministry I have ever heard, “Like you in your pastoral calling, I simply was Christ’s ear to hear their pain and then his mouth to speak his word, to pray his healing, to bestow his blessing” (pg. 119). They conclude their book with a shared chapter on how to raise up and lead leaders in the church, and a thorough list of resources with commentary.

Pastoral Leadership for the Care of Souls is unlike any book on pastoral leadership I have read, and it is by far the best. I recommend it to any and all pastors.

*Lexham Press was kind enough to give me a copy of this book in exchange for a review, but I was not asked to leave a positive review.

[Jonah Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. 4/5 because it was just a bit redundant/repetitive at times. For a book like this, it isn’t such a bad thing.

[Terence Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Review:
* The Care of Souls by Howard L. Senkbeil
* Pastoral Leadership by Howard L. Senkbeil and Lucas V. Woodford

I recommend both books to weary pastors, young pastors, pastors who are going to quit, pastors who are just starting. Both Senkbeil and Woodford tell it like it is. In a different era, what they both did here can be akin to airing out the church’s dirty laundry in public. So much is revealed.

In a chapter they both co-authored, they present their credentials and convictions:

The two of us have been involved in the full gamut of church leadership. We’ve been in the trenches of ministry right alongside other pastors. Each of us have counseled, mentored, and guided pastors one-on-one through the whole range of pastoral experiences—from the edge of disaster to exhilarating success. More pointedly, we’ve pastored these pastors. We have the same theology and share lots of convictions when it comes to ministry, but this one conviction rises to the very top: every pastor needs a pastor.

One tip I’ll give you here is you should read the Care of Souls book first before reading any of the other books in the Lexham Ministry Guide. Now I’m sure that those books can be read standalone but you will get so much more out of them if you read The Care of Souls first. Trust me on this.

With that tip, I have one warning for you: The Lutheran is very strong in these books. The way the books speak of the sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) is very different from the way I as a Baptist understand them.

Another example: Baptismal Therapy. I’m not confident that I fully understand what Senkbeil means when he speaks of Baptismal Therapy. This is something that Senkbeil speaks often and strongly. If Baptismal Therapy means getting Christians to see Romans 6 at work in their lives, then I agree with him and I was doing something like that, but I just didn’t understand it in those terms. But if Senkbeil’s Baptismal Therapy means something else the way the Lord’s Supper means something else to the Lutherans, then I see it as a Baptist would see it, not as he means it.

The point I’m making is both books are very Lutheran which is perfect for Lutherans because even if you disagree, you know what you are disagreeing with. For those of us, like myself, who are not familiar with Lutheran theology, even when I agree, I’m not entirely sure I know what I am agreeing with. All this means is I need to make a Lutheran friend.

Full 3,448 word review: https://readingandreaders.com/podcast...

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing this little book, I realized that I’ll need to go back through it again & make some serious notations. It could be a helpful book to me & those that I serve as a pastor. The chapter on pastoral depletion was eye opening, convicting, & came as a good warning to me.

There is a fairly heavy dose of Lutheran concentration on the “sacraments” which I would view differently. Even so, this was a helpful look at leadership as a pastor.

Much of what I’ve read in the past equates leading a church to leading or managing a business. The two are not the same & these authors readily recognize this and deal with things in a correct ideology.

Like I said, I’ll be skimming through this again soon.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and clear. The afterword by Brian Croft is something I’d send to guys on its own.

[Andrew Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the antivenom to so many leadership and "vision" books out there for pastors. It's simple, clear, and direct. Yes, pastors need to provide leadership in their churches. Learn how to run a meeting, examine a budget, etc. But no, that leadership does not look like what many of the books suggest. Specifically, because I had led my congregation through the strategic planning process using Malphurs' Advanced Strategic Planning, I thought I should take a look at his book on vision, Developing a Vision for Ministry. The ideas that could be put in service to the congregation in strategic planning weren't present in the vision book. Woodford and Senkbeil stress the importance of leadership in Christians churches not from a purely organization standpoint but from the purpose of being able to to care more capably for the people under a pastor's care.

The antivenom is the fourth chapter: Pastoral Depletion Syndrome. I can't think of a "leadership" book I've read, apart from this one, where the solution wasn't for the pastor to just work a little harder this way or that way. Speaking as a pastor, when things aren't going the way we would like them to go, (conflict, change, staffing or personnel challenges, giving, etc.) there always seems to be some "guru" out there implying that the pastor hasn't used the latest and greatest idea and it's his fault.

When one reads this book in conjunction with Senkbeil's fuller work, The Care of Souls, one comes away with a far less technocratic/managerial view of pastoral leadership and more of a view that pastoral leadership is fundamentally different categorically than management in any other context. It is organic, likened unto a farmer caring for livestock or raising crops with the land he has. (Actually, that may be a clue that something is fundamentally wrong with business management, too, but that's a different conversation.) It takes time, far, far more time, than you think to lead people in churches and every pastoral context (aka church) is different. Woodford's reflections on this point, the difference between his big, suburban upper middle class church and his second rural working class church, are profound.

We can't treat people like widgets seeking outcomes. It's what's wrong with health care in this country and it's what's wrong with churches too. The managerial model is alive and well, even among bishops and or denominational overseers of ministries. And they expect results. They don't even realize that they are part of the problem. Lord, until You return, give pastors more conversations with pastors like Senkbeil and Woodford.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book. My interest was in the subtitle "for care of souls." But it was difficult to tell how the principles laid out in the book were related to the care of souls. There is material and resources for pastoral leadership, some of it helpful, but almost no indication of how all of it will enable pastors to be really effective in the care of souls. Also, the book seems somewhat poorly organized. Chapters on church leadership/administration are followed by one on pastoral burnout.

[Artis Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I am transitioning from one pastoral role into a new season, I’ve been looking at reads to grow as a pastor. This book provided excellent insight. Thai book was a beautiful reminder that the church is the Lords and not mine. A must read. This is a book i will constantly come back to throughout my ministry!

1. Pastoral ministry is far larger than the leadership of the pastor.

2. In the end the church is and always will be the Lords church.

3. Every group needs a leader, or else they wander off in all directions at once.

4. Lead from the backseat.

5. Every leader needs leading.

6. We believe that the heart of all leadership and strategic planning is the care of souls.

7. When you’re in the ministry, you’re closely involved with people, and they’re not always going to like you.

7. Discouragement is bound to happen in faithful ministry.”

Great book!! 10/10

[Kyle Tomlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone involved in pastoral ministry, this is a must read. Not only do Harold Senkbeil and Lucas Woodford dispel many of the false ideas that have crept into the church about what pastors are called to do as leaders in the church, i.e. be CEO's of an organization primarily concerned about numbers and secular measures of success, but they also offer Christ-centered reflections and guidance on how to be a spiritually healthy shepherds, or under-shepherds, to Christ's sheep, and they do this from a combined 70 years of ministry experience. This small book is a great gift to Christ's church.

[Paul Forrest · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read the book, I realised I was attracted by the subtitle rather than the title. If you have a church of 1000 and want guidance on some basic principles of large-scale management of your dozens of workers, you'll find the book helpful. If you pastor a penniless congregation of twenty in a socially-deprived area, and want to know more about how better to shepherd them, the book is largely irrelevant.

[Graeme MacDiarmid · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book felt more focused on church pastors who are unaware of how their current inabilities, pains, frustrations, and norm’s, and how there may be a better solution or direction to serve others, fulfill their needs, walk healthfully, and serve people humanly. As in the title, the emphasis was pastoral. I also loved that it was concise!

[Theologia14 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Consider this a 5,000 foot high overview of pastoral leadership principals with an emphasis on a return to pastoring vs. ceo leadership. It left many unanswered questions in regards to how one can return to a model of pastoral leadership or even how one could return to the infinite wisdom of Jesus Christ. The resource section was one of the best parts of the book.

[Drake Osborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some helpful reminders. None of it really got me excited, but it was refreshing to have a book really advocate for a kind of leadership "habitus" that is thoughtful but driven for the ministry, not replacing ministry. Took me only an hour or two to get through, will come back for reference.

[Ryan Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing bad in the book, but it didn’t feel like the book needed to be written. It feels like a rehash of basic leadership principles, without a lot of specifics of how to integrate leadership with the care of souls.

[Sam Reinhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always thankful for these little books by Senkbeil - a small but powerful book that helps reestablish what the pastoral office is and is supposed to do in a culture of the celebrity pastor.

[Erik Spohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breath of fresh air amid frequent misunderstandings about Pastoral Leadership.

[Adam Kareus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple resource for pastoral ministry. It serves as a good guide on a way to study and learn about this topic in more depth.

[Rev James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have resource for every church pastor